SPIRITUALITY and RELIGIOUS CHALLENGE TODAY

Recent surveys of religion in USA indicate that people’s affiliation with religion is becoming more diverse and fluid.  More than 40% of American adults have left the faith in which they were raised, in favor of another religion or no religion at all.  And the percentage of young people under the age of 30 who identifying themselves as unaffiliated with any religion has reached 25%.

Some explanations for these changes are the breakdown of community, the travel and transient demands of work and the emphasis on individuality in Western culture.

This reality presents challenges for us parents and lay leaders in religious communities.  .

Isaac was a student of mine. His spiritual journey reflects that challenge.   He grew up in a Jewish religiously conservative environment and culture in which holidays were celebrated.  But, nothing ever inspired him to pursue a religious lifestyle.  He felt a lack of spontaneity and connection to God within the confines of his native city temple and religious service.

It was during a summer in college that he decided to join a 10 week cross country Jewish ecological tour.  It took no longer than the first morning of the trip which was leaving from the mountains of Mr. Rainer in Washington, for him to be moved spiritually.

He described that moment as the first time he felt God’s presence as being tangible.  As he rode home looking over the cascade of mountains, he felt he could now connect to the words of Psalms with the new awe he now felt in the presence of God’s world

Since then Isaac has sought out religious experiences that were meaningful and spiritual.  These included: teaching Jewish texts on an organic farm, joining religious chanting groups and coming to Jerusalem to study.

There is a wonder and beauty in an individual like Isaac finding the meaningful channel to nurture his personal yearning and connection with God.

The problem is that spirituality and relationship with God is not exclusively a personal experience.  By nature we are drawn to share our spiritual yearnings in a community of like minded people.  Isaac is searching for that community.

The challenge for those of us, adults and parents, affiliated with traditional religious communities, is to allow our children to search for their personal spiritual connection.  It is a search we should encourage while simultaneously identifying opportunities to include them in our broader community.

 

 

Comments

[Morris Mann]

The sincerity and integrity of your religious faith and practice are absolutely essential for having a positive impact on your kids.
Along with that it is just as important to have a great relationship with them. It means open line of communication, encouragement and support for what they are doing and shared positive experiences together.
Starting and investing in that relationship when they are children, makes it easier to successfully get through challenging teen years.

[JenniferVDavis]

I think part of the reason so many individuals are leaving their faith in the U.S. is the disconnect between religion and their lives. Empty rituals cannot take the place of a true relationship with God, and if people did not observe others in their community making that connection with God, why should they follow the same course? As a parent, my priority is for my children to see that I don't just pray or attend church because I'm supposed--I do because I want to, because my relationship with God is real. My hope is that they, too, will want their own relationship with God.