Does the Church in general need to revisit and revise its strategy in maintaining the faith?
Upvote:3
In considering the causes of the lack of in-depth doctrinal and apologetic instruction provided to Christian youth, we might do well to consider the extent to which many, if not the majority of adults who self-identify as Christian are equally untaught.
Some of us are called to in-depth study of the bible; some of us are naturally drawn to a comprehensive study of world religions; some of us are fascinated by human nature, and see the study of religion as providing key historical insights into how the human mind and personality work.
I suspect, however, that the majority of people around the world see the pursuit of entertainment as a more effective use of their spare time, as a way to relax from the stress of life. Add the fact that religious study is -- as with study of most topics -- necessarily academic, and regarded by many as "dry," "stuffy," and even "boring," and one can see how religious study can only be "exciting" to those with a particular way of looking at the world.
This is not to provide an excuse for lack of religious ferver, but simply to acknowledge what, to one way of thinking, is the actual state of things for many.
With reference specifically to Christianity, many would agree heartily with criticism of the instructional methods, or lack thereof, used in many denominations. For example, critical analysis of what is often called the "emergent/emerging church movement" will sometimes describe lack of effective religious instruction as a causal factor in the formation of many of the beliefs espoused by some within the "movement."
All of that being said, I know of no effective ways of resolving the situation. The lack of effective religious instruction of youth can be traced to the lack of effective religious understand in many adults, and is the lack of effective religious understanding in many adults a symptom of anything other than tepid faith -- that is, one that does not present an overwhelming desire to know God, and to love God with all of one's heart, soul, strength, and mind? Exhortation to a more consuming faith, as an attempt to counter lack of religious ferver, is, after all, among the central topics addressed in scripture.
More post
- 📝 What is the significance of the name, "The Word"?
- 📝 Why did Aquinas place so much credence in Aristotle?
- 📝 Why did God create evil?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for using fake 'vaccine passes'?
- 📝 Byzantine Chant vs. Gregorian Chant: What are the differences in goals as far as attitude and concepts between these two chanting styles
- 📝 Where did Martin Luther say that he placed "his Christ higher than any dogma or council"?
- 📝 Are there official guidelines for mortifying the flesh in the various Christian denominations?
- 📝 Do any Christian groups/denominations encourage their members to seek personal revelations from the Holy Spirit to accurately interpret Scripture?
- 📝 Do Jehovah's Witnesses have anyone recognized as a "prophet", or what kind of titles do they use?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief that God loves individuals?
- 📝 What is morphological analysis, as it applies to bible study?
- 📝 What sources are used for the Christian Bible translations?
- 📝 Under what circumstances does God act on His anger?
- 📝 Patron saint of professional excellence? Professional excellence and holiness?
- 📝 If God wants everyone to repent, why God didn't do such miracles in Tyre and Sidon?
- 📝 Are there examples of changes or reinterpretation of Catholic or conservative Protestant dogmas?
- 📝 How did the phenomenon of "Megachurches" come about?
- 📝 Why was eating meat on Fridays forbidden in the Catholic Church for so many years?
- 📝 What is the basis for the Catholic teaching that abortion is immoral/sinful?
- 📝 Why is Jesus very implicit regarding his identity?
- 📝 Are there two different creation accounts in the bible?
- 📝 How do Protestantism and the LDS Church differ as to what is required for a believer to attain salvation and eternal life?
- 📝 Does transubstantiation apply to the Last Supper, which occurred prior to the crucifixion?
- 📝 How do Jehovah Witnesses explain differences between NWT and Hebrew/Latin/Greek in Zechariah 12:10 and Acts 20:28?
- 📝 What is the difference between a priest and a pastor?
- 📝 How do proponents of the 'Critical Text' respond to the claim that it preserves an anti-Trinitarian corruption dating from the fifth century?
- 📝 How did God come to be?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for "believers' baptism"?
- 📝 How is it possible that Saint Andrew was an apostle of Jesus Christ?
- 📝 What is the earliest name ascribed to the book of Revelation?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Does the Church in general need to revisit and revise its strategy in maintaining the faith?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church reconcile its doctrine of a divine plan with the disorder and randomness of life?
- 📝 What does the LDS Church (Mormon) teach about marriage and polygamy in the afterlife?
- 📝 Where does the Catholic church procure most of its Bibles?
- 📝 What is the Lutheran doctrine of consubstantiation and how does it differ from transubstantiation and a more general protestant sacramental view?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church teach that it has the authority to change what is morally right and wrong?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, does abortion need to be confessed, and is it a mortal or venial sin?
- 📝 What does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teach about who Jesus is and where He came from?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church identify and collect relics?
- 📝 What does the LDS Church teach about Jesus being married, having children, and His position on polygamy?
- 📝 What does the LDS church teach about what men and women did or do in the pre-existence?
- 📝 Does the Orthodox Church accept Gay marriage and why?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church have a contingency plan for the case that the pope and all cardinals are dead?
- 📝 Does the Russian Orthodox Church actively support Putin and his war in Ukraine?
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church respond to the claim that its authority to interpret scripture is based on circular reasoning?
- 📝 Does the Church of England regard itself as responsible for the behaviour of the general populace?
- 📝 What privileges and powers does the Prophet of the LDS Church have in his office as Seer?
- 📝 What does the Lutheran Church teach about Justification by Faith and is the sacrament of Baptism essential to salvation?
- 📝 What does a returning Catholic who contracted marriage in a Protestant church need to do when the spouse wants to remain Protestant?
- 📝 How does the Swedenborgian Church interpret Psalm 110:1 and Mark 15:34?
- 📝 What does the Catholic church say about its own presence or absence when the tribulation starts?
- 📝 How does the Catholic church distinguish between the human soul and spirit?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church prohibit marriage between a woman and her God-father?
- 📝 How does the Catholic church deal with the differences between the God described in the old and new Testaments?
- 📝 What does the Church say about the statements that the Pope Benedict XVI made in the book "God and the World"?
- 📝 Why does the Eastern Orthodox Church call the 49 days following Easter, Pentecost, and the Western Church does not?
- 📝 How does the Magisterium protect the faithful and the general public against misinformation of the Catholic faith in the Internet Era?
- 📝 How does Catholic Church differentiate between the presence of Jesus and that of the Holy Spirit on the earth?
- 📝 How does the LDS Church defend the racist doctrines of its past?
- 📝 How does the Catholic church prioritize different sources of information in coming to doctrinal/theological conclusions, and how do they justify that?
