Monday, March 30, 2009
Chapter 2
This chapter brings up a problem that is very timely and very troubling. After you read the chapter look on page 16 of your USCCA text about half way down the page and reread the paragraph that starts with "In many ways...". Please share any experiences, opinions, concerns or ideas that you may have regarding this phenomenon, particularly concerning it's affect on religious education and catechetical ministry.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think there are have been 4 significant influences in my lifetime that lend to a culture of indifference to religion if not God Himself. First, televangelists...the Bakers come to mind. Manipulating people and soliciting millions of dollars with a promise that heaven awaits those who contribute. There have been hundreds just like the Bakers. The legitimate needs of the less fortunate suffer as there is no trust now because of the crooks who took money in God's name. Second, the ACLU who is going to protect me and you from the influence of God in everything outside our home. The Ten Commandments, prayer at school, God in general has no place in our lives outside of our church and home. This along with other good ideas for society, gone bad. Social Security, laws prohibiting discrimmination, protection of the illegal alien, children ect. Third, the degeneration of the family unit and the loss of respect for parents, family values, teachers and others who have historically influenced young people in the right direction regarding God and responsibility. And fourth, there has developed what I would call an "implied permisson" in our society that has replaced responsiblity and conscience. It is perceived as a right, or an entitlement to do whatever it is that makes "me" happy without recourse or consequences. I don't like the marriage, I get divorced. I don't want this baby, I get an abortion, I don' like this religion because it makes me accountable, I quit this church, and find a religion that lets me do what I want...on and on and on. Finally I would add that there are no "heros" anymore as role models. There are no consequences with impacts that matter anymore. Recently we have seen our govenment reward bad behaviour without no consequences for the bad guys. Hard to make sense out of all that for young and impressionable folks...
ReplyDeleteExcellant points! I think it is hard for to make sense out of all that for adults too which leads to their frustration then the kids get to deal with that on top of everything else. So what do we do? How can we help the situation or can we?
ReplyDeleteThe students in my class seem to believe in God, but are distracted by materialism. They don't need God just yet in their lives, just their friends, their reputations, and their cell phones. For the most part, they believe what they are taught. They're too young yet to have reached the age of questioning and rebelling against the teachings, although they are rebelling against going to another boring religion class. I think an academic approach, such as our textbook uses, mandating quizzes every class and homework every week adds to the perception of CCD as just another boring class. Balancing doctrine with fostering a personal relationship with Jesus is very important to help students as they move through their rebellious, questioning stage. The cultural influences Mike enumerates affect the parents more than the students at this point, so fostering that relationship with Jesus in the adults is also important.
ReplyDeleteSo true Donna and Mike on many points-- especially what you say about religion being shut out of our lives and the difficulties with distraction. If you ask students and adults if they believe in God they will say yes, but their lives are so busy, so over media-ized, over secularized, they never take time to think about God. At least the students are coming to class and hopefully thinking about God for a few minutes on SUnday! (even if they are rolling their eyes, sleeping, etc. ) Just the fact that they are in the church doors gives me hope.
ReplyDeleteBUT what will keep them coming back as young adults and adults? Like you said Donna, they need a balance. They need to understand their faith but they also need to see it lived out. Perhaps we need to invite more people, both teens and adults to come and "testify" about their lives to the students. The doctors and nurses who go to Honduras--have them come and talk about why they go, how it helps them live out what they believe. Sort of a speaker series about our faith. Would this be helpful do you all think? Invite the parents too! I think it is especially important to share with students how God has been an integral part of our own lives as teachers as well. Students learn well through stories-- stories of our faith, even why we want to teach on Sunday, , stories of saints (true heros they can admire who won't be caught with a bong in a photo the next week...) etc.
I think today's society of disbelief is more a society who "forgets to beleive." Without the constant reminder that it is God who put you here on Earth and you are to find some way to serve God each day students (and we all) easily fall prey to the materialism, secularism, what's-in-in-for-me attitude.
I think it is important to remind students of the higher purpose they have each day--how the things of this world are just that--things, non-lasting, not as important as the eternal.
What I hope to instill in my students is "living for a higher purpose." This helps them sort out all of the messages coming in---and crowding out the quiet callings of Jesus.