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	Big Picture Why do we do what we do? Does our youth work practise fit comfortably with our faith? You can discuss issues of spirituality, faith, theology and philosophy here.
The discussion thread you are viewing is : Spirituality in a secular context
Return to Discussion Thread List Showing Oldest First - Change Showing posts 1 to 5 of 5 in this thread By: sharona_verona 2 Posts Spirituality in a secular context 02/08/2006 13:22:53 Hi folks, Not sure if you were aware but spirituality is becoming a much higher profile issue in the secular arena. Recently a book has been published called: "Who am I? Who are you?" which offers ideas on how to tackle this in a non-church setting: http://www.ypnmagazine.com/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=full_news&ID=11231 Also, the NYA is releasing a document called ´A Journey of Discovery´ by Maxine Green, as a follow-up to the consultation they did last year. In short, a massive door has opened , creating opportunities for us to dialogue with non-faith youthwork providers and offer our help, perspectives and general willingness to engage in an issue that is usually ´off-limits´ to statutory services. PLEASE, PLEASE can I encourage you to take the initiative and follow these opportunities up? National Youthwork Week this year is all about mental health & emotional wellbeing, and spirituality fits beautifully into that arena. If you´d like to know more about just how that fits, reply with your email or postal address and I´ll send you a paper recently released by Portsmouth City Council Youth Service, on the subject. Sharon :) By: pete I am not but I know I Am. 427 Posts Email: youthworkerpete@hotmail.com Re: Spirituality in a secular context 03/08/2006 10:54:39 I do agree that this is a very important opportunity for Christian youth workers to gain some credibility and offer something to the secular world - however, as with all things, there is another side! The YPN review of the book says - "The two strands of the book are ´Who am I?´ and ´Who are you?´" - We are missing the most important question, without which these two will never be fully answered, ´Who is God?´. Even is the answer to that question is not the ´Christian´ God (i.e. Trinitarian), without understanding what a persons ´god´ is you will not fully appreciate yourself or your relationship with others. I am also left wondering why secular sources are finding their own definitions and outworkings of spirituality, when religious organisations have been doing it for millenia. I can only imagine it is because we are not to be trusted, as we will undoubtedly push our own biased type of spirituality. The statutory sector will obviously have a completly neutral, value free type of spirituality on offer (please note the sarcasm!). Finally - is spirituality becoming another tale of personal fulfillment? From a Christian point of view a depeer spirituality is surrendering more and more to God - it is the opposite of ´personal fulfilment´ in a secular sense (although abviously we know surrendering to God is the most pure form of self-actualising). I expect we will see lots of Maslow´s Hierarchy, and it will be used uncritically, and that makes me nervous! And also finally (really finally) - as with the NYA´s consultation paper, will we only see the positive sides of spirtuality. The fulffy feelings and warmth and growth? What steps will be taken to deal with the occult, suicide pacts, the driving out of ´demons´ like we saw last year in Hackney, are we opening young people up to other forms of abuse by making them spiritually vulnerable? I would just like to repeat again - It is an incredible opportunity as secular agencies are forced to wrestle with spirituality - but we need to get a decent plan of action, figure out how we can play a part, and essentially prove that Christian spirituality is the only ´true´ or ´complete´ spiritual experience (which as we know will only be experienced fully in heaven) otherwise the statutory sector will influence what goes on in secular youth work - and they may get it badly wrong! By: sharona_verona 2 Posts Re: Re: Spirituality in a secular context 22/08/2006 11:17:16 Hi! Thanks for taking the time to respond. I agree with the concerns you´ve raised, and I think the more we stand up, and stand out for Jesus, the harder it will become! I think secular society is far more comfortable with beige theologies that don´t tip the boat. Totally sold-out disciples of Christ will be pretty hard to swallow! As to how the secular authorities will deal with spirituality: to be honest I think they´ll go 75% of the way, and then have to back off, and leave it to faith groups to pick up the baton. Local authortities have an obligation to be open to any people groups and all faiths. I don´t think they will engage in any real depth with sp/y because they can´t be seen to ´pick sides´ or favour one group over another. I agree that there is a danger that yp could become more vulnerable if they begin exploring sp/y, but that´s why we need to get stuck in an engage with the services who are willing to try. In many ways yp are already engaging with aspects of sp/y, but without any guidance, support or understanding from those who could be there for them. This is an emerging opportunity, and the reality is that we´ll probably make more mistakes than we´d like along the way. But yes, we definately need to think, plan, discuss and debate...AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, before unthinking, poorly considered decisions are made. S :) PS I´m based in Portsmouth. Whereabouts are you? ______________________________________________________ pete wrote: "I do agree that this is a very important opportunity for Christian youth workers to gain some credibility and offer something to the secular world - however, as with all things, there is another side! The YPN review of the book says - "The two strands of the book are ´Who am I?