More than 55 percent say they are not sexually active. But while there are many traditional, if not conservative, views toward religion and morals, there also is a push for tolerance regarding longstanding taboos, such as homosexuality. Judy Bowers, head of guidance and counseling at Tucson Unified School District, said she doesn't see increased tolerance toward gays, a lifestyle that most conservative religious leaders say is incompatible with Christianity - as a contradiction to an apparent trend of teens becoming more spiritual. Jesus was tolerant, not judgmental - and more religions are fairly tolerant as well, Bowers explained. Tolerance can be a part of spirituality.
Morals are something teens want to be taught by adults.
Nearly half of the teens surveyed said it is a high priority for them that the next president of the United States have high moral values. In Al Gore's acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention, he talked about being a moral person, a family person. Kids were real concerned about that. It was awful for kids to read about that. Nikki Remme, a freshman at Amphitheater High, said she is strong in her religion and is glad to see a trend of more of her peers thinking that way as well.