Author: More teens becoming 'fake' Christians

[Nine_Two]

No, it’s not about new denominations which have sprung up

It’s really about a failure to teach (catechise) by existing main-stream churches.

Guess I misread it.

 

[jmcrae]

included in-depth interviews with at least 3,300 American teenagers between 13 and 17, found that most American teens who called themselves Christian were indifferent and inarticulate about their faith.

My personal experience (30 years of working with young people) is that the majority of 13-17 year olds are inarticulate about most subjects. Somehow, they make it to adulthood - even without ever really understanding any of these things.

But if we continue to teach religion in the same way that we teach algebra, then we have to expect that kids will retain the information about religion pretty much the same way they retain information about algebra. (Which is, usually, not at all, except for those kids who turn out to have an aptitude for it and go into a related profession.)

 

[SedesDomi]

But if we continue to teach religion in the same way that we teach algebra, then we have to expect that kids will retain the information about religion pretty much the same way they retain information about algebra. (Which is, usually, not at all, except for those kids who turn out to have an aptitude for it and go into a related profession.)

So how shall we teach religion? In the same way we teach physics (hands-on experimentation)?

 

[loneviking]

So how shall we teach religion? In the same way we teach physics (hands-on experimentation)?

Not too far off base. A lot of kids today don’t see how faith connects and has any relevance to the real world. Yeah, they get the rote teaching and the basic doctrine—but what does that have to do with day to day living?

What kids (and adults too) is to become so familiar with the Bible that they see it, not as a rule book or a book of teachings, but a book that speaks about life as they encounter it. As a book through which Gods’ grace flows to them. And yes, that takes experimentation and careful leading by those much older and more experienced in the faith.

 

[Lutheranteach]

Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s solely a matter of them not being taught the faith well…It’s also a matter of those that know the faith not learning much about the students. Today’s student is not the student of the 1950s. I can tell you from experience and study that i fyou can’t make what you are trying to get across relevant, entertaining, fun, and bring a wow factor you have maybe 7 minutes before they are done listening.

 

[Jimmy_B]

(CNN) – If you’re the parent of a Christian teenager, Kenda Creasy Dean has this warning:

Your child is following a “mutant” form of Christianity, and you may be responsible.

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.

Dean is a minister, a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary and the author of “Almost Christian,” a new book that argues that many parents and pastors are unwittingly passing on this self-serving strain of Christianity.

She says this "imposter’’ faith is one reason teenagers abandon churches.

“If this is the God they’re seeing in church, they are right to leave us in the dust,” Dean says. “Churches don’t give them enough to be passionate about.”

· A religion of one
· A religion of their own intellect
· God on their terms

Does this sum it up?

 

[SedesDomi]

· A religion of one

Individualism?

· A religion of their own intellect

Rationalism?

· God on their terms

Capitalism?

Does this sum it up?

Yep.

 

[jmcrae]

So how shall we teach religion? In the same way we teach physics (hands-on experimentation)?

Actually, I think we should teach it in the same way that we teach Foundations in Painting.

I’m probably biased, being a painter, but in order to learn the skills of a painter, we didn’t just sit in a classroom looking at slides all day. (We did that for 30 minutes a day, though - it’s important to do that, but it’s not the only important thing.) We also built our own stretchers, stretched our own canvas, mixed our own pigments, created our own drawing materials out of sticks, leaves, and other natural elements in the environment.

Once we had created our materials, we actually practiced painting for six hours every day, in the studio, together, working from the model. Once an hour, we were invited to stop painting, walk around the room, and say out loud what we thought of other people’s work. It was not meant to be complimentary; it was meant to be honest.

So, how would you translate a model of learning like that to a Religion class?

First, you would not limit the Religion program to fifteen minutes a day.

Second, you would get the kids to make their own Rosaries, put together their own Mass books, make Holy cards, and more. Is it “arts and crafts” - yes - but with a purpose - to get the kids thinking about the resources that are out there, and where they come from. And just as there was a sense of relief in Second Year Painting, when we were allowed to buy our art materials instead of having to make them ourselves, the kids will also be relieved to find out later on that they can buy the stuff they need for worship and devotion.

It won’t even occur to them to try to get through life without them.

Third, you take the kids to Church and have them participate at Mass, participate at Adoration, go to Confession, and talk about their experiences honestly with each other. Show them through practice how to use the devotional aids that they have made.

You could also have them put on skits where they can role-play a variety of real life situations, and critique one another on how realistic their situations are - and brainstorm together on how the characters should react to the situations presented in the skits.

They would also still sit in the classroom for a short time and hear stories from the Bible, stories of the Saints, and learn the history of the Church, and memorize lists and prayers - because, yes, those things are also extremely important - they just aren’t the only thing.

 

[Murdock]

Bad news for you Saint Thomas Moore.

Read the whole article/blog post at CNN.

The professor says that Mormon teens, and Evangelical teens, are exceptions to the trend among teens of “fake” Chistianity.

 

[Todd520]

Bad news for you Saint Thomas Moore.

Read the whole article/blog post at CNN.

The professor says that Mormon teens, and Evangelical teens, are exceptions to the trend among teens of “fake” Chistianity.

I’m bummed, I don’t get to call STM on his erroneous comments, now that his posts are hidden.
From the article

… the teens who are articulate about their faith. Most come from Mormon and evangelical churches, which tend to do a better job of instilling religious passion in teens,

Dean says committed Christian teens share four traits: They have a personal story about God they can share, a deep connection to a faith community, a sense of purpose and a sense of hope about their future.

“There are countless studies that show that religious teenagers do better in school, have better relationships with their parents and engage in less high-risk behavior,” she says. “They do a lot of things that parents pray for.”