Kenda Creasy Dean
Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church
- ISBN 13:
- 9780195314847
- author:
- Kenda Creasy Dean
- format:
- HardBack
- publisher:
- OUP USA
- language:
- English
- Publication Year:
- 2010
- Pages:
- 264
- Dimensions:
- 24.4 x 16.8 x 2.4 centimetres (0
- Genre:
- Religion, Christianity, General,
- Condition:
- New
- Availability:
- Item usually sent within 7 working days
Description
American teenagers are often positive about Christianity, yet apathetic about genuine religious practice. Kenda Creasy Dean investigates this phenomenon, placing the blame on churches themselves. Instead of proclaiming a God who calls believers to lives of love and service, churches offer a bargain religion that is easy to use and forget. To produce ardent young Christians, Dean argues that churches must rediscover their sense of mission and model an understanding of being Christian as a call to share God's love with others. The most committed young Christians share four important traits: they can tell a personal and powerful story about God, belong to a significant faith community, exhibit a sense of vocation, and possess a profound sense of hope. Dean proposes an approach to Christian education that places the idea of mission at its core, offering concrete suggestions for inspiring teens to live more authentically engaged Christian lives.