The National Study of Youth and Religion asserts that, instead of consequential faith, most American teenagers practice "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" - a superficial, low-commitment, self-serving spirituality that seems to characterize many American churches. Dean believes that churches must recover a "missional mindset"-the conviction that "we are not here for ourselves"-and that consequential faith begins by helping teenagers, parents, and congregations reclaim de-centering practices like translation, testimony, and ...
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The National Study of Youth and Religion asserts that, instead of consequential faith, most American teenagers practice "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" - a superficial, low-commitment, self-serving spirituality that seems to characterize many American churches. Dean believes that churches must recover a "missional mindset"-the conviction that "we are not here for ourselves"-and that consequential faith begins by helping teenagers, parents, and congregations reclaim de-centering practices like translation, testimony, and spiritual "detachment" (what the mystics called the ability to focus on God and others instead of ourselves). Drawing on a major national study, this volume argues that the Church has failed to instill genuine religious passion in American teenagers.
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