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How To Get Youth Into Church
Posted on January 28th, 2010 8 commentsOne topic that a person cannot go through their life avoiding is religion. From the moment we are born we have religious decisions thrown upon us, and from there onwards we’re on our own.
Some parents decide to baptise their children, while other do not. Some circumcise their children for religious reasons, some do not. Some are taken to church weekly, some are kept home and some are told that god does not exist. It seems that it does not matter what we may believe ourselves as a child but rather what those around us believe.
Personally I was not christened or baptised. I grew up in a household where I was considered a little strange for not swearing, smoking or drinking as I grew up. The A grades that I received on my school work was a little out-of-the-ordinary and my stance towards God and religion was somewhat… unliked. Growing up I honestly don’t think that the words ‘god’, ‘jesus’ or ‘christ’ were muttered in a sentence unless accompanied by ‘fuck’, ‘hell’ or ‘burn in’.
I’ve written briefly about my religious stance before, which isn’t easy to put in a nutshell. I’m not for or against God per se. Not really. What I am for or against is religion. What I mean by this is the devout following and faith in the God and the rules dictated by the religious scripture- that being bible, Koran or whatever book it may have been labelled. For arguments sake, they all are the same.
I’ve been shown no proof that God exists, merely some compelling stories and somewhat-convincing fanatics. On the flipside, the non-believers have also been very convincing and very rightly pointed out the flaws, mostly of which consist in the fact that religion somewhat goes against a lot of proven facts. How much evidence does one need to sway me one way or another? Well, that isn’t the point of this article.
Recently I watched the 7pm Project and I saw a great segment which featured Father Bob Maguire. To be honest, I’m a great fan of this man. He has done a lot of hard work in the community and he himself has been stuck on an anti-church pedestal for his approach at Catholicism. The segment, which you may have seen, was about how we can get more youths into the churches. You know what: What a great question!
I would seriously love to experience what church is like. I’ve only ever been in a church twice- the first being for a christening of a family friends child, and the other while I was dancing [back in the days of my traditional-greek-dancing]. Since then, I’ve never been. And yes, to put it plainly: I’ve never been to a service.
Many people my age are quick to jump on the idea that church is boring and that the services are enough to put you to sleep. The weird thing here, contradictory as it is, those of my friends who regularly attend church often say the opposite of their churches. So what brings about this contradiction?
My first assumption would be preconceptions. Entering into a church I suppose I would think that I was about to be getting a lecture from some old guy standing out the front. In such a modern time though, I find it hard to believe that all churches are like this. Does Australia [pray, Adelaide] have any of those ‘modern’ churches where people are involved and the youth have fun?
To answer this question I suppose that I should just ask myself. What better place to start? Why does Brodhe not go to church?
Here’s a few reasons:
- Too early on a Sunday morning
- I don’t like to be told off for the things that others perceive as wrong
- My friends do not go
- I do not follow the bible
So is there a place for us Generation Y young adults where we can freely talk about our own religious views without the worry of being told off. I’m yet to be answered the questions of ‘Why would God care?’ I mean, if I said the word ‘fuck’, without it meaning to be an insult, why would god care? Sure, if I said it with the intent to belittle someone or to make them feel uneasy then I can understand. But any words can do that, and we can say them freely!
Also, when I drink I do not act aggressively nor do I perform illegal deeds. I do what is deemed socially right [on the normal occasion] and keep myself in line. Why would god say I cannot get drunk?
If there was a church which promoted that people merely get along and do what is morally and socially right for each other, and stopped worrying about condemning us to hell and telling us that we are all sinners- well, that’s a church that I would go to.
While I know that it wouldn’t happen, I’d love to see the idea of a congregational venue- perhaps a ‘church’, however it would be open up to ALL religions. It would be a place of meeting and conversation. Peer review about each others beliefs. It would be a meeting of sorts, where people spent the first half hour or so saying thanks to their own religious idols, then spent the following few hours in discussion about different topics. Political, environmental, moral and ethical topics would be discussed and religion would be kept civil and polite. There would be no judgement of ones sins, but merely the reminder of what is morally right on the path to the afterlife.
I would call this setting Urban Belief. It is those that live in a modern society, have belief of God or gods, but simply do not feel that following a set religious scripture is the correct way to live their life. I suppose that’s me in a nutshell: an Urban Believer.
I would personally love to hear the ideas that Father Bob Maguire has to get the youth back into the church. While the church may condemn my lifestyle “choices”, I still see a heck of a lot of good being done by the church. I still strongly believe in the family unit and doing what is morally right, I just believe that the archaic way that they enforce their rule is wrong.
I would really love to hear everyone’s thoughts on this, so if you are in Australia or Adelaide or just have some general views on this, I’d love to know!
Advice, Can I ask?, Support Groups Arguments Sake, Bible, Decisions, Faith, Father Bob, Flipside, God Jesus, Hell, Household, Koran, Nutshell, Parents, Proof, Religion, Religious Reasons, Religious Scripture, Religious Stance, Segment8 responses to “How To Get Youth Into Church”
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What I find interesting though ironic is the difference between the old church (think Vicar of Dibly) and the new church (think Hillsong, Edge, and any number of the super-churches in the USA).
