I Am Better than Most People I Know…
The Joseph Institute Center for Youth Ethics published their annual ethics survey this week. They’ve been publishing surveys since 1992, but this 2008 survey in particular caught my interest because of the closing questions.
The survey shows that:
30 percent overall admitted stealing from a store within the past year. In 2006 the overall theft rate was 28 percent.
More than two of five (42 percent) said that they sometimes lie to save money. More than eight in ten students (83 percent) confessed they lied to a parent about something significant.
Cheating in school continues to be rampant and it’s getting worse. A substantial majority (64 percent) cheated on a test during the past year (38 percent did so two or more times), up from 60 percent and 35 percent, respectively, in 2006.
(Ok, I need to change the quote color in my theme, it needs more contrast.)
This survey represents the people who are going to be our CEO’s, governors, and other leaders in the coming 10 to 15 years.
Really though, the most startling facet of the survey was the closing statements:
As bad as these numbers are, it appears they understate the level of dishonesty exhibited by America’s youth. More than one in four (26 percent) confessed they lied on at least one or two questions on the survey. Experts agree that dishonesty on surveys usually is an attempt to conceal misconduct.
Despite these high levels of dishonesty, the respondents have a high self-image when it comes to ethics. A whopping 93 percent said they were satisfied with their personal ethics and character and 77 percent said that when it comes to doing what is right, I am better than most people I know.
Two Biblical references come to mind:
2Timothy 3:1-5a
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Luke 18:10-14
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men–extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man [the publican] went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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