Sunday, January 6, 2008

"unChristian"

I started reading the book, "unChristian - what a new generation really thinks about Christianity." Here are some descriptions of the most current generation of university students:

...relationships are the driving force. Loyalty to friends is one of their highest values. They have a strong need to belong, usually to a tribe of other loyal people who know them well and appreciate them. Still, under their relational connectedness lies fierce individualism.

Though they esteem fair-mindedness and diversity, they are irreverent and blunt. Finding ways to express themselves and their rage is an endless pursuit. Being skeptical of leaders and institutions is part of their generational coding. They do not trust things that seem too perfect, accepting that life comes with its share of messiness and off-the-wall experiences and people.

They engage in a nearly constant search for fresh experiences and new sources of motivation. They disdain self-proclaimed experts and "talking head" presentations. If something doesn't work for them, or if they are not permitted to participate in the process, they quickly move on to something that grabs them. They prefer casual and comfortable to stuffy and stilted. They view life in a non-linear, chaotic way, which means they don't mind contradiction and ambiguity.

What do you think? Is this generally accurate? And if so, how does it make a difference?

4 comments:

Matt Mikalatos said...

I don't know. I think generalities are hard about this (or any) generation. Maybe it's because my generation doesn't like generalities. Probably.

I was surprised by the students at our winter conference this year. They seemed different than students I had connected with previously. They seemed more engaged and ready to DO something than years previous.

I was surprised, also, that while many of the students liked Don Miller, who came and did a free-flowing, well-done-talk carefully crafted to appear like random musings, the students LOVED Crawford Lorritts and his in-your-face presentation of straight up truth.

I guess it's about time for someone to start writing books about the next generation, that's all I'm saying.

Matt Mikalatos said...

Good grief, I'm long-winded.

Anonymous said...

You say this book is about what a new generation thinks about Christianity. ok, but you keep saying they...they esteem fair-mindedness...they have a strong need....they engage in a nearly constant search.???? Is this about what a new gen. thinks about Christianity or Christians? Or is it about the church and are we looking for reasons to go purpose driven or market driven?

Anonymous said...

Yo dude, I take the time to read your blog and the least I would expect is a response. My time is valuable too.