A New Perspective on Youth and Religion: A Qualitative Understanding
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Authors
Strauss, Jessica S.
Issue Date
2008
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Studies of religion in America focus largely on statistics and archival data of
institutional religion. In some cases they fail to explore individual experiences of
religion, which are widely believed to be 'spiritual' rather than religious forms of faith.
Statistics tend to center on youth participation in religion to create their limited
conceptions of what constitutes youth religiosity, and do not address more individuated
religious practices or spiritual endeavors. Noted sociologist Ralph H. Turner provides a
framework that I will utilize to deconstruct dominant sociological discourse about
religion, in an effort to expand the limited scope of academic understanding on the topic.
Rather than focusing on the statistical and quantitative frameworks behind religiosity, I
propose that because of the changing manifestations of religion amongst the young
American population, academic perspectives should be accordingly redefined and
analyzed in more qualitative terms. The current dialogue about religion is best
understood through the study of the younger population in the United States and their
personal preferences towards expressing religious inclinations or faith. To fully grasp the
study of religion, one must understand the ongoing cultural factors that influence
religious practices and ideologies such as individualism and secularization, and explore
their effects among American youth more specifically. There is little consensus in
religious academic circles over a definition that truly encompasses the idea of religion.
Scholars tend to form their own individual definitions and as such, a multitude of varying
. classifications exist. There is a perceived division between spirituality and religion,
widely by those who associate religion with institutions and official doctrine. Spirituality
may be viewed as lacking the structure to constitute a form of religion. Others, however,
argue that religion is more of an all-encompassing phenomenon of faith and values in
which spirituality is included. I propose that forms of spirituality not be excluded from
religious study, as the very change prevalent among American Youth today is an
integration of the two, to the extent that the line between them can no longer be distinctly
circumscribed. Therefore, for the purposes of this paper, the concept of 'religion' when
referred to, does not exclude un-institutionalized forms of faith, but rather views them as
a different manifestation of religious belief.
Description
ii, 38 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo, Mich. : Kalamazoo College.
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder. All rights reserved.