The old church – Boring in the eyes of the youth but more a social congregation than one that intends to ram religious morality down your throat.
The new church – Bright and exciting. Popular with the youth. Out to condemn everything and hold a significant position in politics and society.
Though the former is “boring” it’s the recruiting strategies of the new church we have to be wary of.
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Krystle January 28th, 2010 at 21:39
My experience with religion leads me to think that a ‘church’ where multiple religions combine etc (and I know you said of course it wouldn’t work) is that a large part of people’s religion is fellowship, and outreach to others educating them on their own religion. I think there are groups like what you mention that exist – I encountered a few at uni – but they’re not really ‘churches’ are they? But then again I haven’t researched the definition of a church, I just know of it as a place of worship.
I don’t go to church anymore, but I don’t think i have been to a ‘boring’ church in a long time, a lot of churches do afternoon services now, and have really active youth groups, and I haven’t sat in a church in a very long time (possibly by choice) that tells you ‘off’, a lot of places are more about choice and education on what their religion teaches, in my opinion… But in doing so, I think those churches can be a bit hypocritical. I think there is a point where people who are attending a church of a specific religion need to commit to the morals they enforce, and I think that’s not done too much …I know a lot of people who don’t practice what the religion they subscribe to teaches, and it’s really pointless.
I think churches are churches for a reason, and maybe what you’re looking for does already exist, but I, personally, would be hesitant to call it a church.
Haha I am mega sleepy, I bet none of that made sense!
I live a moral life, I do stray from the religion I was raised to believe as truth, and I don’t know what I believe will follow this life, I have faith in something and I believe in a combination of things, but I don’t belong in a congregation
(and a massive shout out to Father Bob..what a gun! My dad was actually his alter boy back in the day!)
thanks for the read! -
I’m totally sidetracked off your inital discussion but it got me thinking… My experience with church is limited but with it’s people is of a great extent.
During my years at university (with its vast numbers of students) allows you to choose your friends. The reasons for my friendship with these ppl, I believe are common ground basics, moral and ethical values. In any case I ended up befriending many of the “christian crew”, to the point where other ppl thought i too was christian. Which i’m not.
In any case, it didnt take long before the evangelistic streak in them started to unravel. (because I had to be “saved”) Their church was probably more “old church” as Nihilist puts it but it having a large uni student presence, it had a very popular and upbeat attractive sector to the youth.
Sure i went to church a couple of times. It was nice (and a little weird with the dancing and singing) and ppl were very friendly. But opinions other than that of the church were not accepted. NOT even a “we have diff opinions”, it was more like – to fathom my views was ludicrous in the realms of possibilites. (PS: they weren’t)
Although my friends still insisted on inviting me to more events. I declined politely. I can give countless arguments about various issues, i had with them but I wont bore u furthur.
For the most part, i was v. good friends with them . and they agreed i had the same basic morals, ethics and values. Our biggest argument was volunteer mission work overseas. Of which i conveyed much interest. Because i did not belong to a church or see myself as christian, i wasnt allowed as a “missonary”. Apparently… to help ppl, you need to be a “christian”. They didnt see reason with that argument.
anyway my bottom line is – sure the church can enstill gd foundations in youth but I would hate to think they see those who didnt as being less off.
(btw: these christians are still my friends, I’m there to question their beliefs)
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fatherbob January 29th, 2010 at 08:37
Comrades, I agree wholeheartedly with Brodhe.I’ve done my rambling best (bobbywaffle according to Safran)to sharpen my call to gen Y to take over “church” on fatherbob.com.au blog.Bit of a mess but explanation included.BobMaguire.
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Father Bob,
May I ask you a question?
Would you call what you do with technology a way of leading the young “flock” to the truth? And is this due to the increasing indifference towards religion and God amongst Australia’s youth, perhaps in part due to the presence of the New Atheists?
I’d love to hear your opinion.
Cheers,
The Nihilist
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Des said “Our biggest argument was volunteer mission work overseas. Of which i conveyed much interest. Because i did not belong to a church or see myself as christian, I wasn’t allowed as a “missionary”. Apparently… to help ppl, you need to be a “christian”.”
Oh how I hate that argument. As Christopher Hitchen often says “Name one thing that a Christian can do in the name of God that a non-believer cannot do without using God”. He usually then adds, to spice things up, something along the lines of “And then name one terrible thing that non-believers have done in the name of atheism”. Obviously the latter stumps them.
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Why don’t you just get involved in other events and groups etc, there is no need to go to church. Church is about telling you a whole lot of crap from a book which if ever was from the words of god has been corrupted by people for so long. If there was a god there would be no murders, no war… I would suggest sleeping in and then going to a pub or maybe a charity that has no links to god.. i do wonder how much of our charity dollars go towards bibles for the poor. Shame on ch 10 for giving father bob a platform to recruit people into his religion.. i bet they wouldnt do the same for muslims
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The Nihilist January 28th, 2010 at 21:08