Character and all that

Young people today are all for honesty and good character as long as it doesn’t require honesty and character to get there.

I heard a radio report yesterday, breathlessly describing survey results that show young people are lying, cheating, plagiarizing, and stealing on a regular basis. This was no Christian radio station but a secular news program, agonizing over the future if these teens move into the business world.

How, the hosts wondered, could business survive if populated by workers who lacked good character?

Maybe the teens are the honest ones. They have been immersed in the tolerance culture, where every choice is legitimate and to be honored. Haven’t we said there are no absolutes? Haven’t we been offended by the idea of absolute right or wrong?

They’re getting it.

Here are some results, based on a 2006 survey:

• 82% admit they lied to parent within the past 12 months about something significant
• 57% said they lied two or more times.
• 62% admit they lied to teacher within the past 12 months about something significant
• 35% said they lied two or more times.
• 33% copied an internet document within the past 12 months – 18% did so two or more times.
• 60% cheated during a test at school within the past 12 months – 35% did so two or
• more times.
• 23% stole something from a parent or other relative within the past 12 months – 11%
• did so two or more times In 2002, 28% admitted stealing from a parent or other relative.
• 19% stole something from a friend within the past 12 months – 7% did so two or more times.
• 28% stole something from a store within the past 12 months – 14% did so two or more times

You can read the entire survey at the Josephson Institute site.

I want to comment more on this tomorrow. Stay tuned.