´ and ´Who are you?´" - We are missing the most important question, without which these two will never be fully answered, ´Who is God?´. Even is the answer to that question is not the ´Christian´ God (i.e. Trinitarian), without understanding what a persons ´god´ is you will not fully appreciate yourself or your relationship with others. I am also left wondering why secular sources are finding their own definitions and outworkings of spirituality, when religious organisations have been doing it for millenia. I can only imagine it is because we are not to be trusted, as we will undoubtedly push our own biased type of spirituality. The statutory sector will obviously have a completly neutral, value free type of spirituality on offer (please note the sarcasm!). Finally - is spirituality becoming another tale of personal fulfillment? From a Christian point of view a depeer spirituality is surrendering more and more to God - it is the opposite of ´personal fulfilment´ in a secular sense (although abviously we know surrendering to God is the most pure form of self-actualising). I expect we will see lots of Maslow´s Hierarchy, and it will be used uncritically, and that makes me nervous! And also finally (really finally) - as with the NYA´s consultation paper, will we only see the positive sides of spirtuality. The fulffy feelings and warmth and growth? What steps will be taken to deal with the occult, suicide pacts, the driving out of ´demons´ like we saw last year in Hackney, are we opening young people up to other forms of abuse by making them spiritually vulnerable? I would just like to repeat again - It is an incredible opportunity as secular agencies are forced to wrestle with spirituality - but we need to get a decent plan of action, figure out how we can play a part, and essentially prove that Christian spirituality is the only ´true´ or ´complete´ spiritual experience (which as we know will only be experienced fully in heaven) otherwise the statutory sector will influence what goes on in secular youth work - and they may get it badly wrong!" _______________________________________________________ By: pete I am not but I know I Am. 427 Posts Email: youthworkerpete@hotmail.com Re: Re: Re: Spirituality in a secular context 22/08/2006 20:41:26 I´m based in hartlepool, in Teesside. A long way from Portsmouth! I do agree it´s a hard line to follow - being honourable to our own spirituality (Christian), which we believe to be the most fulfilling form, whilst talking to people who either have their own developed sense of spirituality or (more likely) don´t have any idea, but still don´t want to be talked down to by a bunch of Christians. (PS the report from the NYA is out, I´ve read it, and I don´t like it very much! Quite anti-evangelical Christian, and lumps together people who would call themselves ´evangelical´ (like me), and fundamentalists (which I don´t think I am?!?) but it surprises me as the author used to be a CofE youth officer). By: inglis Inglis 1 Posts Re: Re: Re: Re: Spirituality in a secular context 14/09/2006 14:04:05 _______________________________________________________ pete wrote: "I´m based in hartlepool, in Teesside. A long way from Portsmouth! I do agree it´s a hard line to follow - being honourable to our own spirituality (Christian), which we believe to be the most fulfilling form, whilst talking to people who either have their own developed sense of spirituality or (more likely) don´t have any idea, but still don´t want to be talked down to by a bunch of Christians. (PS the report from the NYA is out, I´ve read it, and I don´t like it very much! Quite anti-evangelical Christian, and lumps together people who would call themselves ´evangelical´ (like me), and fundamentalists (which I don´t think I am?!?) but it surprises me as the author used to be a CofE youth officer)." _______________________________________________________ I am with Sharon on this, the fact is that young people are interested in a spiritual experience but can be put off by traditional christian approaches to evangelism. We need to listen to young people first & what they consider are their spiritual experiences. Once we have earned the right to talk about the christian stand point then we can encourage them down the path of self discovery & at a time when they will accept that knowing Jesus is the best way. At Guildford YMCA we have a youth cafe that has a large number of young people who attend not even knowing a christian organisation runs it, we then can introduce them to Jesus through relational youth work. Any one want the job of our cafe team leader?
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