Richard R. Dunn explains in his book, “Shaping the Spiritual Life of Students”, that youth today are postmodern pilgrims in process:
· “Twenty-first-century postmodern spirituality is….less about where this generation is going and more about what young people have left behind. The worldview and ethos of our Judeo-Christian heritage no longer exert a prevailing influence on the culture within which North American adolescents mature.” (30) He describes that today we create our own designer gods. In an age of pluralism we pull our view of God from many sources, developing a personalized belief system.
· The dilemma is how to share biblical truth to youth. They are confused and seeking, “crying out for genuine spiritual experiences with a living God.” (35) “Jimmy Long echoes the longing for authenticity among Generation X, the generation immediately preceding the millennial generation.” (35)
· “The “been there, done that” millennial generation even more intensely seeks authentic, personally meaningful relationships with God. Nothing less than a real Jesus for a real world will suffice. “ (36)
· “Postmodern adolescents want communion with a God who can do what they cannot do for themselves: provide ultimate love, hope and meaning in a world littered with the residue of religious disillusionment.” (36)
· Dunn sees adolescent spirituality being tremendously affected by popular culture. Media, music, movies, television, videos, fads, cell phones all are dominant forces in shaping spiritual experiences of youth. (I certainly saw this trend from my responses to the questionnaire by high school students.)
· “In postmodernity what one can experience is one’s reality.” (40) “The sensate worldview leads to a “frenzied pursuit of pleasure” as the supreme goal of life.” (40) “The sense of pleasure is their god.” (40)
· This is a nugget of truth we must embrace: “Please help me feel good about myself” is at the core of much adolescent behavior, whether moral or immoral, seemingly godly or ungodly. In a youth culture that markets enticing pseudo-attachments at the speed of light, feeling good is routinely confused with having achieved a good feeling about who I am. Adolescents often lack the personal maturity and life experience to distinguish between the two. Without genuine attachment with Christ and others (real relationship), pseudo-attachments become a way of life in the consuming ethos of North American culture.” (42)
· “Leading postmodern adolescents into growing, intimate relationships with Jesus Christ begins as spiritual caregivers start pacing with the adolescents in their homes, churches and communities. Only intentional pacing relationships will be adequate to build bridges across chasms of disconnection, disorientation and disillusionment. Of all the failings of twentieth-century Christian youth ministry, perhaps the greatest was using programs and techniques to shortcut that need for relational proximity.” (44) (Emphasis mine.)
· “Twenty-first-century postmodern spirituality is….less about where this generation is going and more about what young people have left behind. The worldview and ethos of our Judeo-Christian heritage no longer exert a prevailing influence on the culture within which North American adolescents mature.” (30) He describes that today we create our own designer gods. In an age of pluralism we pull our view of God from many sources, developing a personalized belief system.
· The dilemma is how to share biblical truth to youth. They are confused and seeking, “crying out for genuine spiritual experiences with a living God.” (35) “Jimmy Long echoes the longing for authenticity among Generation X, the generation immediately preceding the millennial generation.” (35)
· “The “been there, done that” millennial generation even more intensely seeks authentic, personally meaningful relationships with God. Nothing less than a real Jesus for a real world will suffice. “ (36)
· “Postmodern adolescents want communion with a God who can do what they cannot do for themselves: provide ultimate love, hope and meaning in a world littered with the residue of religious disillusionment.” (36)
· Dunn sees adolescent spirituality being tremendously affected by popular culture. Media, music, movies, television, videos, fads, cell phones all are dominant forces in shaping spiritual experiences of youth. (I certainly saw this trend from my responses to the questionnaire by high school students.)
· “In postmodernity what one can experience is one’s reality.” (40) “The sensate worldview leads to a “frenzied pursuit of pleasure” as the supreme goal of life.” (40) “The sense of pleasure is their god.” (40)
· This is a nugget of truth we must embrace: “Please help me feel good about myself” is at the core of much adolescent behavior, whether moral or immoral, seemingly godly or ungodly. In a youth culture that markets enticing pseudo-attachments at the speed of light, feeling good is routinely confused with having achieved a good feeling about who I am. Adolescents often lack the personal maturity and life experience to distinguish between the two. Without genuine attachment with Christ and others (real relationship), pseudo-attachments become a way of life in the consuming ethos of North American culture.” (42)
· “Leading postmodern adolescents into growing, intimate relationships with Jesus Christ begins as spiritual caregivers start pacing with the adolescents in their homes, churches and communities. Only intentional pacing relationships will be adequate to build bridges across chasms of disconnection, disorientation and disillusionment. Of all the failings of twentieth-century Christian youth ministry, perhaps the greatest was using programs and techniques to shortcut that need for relational proximity.” (44) (Emphasis mine.)
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