As the current manifestation of the “occupy” comes to a close I find myself being asked what I feel about the movement. I have to answer that my feelings are complicated.
First, I feel excited. That so many people from around the world are bravely speaking out against the system that dominates us, that entraps us, that takes our imaginations hostage so that we cannot even dream of another way excites me. We know that change happens when people join together and speak out, and that is what is happening.
Second, I feel angry. I find myself getting angry especially in regards to the movement in Canada, when I hear people saying “What are they complaining about? Read more…
Most youth and young adults head out on short term missions because they want to make a difference, they want to help, they want to battle injustice. It would most likely be devastating for them to know that their short term endeavors may actually make things worse for the people they are meant to serve! Read more…
Reason #1 – Churches seem overprotective.
“A few of the defining characteristics of today’s teens and young adults are their unprecedented access to ideas and worldviews as well as their prodigious consumption of popular culture. As Christians, they express the desire for their faith in Christ to connect to the world they live in. However, much of their experience of Christianity feels stifling, fear-based and risk-averse. Read more…
It is obvious that Christmas has gone from celebrating the birth of the prince of peace to a celebration of the victory of consumerism. But how do we talk about it with our teenagers? Here are a few resources that I have found helpful in starting up conversation around consumerism and Christmas:
What Would Jesus Buy?
A documentary following Rev. Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping as they travel across the U.S. toward the “shopocalypse”! It is at points hilarious, at times troubling at times incredibly touching. This film works equally well with adults or with youth, so try something crazy, get parents and youth to watch the film together!
Advent Conspiracy
A movement trying to get Christmas to be less about buying and more about worshiping fully, spending less, giving more, and loving all. A website full of resources, ideas and stories, this movement to go from buying stuff to solving water issues around the world is something your youth may get excited about. Check it out here.
Coyote Solstice Tale by Thomas King
One of my favorite children’s books of all time, this funny, touching and beautiful story can be a great way to ease youth into the conversation. And seriously, who doesn’t love a kid’s book.
Now I know, it is getting really close to Christmas, and though these may be great ideas, it is a bit to late. Well friends, it turns out that consumerism is not just an issue at Christmas time, but year round. Here are some non-Christmas related resources.
The Story of Stuff
Shorter then WWJB, this film looks at the impacts of our consumption on the environment and other people. Done in a very accessible way, this video is a great starting point for discussing the impact of our stuff on our world. Check it out here.
Last, music video’s can be a great way to start the conversation with your youth. Here are two that look at consumerism from very different angles.
Wings by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
One of my youth introduced this video to me. A song about how the artist was recruited into the movement of consumerism through his shoes. An amazing song and a powerful video.
I Own You by Wax Tailor ft. Charlie Winston
A really cool video, and an interesting song from the perspective of your stuff.
Consumerism is probably the biggest issue facing our youth and society today. If we want to help our youth explore the God of Abraham, Moses and Jesus, we are going to have to make them aware of the current God of stuff that demands their allegiance. If you have any resources, please let us know.
There is an interesting study out from the Barna Group discussing why young people leave church. http://www.barna.org/teens-next-gen-articles/528-six-reasons-young-christians-leave-church . The research lists six significant reasons why nearly three out of every five young Christians (59%) disconnect either permanently or for an extended period of time from church life after age 15. I’m not looking to analyze The Barna Group’s research. I realize there are many other opinions that exist on this topic but thought it would be a good starting point for discussion. Do the themes have merit? Do you find truth in them as a youth leader or as youth growing up in the church? Can we use them to understand the current generation of youth? Are the reasons to broad to be able to facilitate any concrete change? My goal is to look at each of these reasons on their own in my next few blogs in the hopes of starting some discussion on the site and in my own parish. More understanding of where youth might be coming from never hurts and spreading the knowledge around throughout the congregation is even better! We can’t discuss what we don’t understand so if there is some validity to the reasons in the study then the conversation with our youth workers, youth and parishes is a good one to have.
Reason #1 – Churches seem overprotective.
Reason #2 – Teens’ and twenty somethings’ experience of Christianity is shallow.
Reason #3 – Churches come across as antagonistic to science.
Reason #4 – Young Christians’ church experiences related to sexuality are often simplistic, judgmental.
Reason #5 – They wrestle with the exclusive nature of Christianity.
Reason #6 – The church feels unfriendly to those who doubt.
On March 12th 1930 a 61-year-old man took 78 friends and they began a 390 km march across the country of India towards a village called Dandi off the coast of the Arabian Sea. After a 23-day-long journey on April 5, Gandhi and his satyagrahis reached their destination.
After prayers were offered, Gandhi spoke to the large crowd and he picked up a small lump of natural salt, in doing so he broke the law. Within moments, the rest of the crowd followed Gandhi’s passive defiance, picking up salt everywhere along the coast.
The march was called the Salt Satyagraha; made in response to the Salt Tax.
Youth and Adults learn, worship and celebrate together at Justice Camp
by Jen Schwartz, Diocese of Nova Scotia/PEI
Sometimes in life you meet people; and you quickly realize that they carry a message that the world desperately needs to hear. Dan is one of those people. He advocates for himself and many others through an organization called “People First”, and he spoke with unfaltering conviction. “Everyone has a disability. You may not be able to see it, you may not be able to tell, but it’s there.” In St. Paul’s, Charlottetown, you could have heard a pin drop. This moment was pivotal in my experience of Poverty Justice Camp 2009. Read more…
Ok, you got me, here I am talking about taking care of the environment. Again. But it is world environment day and there’s just so much we can do, I can’t help it, I want everyone to be an environmentalist.
19% of Canadians (15 years or older) were current smokers in 2007 – unchanged compared to 2006 and 2005.
More men smoke than women.
Smoking rates for youth have decreased in recent years with 15% of them (15-19 years old) currently smoking in 2007. Still, this smoking rate remains way too high.
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