The Spirit Of Generation Y

The current generation of youth, Generation Y (born 1981-95), are growing up in a world vastly different from that of their Baby-Boomer parents, featuring the cultural pluralism of late modernity, increased anxiety about personal and environmental risk, precarious employment, rampant consumerism, the information deluge, greater individualisation and increased instability in families. Much has been written about the decline of the mainstream church and the place of organised religion in these rapidly changing times. Despite the prominence in the mass media of alternative spiritualities, reincarnation, horoscopes and Buddhism, this book argues that for the most part, young people are not active spiritual seekers, but instead have a highly individualistic and relativistic approach to life and spirituality, and are hardly familiar with religious traditions. Only a small percentage of Generation Y is actively religious. The religion of those young people who do belong to a denomination, is for the most part 'low temperature'.

Draws on research amongst young people to ask what interest those born after 1980 have in Christianity. Does belief in God make any difference to them? A must read for all working with young people in the church.

Reasons for Living begins by exploring the development and psychological function of meaning, identity and spirituality in the lives of young people. This exploration can contribute significantly to the professional background of those engaged in the education and care of youth in various contexts. The book then focuses on what it means to educate young people in meaning, identity and spirituality. Implications are considered for three school contexts: the spiritual and moral dimension to the general curriculum in public and independent schools; religious education in religious schools; and state-based Religion Studies courses. Reasons for Living makes a much needed contribution to the philosophy of education by discussing the links between education and young people's spiritual and moral development. It also provides new insights and approaches to values education and religious education. Areas of fundamental importance in Australian education have long been held back not only by the gap between theory and practice, but also by the very complexities of young people's personal development in contemporary Western Culture. Reasons for Living offers a constructive and practical way forward.

Young people are doing faith differently. They are redefining community, ministry and ritual for a new era. In the face of planetary crisis, the next generation no longer see faith as a private matter, instead they are integrating it with activism and the need for systemic change. Influenced by the wealth of different teachings and traditions available around them, their identities are increasingly multifaceted and emphatically global. This collection of stories and interviews with young adults and their allies explores this new landscape, reflecting both the energy and inspiration of the next generation and the tremendous challenges they face. It points towards an exciting evolution in the way we are relating to the sacred. With stories from: Adam Bucko, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, Kara Moses, Abbas Zahedi, Camille Barton, Bruna Kadletz, Dekila Chungyalpa, Matt Youde, Amrita Bhohi, Sun Kaur, and many others. With supporting stories from senior leaders including: His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Rabbi Laura Janner Klausner, Bhai Sahib Dr Mohinder Singh, and more.

For Generation Y, born after 1982, relationships happen over the Internet and music marks their territory. How does this generation think about the world? What does their spirituality look like? And what implications does this have for the Church? This book addresses the need for the Church to reconnect and communicate with young people.

Published to coincide with World Youth Day 2008.

Catholic institutions today are faced with the challenge of redefining themselves within a context of growing pluralisation and detraditionalisation. Following the empirical work on Catholic School identity, Identity in Dialogue, this book attends to the institution of the parish. Engaging with the Hopes of Parishes offers a theoretical framework for parish life in a new context. It introduces a new diagnostic tool, the Searching for Parish Engagement Scale, and it proposes four models for parish life today: the convinced parish, the engaged parish, the devoted parish and the consumerist parish. Brendan Reed is a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia. He is adjunct lecturer at Catholic Theological College, University of Divinity.

For Generation Y, born after 1982, relationships happen over the Internet and music marks their territory. How does this generation think about the world? What does their spirituality look like? And what implications does this have for the Church? This book addresses the need for the Church to reconnect and communicate with young people.