The majority of teens and young adults in most parts of the world are religious, according to a 21-country study by a German think tank.
Of the 21,000 youth surveyed worldwide, 85 percent described themselves as religious and nearly half said they were deeply religious. Thirteen percent said they were not interested in God or faith.
Among young Americans, 57 percent said they pray daily.
Dr. Martin Rieger, project leader of the survey, said: "The assumption that religious belief is dwindling continuously from generation to generation is clearly refuted by our worldwide surveys — even in many industrialized nations."
On the heels of the survey, hundreds of thousands of religious youth from around the world are gathering this week in Sydney, Australia, for the 23rd World Youth Day — an invitation from the pope to youth to celebrate their faith. The six-day celebration is the largest youth event in the world.
