08-02-2007, 12:36 PM
I've had a number of conversations about religion with my 17 year old son, who I regard as testing a lot higher than I do in the area of Mental Health. He listens respectfully to my carrying on about Religion and Spirituality, even asking the odd question. More out of repect than because of any real interest, I think. His views on the subject are similar to his 12 year old sister's, who seems to have less interest in the subject than he does, unlikely as that is.
He identifies himself nor as an Atheist or Agnostic but as being without Religious Opinions.
Most of my son's friends are similar. Some of them pay lip service to their parent's Faith, attend church 2 or 3 times a year, but have very little real interest in the subject of Religion. A few of his acquaintances (as opposed to his friends) are Fundamentalists embued with anti abortion and anti-same-sex-marriage zealotry, but they are not exactly "Deep Thinkers" for the most part. The Deep Thinikers seem to be interested in other things, mostly of a more practical nature.
Benjamin Franklin Spirituality?
I think Religion, as we know it, is dying in the Modern World.
I don't regard the Middle East as part orf the Modern World.
In this area, the only thing resembling religion that I'm aware of that seems to be healthy and even growing which seems cognizant of 21st Century realities is the 12 Step Movement. Particularly, Alanon. What I find interesting about this is the unigue fusion in this movement of Psychology, Self-Help/Positive Thinking, and Spiritualiy. It is adamant in its assertions that it is not a religion.
For my part, I find the spirituality expressed by my son and his friends as well as the blend found in Alanon a far healthier expression of the Human Spirit than the expression found in most traditional 21st Century Churches.
I wonder how far off the path of AUC Spirituality this is.
He identifies himself nor as an Atheist or Agnostic but as being without Religious Opinions.
Most of my son's friends are similar. Some of them pay lip service to their parent's Faith, attend church 2 or 3 times a year, but have very little real interest in the subject of Religion. A few of his acquaintances (as opposed to his friends) are Fundamentalists embued with anti abortion and anti-same-sex-marriage zealotry, but they are not exactly "Deep Thinkers" for the most part. The Deep Thinikers seem to be interested in other things, mostly of a more practical nature.
Benjamin Franklin Spirituality?
I think Religion, as we know it, is dying in the Modern World.
I don't regard the Middle East as part orf the Modern World.
In this area, the only thing resembling religion that I'm aware of that seems to be healthy and even growing which seems cognizant of 21st Century realities is the 12 Step Movement. Particularly, Alanon. What I find interesting about this is the unigue fusion in this movement of Psychology, Self-Help/Positive Thinking, and Spiritualiy. It is adamant in its assertions that it is not a religion.
For my part, I find the spirituality expressed by my son and his friends as well as the blend found in Alanon a far healthier expression of the Human Spirit than the expression found in most traditional 21st Century Churches.
I wonder how far off the path of AUC Spirituality this is.