5 stars (A Non-Christian Nation) - Christian Smith and Melinda Denton have produced a wonderful analysis of the religious condition of teenagers (ages 13-17) in the USA. They collected survey data on 3290 teenagers and then followed up with more extended interviews of 267 of those surveyed. The initial survey gave an over all picture of the religious character of these teenagers including their affiliations, participation, beliefs and experiences. The interviews provided an in-depth exposure of what these teens really believe. As it turns out, the seeming wide-spread acceptance of religious life by teens (only 16% were "not religious") is largely to a vague, self-defined religion which the authors defined as: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. The teens believed in a generally disinterested divine power who supervised a system to provide personal peace and prosperity for nice people, or perhaps to help them them be nice. They adhered to a religion that is helpful, but not entirely necessary. While there were those who could be described as believers in Christianity as defined by the Bible, and also those who denied any religion, the clear majority favored MTD. The book is a "must read" for any who would like to better understand the status of the spiritual interests of youths. It also is valuable for all who would generally understand American culture. While the authors make no such claim, it is likely that the youths' view of religion is likely the common view of our age. At the least, it surely will be the increasingly dominant religion as these youths enter adult life. For parents and youth workers who are interested in true spiritual life for their children, it shows the arena in which their own youths reside. It should stimulate good thinking and discussion of how properly to intervene in what turns out to be a huge spiritual void in the lives of professing spiritual/religious youths. This is an excellent book. 5 stars (The Best Resource Available T... Oxford University Press :: Spirituality :: Adolescents :: United States :: Teenagers :: Spiritual life :: Sociology of Religion :: Sociology :: Social Science :: Religious life :: Children's Stud :: Soul Searching- The Religious And Spiritual Lives Of American Teenagers
2 stars (Uh... yes I will, actually) - One of the soundbite reviews on the back cover of SFGKW claims, 'For fans of 'Blue Like Jazz,' I doubt you will be disappointed.' Well, squelch that doubt, soundbite-reviewer man, for I was most certainly disappointed with this offering by Don Miller. Let me say, for the record, that I LOVED 'Blue Like Jazz.' That book, to me, did an amazing job of reflecting not only a relaxed writing style, but also a relaxed theology, less encumbered by Evangelicalism's general desire to fit God into its 'understandable box.' Miller is a great storyteller, and he allows his stories to communicate his ideas about spirituality. It works gangbusters. Yo. SFGKW, admittedly, addresses a subject which would be difficult to communicate wholly through narrative. But I found myself wishing that Miller would at least try! Any time he would begin to tell stories, I was hooked... and then the writing would spin out into a very orthodox version of evangelistic theology. Miller, again and again, criticizes the 'formulaic theology' so prevalent in the still-Modernistic American church. But one gets the sense that the author is not (yet?) willing to embrace a theology divorced from categorizing, step-outlining, and bullet point divisions. While Miller's loose style FEELS different, it represents seemingly little more than a stream-of-consciousness veneer on a familiar set of principled beliefs. The book does have some good things to say, by the way. Miller's lifeboat analogy, in which he describes our culture's obsession with the popularity/success cult, is helpful. His critique of misplaced energy in the chapter on 'Morality' charged me up for fighting the right battles (rather than the tired ones against homosexual marriage or abortion). But overall, I don't know that there's much new here. Perhaps the free-flowing format would appeal to new believers (and that may be Miller's intended audience), but, for longer-time progressives in the Church, 'Blue ... Nelson Books :: Religion & Spirituality :: United States :: Spirituality - General :: Religion - Prayer & Spirituality :: Religion :: Miscellanea :: Miller :: Donald :: :: Devotional :: :: Searching for God Knows What
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