I've been looking forward to reading Almost Christian as I have been eager to engage with Kenda's analysis and commentary on the 'National Study of Youth and Religion' (the piece of research in the States that coined the phrase, and pointed to the faith of teenagers as, "Moral Therapeutic Deism." .... A piece of research that I believe has some resonance with the UK faith landscape.
A full review will follow but had to blog this from the opening chapter ....
"What if the blasé religiousity of most American teenagers is not the result of poor communication but the result of excellent communication of a watered down gospel so devoid of God's self-giving love in Jesus Christ, so immune to the sending love of the Holy Spirit that it might not be Christianity at all? What if the church models a way of life that asks, not passionate surrender but ho-hum assent? What if we are preaching moral affirmation, a feel better faith, and a hands-off God instead of the decisively involved, impossibly loving, radically sending God of Abraham and Mary, who desired us enough to enter creation in Jesus Christ and whose Spirit is active in the church and in the world today? If this is the case - if theological malpractice explains teenagers' half-hearted religious identities - then perhaps most young people practice Moralistic Therapeutic Deism not because they reject Christianity but because this is the only Christianity they know"
It was a challenging read - looking forward to see how it contrasts with "The Faith of Generation Y" which was launched tonight. More Mayo, Mayo and Nash magic