This is thinking in public, a program dedicated to intelligent conversation about

front-line theological and cultural issues with the people who are shaping them.

I'm Albert Mola, your host and president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville,

Kentucky.

Kendo Creasy Dean says that youth ministry is the de facto research and development branch of American Christianity.

And she ought to know. She's professor of youth, church, and culture at Princeton Theological Seminary,

and she's my guest today for thinking in public.

Professor Dean, thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you.

It's great to be here.

Kenda, you have been a part of the National Study of Youth and Religion, and in my estimation estimation that's one of the most important

research projects that American Christianity has really had to confront over the last

several generations and decades. Kind of summarize for us if you will what that's all about.

Well the National Study of Ethan Religion it certainly is the biggest

study we've had to confront and And Christian Smith, as you know, is the principal investigator of

that. So he coordinated his colleagues from all over the country to interview 3,300 kids

and their parents,

and it's longitudinal,

which is in my mind really where the pay dirt is on that study

in that, Chris is going back to the same sample

every five years, and know just checking in to see

what's going on with in terms of their relationship to faith and their relationship to churches

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