Interview on Teen Pop Culture
Here's the transcript on a lil interview I did for a Catholic Publication on Teen Popular Culture in case you might be interested. If this doesn't interest you in the least - check out the pictures of my pimp cane below.
First of all, with the understanding that you minister to both suburb kids and inner city ones (which I assume are pretty different types of ministry) what specific challenges do you think this (high school) generation faces that others (like ours) didn't?
Every generation, to some extent, is going to face the same problem …they need Jesus. However one of the things that makes that problem so difficult to solve for today’s teens is that they are inundated with choices. From value meal options, to cell phone plans, to soda flavors, to T.V. shows (there’s even multiple MTV channels) – this generation is the result of a society that each year seems to revolve more and more around self. In this kind of atmosphere Christianity becomes merely another option that, with the help of Pop culture relativism, stands on equal ground with any other lifestyle choice.
The other big challenge ministering to generation y is the lack of real communication in their day to day life. Any good youth minister will tell you that the backbone of successful ministry is being able to build relationships with teens. However – “hanging out” – the favorite past time of teens a generation ago – is now replaced with chatting online, instant messenger, and text messaging – all quick, non-substantial, and anonymous forms of communication. These forms of communication – give the facad of intimacy – but lack any real depth (Creating a huge problem when it comes to ministering to teens) Even when trying to use their modes of communication – it doesn’t quite fit. Asking a kid about his relationship with God on Instant Messanger is out of place in a world of communication through 3 letter words and smiley face symbols
What techniques have you found that work in reaching out to these kids?
The best technique is to use their culture – not to throw the whole thing out and hand them a catechism. I think today’s teens respond well to conversational catechesis – where we catechize through day to day relationships rather than through programming. This is not to say that structured teaching is obselete but in an attention defecit world where blurbs of conversation are the norm – I find kids responding better to stories, witness, and conversation.
What do you think these kids are really looking for out there?
Intimacy. Despite the issues teens have with real intimacy – they crave it. They are starving for experiences of it. This is a major reason why we see casual sexual partners or “friends with benefits” as such a huge trend. Teens lack experiences of intimacy – whether with friends or in their families as a result of divorce and dead beat parents. This is what I see teens running to the Eucharist for – intimacy.
They've been called at least a very spiritual generation, if not particularly religious. Do you think they're more receptive to the Gospel message than other generations or less?
Being a very “spiritual” generation is Oprah Winfrey crap. Today’s generation of teens are the product of a Pop-psychology, Pop-spirituality culture – which boils down to a mixture of Dr. Phil, fortune cookies, and some cheesy preacher telling us God wants us to smile more. The result is a bunch of people wearing some hip and trendy cross they bought at Urban Outfiters who think they’re living the Gospel yet wonder why their life isn’t like a page out of Chicken Soup for the Soul. I think they are still apt to receive the Gospel message in their hearts – however, the problem with this “pop-spirituality” is that it’s very superficial. Because of this we see teens living very superficial spiritualities. There are a multitude of teens who know how to be “spiritual” – how to go through the motions of youth group – they know the songs and the hand motions, they know the small group lingo, and they know their prayer – but it’s very shallow. On the outside – the “more spiritual” generation seems more connected .,, but often times the roots are shallow. The plus side to this generation is that spirituality is on the forefront – it’s not just a subculture anymore – it’s become mainstream in a lot of ways. Jesus is a rockstar right now …all over the hottest t-shirt lines and all over the airwaves from rap music to rock– so to be “into your faith” is OK today. And that’s a very good thing.
Maybe you could say a few words about JPII and his ministry to youth in light of your new recording.
JP 2 … he knew today’s teens very well. He spoke to them about intimacy, He spoke to them about sexuality. He spoke to them about relativsim and our culture of selfishness. But most of all he spoke to them about hope. …not in some flakey way- where we all light a candle and think good thoughts about the world. When he talked the young people of the world about hope – he told them THEY were the hope. In a world that writes off the youth as lost and hopeless – he spent the majority of his papacy proclaiming that they were the “morning watchmen” who would usher in the dawn of a new ecclesial spring time. And it was him who said over and over again that in these days the holy spirit would usher in a time of new evangelization… An evangelization that would be met with great fruit. To me – that’s vision! An 84 year old man who, seeing the darkness of youth culture, still calls them the light of the world.
