Religious Life of Young Adults Rev. R. Paul Henrickson
Relg. 225E Fall Term 2014
MWF noon – 1:00 pm RM 319 West HM: 387.3740 Cell: 312.8311
SYLLABUS
CONTENT:
This course involves a broad and basic introduction to congregation based youth and young adult ministry through lecture, class discussion, small group conversation, and contextual experience.
LEARNING GOALS:
Through course and contextual involvement students will gain knowledge, understanding, and skills in the areas of:
· theology / philosophy of youth and emerging adult ministry,
· faith development of emerging adults,
· Social and psychological characteristics of emerging adults,
· communication skills for relating effectively with adolescents,
· credible resources available for program development and implementation,
· written and research skills resulting in a chapter of a class “book,”
· and serve as a think tank exploring the viable questions, concerns, and responses relative to effective youth and young adult ministry that takes seriously the needs and gifts of youth, young adults, and families.
TEXTS:
Soul Searching, The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers Christian Smith with Melinda Lundquist Denton, (Oxford)
Lost in Transition, Christian Smith, Oxford University Press, 2011
Souls in Transition, Christian Smith, Oxford University Press, 2009
Emerging Adulthood, Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, Oxford University Press, 2004
Almost Christian, Kendra Creasy Dean, Oxford University Press, 2010
Spiritual Formation in Emerging Adulthood, David Setran and Chris Kiesling, Baker Academic, 2013
Big Questions, Worthy Dreams: Mentoring Young Adults in Their Search for Meaning, Purpose and Faith, Sharon Daloz Parks, Jossey-Bass, 2000
Online Articles: (partial list, others will be assigned)
http://203.10.46.30/mre/621/mod13/HorellRE&Postmodernity.doc
http://www.ptsem.edu/scvm/iym/index.aspx?hdr=7204&sn=1770&id=1665
http://www.pewforum.org/2010/02/17/religion-among-the-millennials/
http://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise/
ASSIGNMENTS:
September 3 and 5 – “Your Faith PPT”
Prepare a Powerpoint presentation that presents you current faith to the class
September 8 - Read the following:
http://www.pewforum.org/2010/02/17/religion-among-the-millennials/
http://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise/
A. Pick 1 Graph to present in class
B. 1 pg refl on “Sidebar” from “Nones”
Worship Words – attend a worship service as described below
Write a 1 page reflection for each, considering worship language, music, engagement of each
Worship Words #1 – Attend a “Traditional Liturgical” worship service
Worship Words #2 – Attend a “Contemporary” worship service
September 17 - One page Questions for class discussion about “Religious Life of Young Adults”
September 24 and 26 - 2 YA You Know
Interview 2, 18 – 29 year olds using the interview outline that we develop in class
Term Paper will be assigned on one of the following topics: these will be presented in class
1. Unbelief of Emerging Adults – depth and implications for the church and society
2. Implications for Youth Ministry – what can be done preemptively
3. Evangelism – how does the church engage non-believers and lapsed believers
4. Worship designed for Emerging Adults – traditional and contemporary
5. Discipleship and Catechesis of Emerging Adults – how and what to teach
6. What a church of engaged Emerging Adults might look like – who is doing this well?
7. The trajectory of the Christian Church in YOUR lifetime
TESTS: There will be a Mid-Term and a Final Examination.
GRADING: Final grades will be determined on the following basis:
1000 points as indication on the class schedule
Note that 10% of your grade is based on Class discussion and participation.
There are NO EXCUSED ABSENCES.
If you must miss class, you need to call me BEFORE class.
Students must observe all aspects of academic integrity at Roanoke College; especially in the written work.
Date / Day / Subject / Pts/1000 / Due/Who/What / Assigned reading/taskAug 27 / 1 W / Intros/Expectations
Aug 29 / 2 F / What’s The Problem?
“Stuck in the Middle” / Discussion / Read Arnett Chapters 1, 2, 3
Sep 1 / 3 M / “Who Are These Guys?” / 50 / 1 Para. refl. on each / Can A Worldview Be Healed?
