Essentially this professor/minister has conducted an in-depth study interviewing a myriad of Christian adolescents and has discovered that the majority of teens cannot articulate their faith, a basic theology of beliefs, etc.... Essentially, what the author concludes is:
Dean says more American teenagers are embracing what she calls "moralistic therapeutic deism." Translation: It's a watered-down faith that portrays God as a "divine therapist" whose chief goal is to boost people's self-esteem.Fascinating. Honestly, when I reflect to my adolescent years. I can say, I went to church because the family went, it was important, now I could postulate a basic theology, but there wasn't more to it than this. The article is short so seriously check it out.
Shalom, blessings, and Grace.
J.Rat.
OK... I could say a lot about this but I'll refrain, or try. I haven't been on the computer in a week and have bunches of blogs to read!
ReplyDeleteSome of the same stuff I've been reading has to do with the number of young adults leaving the church. The focus for them is that parents are depending on youth groups to teach their children when it is the father's responsibility to teach them. (Deut 6). I believe the teens superficial Christianity is just a mirror of what is going on in their parents lives. They profess Christianity but serve many other gods. God is not the center of life or family.
I was pretty passionate about my faith when I was younger. I didn't have Christian parents and I clung to my church as my escape. I obviously didn't have the knowledge I now have of God but I believe I could have if it had been fostered. I know many young adults and teenagers now who are amazing in their understanding of scripture and God's role in life and "stuff." (They actually blow me away!) BUT, they have been catechized at home and led by their father's in family worship. God has played a central role in their home. They got RADICAL! Which is what I believe we should be to be set apart as believers.
I said I would "try."
Honestly, I feel you are on to something there Michelle. When you mentioned the word "Radical" I couldn't help but think of Shane Claiborne. Look him up. He was the Keynote speaker the last time I took a group of teens to Resurrection in Gatlinburg.
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