EDUCATION TOWARDS SPIRITUALITY AND AS PROTECTION AGAINST THE DEVELOPMENT OF RISKY BEHAVIORS IN ADOLESCENCE

Abstract

Several studies have identified religion and spirituality as factors that protect against the development of risky behaviors in adolescence. This article presents a case study to investigate the educational dimensions present in the religious practices of a group of teenagers belonging to a Christian church in the city of Canoas/RS, that act as a factor of protection during adolescence. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with the six teenagers, who are leaders of the group of teenagers of the institution in question. For the data analysis, the principles of grounded-theory were used. From the analysis, it was understood that the religious practices of the investigated group promote what we call education towards spirituality, which creates conditions that allow its members to develop constructs, such as personal strengthening and meaning for life, as elements that act in a protective manner.