Likewise, a teenager hiking along his faith journey is at the top of his. Phillips agrees, while noting that not everyone recognizes teenagers' passion for theology. Yet if you go into religious bodies and become involved, you can see they're fervent ideologues, philosophers, religionists. They're trying to understand what the heck this life is all about at a time when all the juices are flowing. They are really doing some major struggling with spiritual issues.
Friends play a big role in shaping how a teenager's faith emerges from adolescence.
During the teenage years, allegiance shifts from the family to the peer group. This occurs, Jennings says, because while children need to establish their independence from their parents, they also need to belong to a group. Hillestad says talking with her friends helps a lot. They have the same feelings toward other people, and know what's going on in my life-fears and stuff. They're on the same level.