Virtual Faith
The Irreverent Spiritual Quest of Generation X
Tom Beaudoin(Author)
Jossey-Bass (Publisher)
Published on 14. July 2000
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-0-7879-5527-4 (ISBN)
Description
Reveals the deep and pervasive search for meaning that haunts Generation X. This book is must reading for anyone who would understand the spirituality of young people at the turn of a new millennium.-Robert A. Ludwig, author of Reconstructing Catholicism for a New Generation In Virtual Faith, Beaudoin explores fashion, music videos, and cyberspace concluding that his generation has fashioned a theology radically different from, but no less potent or valid than, that of their elders. Beaudoin's investigation of popular culture uncovers four themes that underpin his generations theology. First, all institutions are suspect - especially organized religion. Second, personal experience is everything, and every form of intense personal experience is potentially spiritual. Third, suffering is also spiritual. Finally, this generation sees ambiguity as a central element of faith. This book opens a long overdue conversation about where and how we find meaning, and how we all can encourage each other in this central human searching. Tom Beaudoin earned his Master of Theological Studies from Harvard University School of Divinity in 1996 and is currently working toward a Ph.D. in Religion and Education at Boston College.
More details
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Edition type
New edition
Dimensions
Height: 223 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
296 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7879-5527-4 (9780787955274)
Copyright in bibliographic data is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or its licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
TOM BEAUDOIN Raised on television and video games, Tom Beaudoin began to notice in the mid-80s that the popular culture so familiar to him was infused with religious iconography and meaning. He earned his Master of Theological Studies from Harvard University School of Divinity in 1996 and is currently working toward a Ph.D. in Religion and Education at Boston College. A former altar boy and presently a bass player in a Boston area rock band, he survived Woodstock '94.
Content
Part One: Why Religion Still Matters: GenX, Pop Culture, and the Search for God; 1. A GenX Journey: Living on the Boundary Between Religion and Culture; 2. Formed by Pop Culture: The Shared Immersion That Makes Us a Generation; 3. Being Virtually Religious: Appreciating GenX Irreverence; Part Two: How Religion Still Matters: Four Central Themes in GenX Religiosity; 4. Institutions Are Suspect; 5. Experience Is Key; 6. Suffering Has a Religious Dimension; 7. Ambiguity Is Central to Faith; Part Three: Being Religious Now: A New Understanding; 8. Making the Virtual Lead Somewhere: A Spiritual Challenge to Generation X; 9. Rediscovering Humility in Ministry: A Spiritual Challenge from Generation X; Conclusion: Giving Irreverence Its Due.