Ascension Deficit
Sep 3 / 4 W / Your Faith PPT / 50 / P,R,Z,G / Read Arnett Chapter 4, 5, 6
Sep 5 / 5 F / Your Faith PPT / “ / Be,Br,A,T / Read Arnett Chapters 7, 8, 10
Sep 8 / 6 M / “Nones” & “Millenials” discussion / 25
50 / A. Pick 1 Graph to present in class
B. 1 pg refl on “Sidebar” from “Nones” / Nones
Religion Among the Millenials
Sep 10 / 7 W / Happiness is… / Bring a list of 10 things that make you happy
Sep 12 / 8 F / Relativism/Multi-everything / Discussion / Assigned Handout
Sep 15 / 9 M / Emerging Adulthood / Discussion / Church Visit #1
Sep 17 / 10 W / Create Interview Outline / 25 / One page Questions / Read Soul Search – Chapter 2
Sep 19 / 11 F / Worship Words #1 / 50 / 1 pg refl. on worship / YA Interviews
Sep 22 / 12 M / Spiritual, Not Religious / Discussion / Read Soul Search – Chapter 3
Sep 24 / 13 W / 2 YA You Know / 100 / Be,Br,A,T / Read Soul Search – Chapter 4
Sep 26 / 14 F / 2 YA You Know / “ / R,Z,G / Read Dean
Sep 29 / 15 M / Moralistic Therapeutic Deism / Discussion / Church Visit #2
Oct 1 / 16 W / Worship Words #2 / 50 / 1 pg refl. on worship / Read Dean – Chapters 1, 2
Oct 3 / 17 F / Almost Christian / Discussion / Read Dean – Chapters 3, 4, 5
Oct 6 / 18 M / Almost Christian / Discussion / Read Dean – Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9
Oct 8 / 19 W / Re-Cap / Discussion
Oct 10 / 20 F / Mid-Term Exam / 100
XXXX / XXXX / FALL BREAK / XXXXXX / XXXXXX
Oct 20 / 21 M / Religious Affiliations / Discussion / Read Souls in – Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4
Oct 22 / 22 W / Six Major Religious Types / Discussion / Read Souls in – Chapters 5, 6, 7
Oct 24 / 23 F / Implications for Youth Ministry / Discussion / Read Souls in – Chapters 8, 9, 10
Oct 27 / 24 M / Paper Outlines / All
Oct 29 / 25 W / “Whatever”
Morality in Doubt / Discussion / Read Lost in – Chapters 1, 2
Oct 31 / 26 F / “All That Glitters”
Consumerism / Discussion / Read Lost in – Chapters 3, 4
Nov 3 / 27 M / “The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood” / 50 / 2 page essay on “The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood” / Read Lost in – Chapters 5 & Concl
Nov 5 / 28 W / What Do YA Want? / Discussion / Read Big Questions – Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4
Nov 7 / 29 F / What Do YA Need? / 25 / One page review of Chapters 1-7 / Read Big Questions – Chapters 5, 6, 7
Nov 10 / 30 M / What Does the Church Have to Offer YA? / Discussion / Read Big Questions – Chapters 8, 9, 10
Nov 12 / 31 W / What Do YA Have to Offer the Church? / Discussion
Nov 14 / 32 F / YA Ministry / 25 / One page review of Chapters 2 & 3 / Read Setran – Chapters 1, 2, 3
Nov 17 / 33 M / YA Ministry / Discussion / Read Setran – Chapters 4, 5, 6
Nov 19 / 34 W / YA Ministry / Discussion / Read Setran - Chapters 7, 8, 9
Nov 21 / 35 F / 200 / 1 & 2 / Presentations
Nov 24 / 36 M / “ / 3 & 4 / Presentations
Dec 1 / 37 M / “ / 5 & 6 / Presentations
Dec 3 / 38 W / “ / 7 & wrap up / Presentations
Dec 5 / 39 F / Concluding Remarks
Dec 12 / Exam / Friday 2-5 / 100
Class Participation / 100
Total / 1,000