Finding Faith
A new book by Richard Flory and Donald Miller, Finding Faith: The Spiritual Quest of the Post-Boomer Generation (Rutgers University Press, 2008) examines religious trends among Christian Gen Xers and Millennials. The book argues that a new generation is changing the Christian faith as it seeks authentic spiritual experiences and "expressive communalism." It describes changing religious practices among young Christians and the strategies they are adopting. Flory and Miller created a typology with four categories: Innovators, Appropriators, Resistors, and Reclaimers. Innovators "represent a constantly evolving...approach to religious and spiritual beliefs and practices." Appropriators :seek to provide a compelling and 'relevant' experience for participants." Resistors refer to Boomer-initiated efforts to appeal to reason, thus "resisting the incursion of postmodern culture within Christianity" by reestablishing the dominance of "written text and rational belief." Finally, Reclaimers seek "to renew their experiences of Christianity through the history, symbolism, and practices of ancient forms of Christianity" in such expression as Episcopal, Orthodox, and Catholic Churches.Posted Monday, September 29, 2008