LouisvilleFan Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 I came across this article on a news feed and thought it offered some good insight into how New Evangelization efforts might learn from what's working among other Christian congregations who are also responding to our post-Christian culture shift: http://ib2news.org/2014/06/19/youll-never-believe-whats-drawing-millenials-to-church/ Some notable parts: Even the Nicene Creed gets its own page, with three paragraphs of explanation about where it came from and why we recite it. (“I said this in church for 28 years,†said one visitor, “and nobody ever explained it to me.â€) Capitol Hill isn’t doing what most churches do to try to reach Millennials. Lately, the normal prescription is a relaxed dress code, coffee bar in the lobby, and maybe a violinist in the worship band. But here in Washington, what’s reaching Millennials is orderliness. And 5-minute prayers (four of them). And a 55-minute sermon based on one chapter of Psalms. What strikes me is there isn't much entertaining gonig on. They're teaching authentic Christianity, and getting deep into theology. People are clearly responding and eating it up. Imagine if they were tapping into the depths of Sacred Tradition and graces of the sacraments. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mortify ii Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 What is authentic Christianity? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anastasia13 Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 My first thought is that nothing brings people to the faith like the faith. My second thought is that the Holy Spirit brings people to the faith. So how do people get more empowered by the Holy Spirit? Perhaps things like prayer, worship, scripture, etc. We need fellowship, but that alone cannot fill the spiritual void in our lives when we are not connected to the divine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthfinder Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 I think this is why the EF is growing amongst young people - it's guaranteed to have the "orderliness" ( not that the OF can't; but sometimes it just doesn't). Entertainment is incredibly 'momentary' and prone to fads - it does not speak to, or about, the Eternal. Just about all churches will have ritual of some sort (even if they don't identify it as such); therefore, if the entire ritual is focused on entertainment, pithy remarks, or self-help, it can never really get us deeper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anastasia13 Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 What is authentic Christianity? I think what they are getting at is that people want more than a pretty music things and coffee if they are really going to commit to something. Some millenial outreach is more about exernals, almost like less liturgical versions of the smells and bells that we are accused of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anastasia13 Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 I think this is why the EF is growing amongst young people - it's guaranteed to have the "orderliness" ( not that the OF can't; but sometimes it just doesn't). Entertainment is incredibly 'momentary' and prone to fads - it does not speak to, or about, the Eternal. Just about all churches will have ritual of some sort (even if they don't identify it as such); therefore, if the entire ritual is focused on entertainment, pithy remarks, or self-help, it can never really get us deeper. On some level, we all know that entertainment ends instead if satisfying by itself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthfinder Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 On some level, we all know that entertainment ends instead if satisfying by itself? We know that, but sometimes not much thought is put into creating 'worship experiences' that are driven by self-focused, emotional, or entertainment. I think instead of focusing on the root of why younger people aren't going to church (proper catechesis), they figure they'll use something exciting to draw them in (perhaps with the hope of eventually teaching the faith), but it never materializes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Walker Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Normally, I dread going to Mass. Especially on Sundays. Seriously, I dread it. If it weren't for my family, I probably would have stopped going by now and begun to completely forget about religion. Oh I would probably pray in my own way, but I would probably try to find some practices or theories that sounded more serious and realistic than Catholicism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouisvilleFan Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Normally, I dread going to Mass. Especially on Sundays. Seriously, I dread it. If it weren't for my family, I probably would have stopped going by now and begun to completely forget about religion. Oh I would probably pray in my own way, but I would probably try to find some practices or theories that sounded more serious and realistic than Catholicism. Why is that? Do you feel like a different approach or change of pace would help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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