First of all, with the understanding that you minister to both suburb kids and inner city ones (which I assume are pretty different types of ministry) what specific challenges do you think this (high school) generation faces that others (like ours) didn't?
Every generation, to some extent, is going to face the same problem …they need Jesus. However one of the things that makes that problem so difficult to solve for today’s teens is that they are inundated with choices. From value meal options, to cell phone plans, to soda flavors, to T.V. shows (there’s even multiple MTV channels) – this generation is the result of a society that each year seems to revolve more and more around self. In this kind of atmosphere Christianity becomes merely another option that, with the help of Pop culture relativism, stands on equal ground with any other lifestyle choice.
The other big challenge ministering to generation y is the lack of real communication in their day to day life. Any good youth minister will tell you that the backbone of successful ministry is being able to build relationships with teens. However – “hanging out” – the favorite past time of teens a generation ago – is now replaced with chatting online, instant messenger, and text messaging – all quick, non-substantial, and anonymous forms of communication. These forms of communication – give the facad of intimacy – but lack any real depth (Creating a huge problem when it comes to ministering to teens) Even when trying to use their modes of communication – it doesn’t quite fit. Asking a kid about his relationship with God on Instant Messanger is out of place in a world of communication through 3 letter words and smiley face symbols
What techniques have you found that work in reaching out to these kids?
The best technique is to use their culture – not to throw the whole thing out and hand them a catechism. I think today’s teens respond well to conversational catechesis – where we catechize through day to day relationships rather than through programming. This is not to say that structured teaching is obselete but in an attention defecit world where blurbs of conversation are the norm – I find kids responding better to stories, witness, and conversation.
What do you think these kids are really looking for out there?
Intimacy. Despite the issues teens have with real intimacy – they crave it. They are starving for experiences of it. This is a major reason why we see casual sexual partners or “friends with benefits” as such a huge trend. Teens lack experiences of intimacy – whether with friends or in their families as a result of divorce and dead beat parents. This is what I see teens running to the Eucharist for – intimacy.
They've been called at least a very spiritual generation, if not particularly religious. Do you think they're more receptive to the Gospel message than other generations or less?
Being a very “spiritual” generation is Oprah Winfrey crap. Today’s generation of teens are the product of a Pop-psychology, Pop-spirituality culture – which boils down to a mixture of Dr. Phil, fortune cookies, and some cheesy preacher telling us God wants us to smile more. The result is a bunch of people wearing some hip and trendy cross they bought at Urban Outfiters who think they’re living the Gospel yet wonder why their life isn’t like a page out of Chicken Soup for the Soul. I think they are still apt to receive the Gospel message in their hearts – however, the problem with this “pop-spirituality” is that it’s very superficial. Because of this we see teens living very superficial spiritualities. There are a multitude of teens who know how to be “spiritual” – how to go through the motions of youth group – they know the songs and the hand motions, they know the small group lingo, and they know their prayer – but it’s very shallow. On the outside – the “more spiritual” generation seems more connected .,, but often times the roots are shallow. The plus side to this generation is that spirituality is on the forefront – it’s not just a subculture anymore – it’s become mainstream in a lot of ways. Jesus is a rockstar right now …all over the hottest t-shirt lines and all over the airwaves from rap music to rock– so to be “into your faith” is OK today. And that’s a very good thing.
Maybe you could say a few words about JPII and his ministry to youth in light of your new recording.
JP 2 … he knew today’s teens very well. He spoke to them about intimacy, He spoke to them about sexuality. He spoke to them about relativsim and our culture of selfishness. But most of all he spoke to them about hope. …not in some flakey way- where we all light a candle and think good thoughts about the world. When he talked the young people of the world about hope – he told them THEY were the hope. In a world that writes off the youth as lost and hopeless – he spent the majority of his papacy proclaiming that they were the “morning watchmen” who would usher in the dawn of a new ecclesial spring time. And it was him who said over and over again that in these days the holy spirit would usher in a time of new evangelization… An evangelization that would be met with great fruit. To me – that’s vision! An 84 year old man who, seeing the darkness of youth culture, still calls them the light of the world.
posted by Righteous B at 9:03 PM
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