Kiefer, Kevin P

English

Loyola Marymount University

Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiryand PracticeVolume 7 | Issue 4 Article 106-1-2004The New Faithful: Why Young Adults AreEmbracing Christian Orthodoxy, by ColleenCarrollKevin P. KieferFollow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/ceThis Book Review is brought to you for free with open access by the School of Education at Digital Commons at Loyola Marymount University andLoyola Law School. It has been accepted for publication in Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice by the journal's editorial board andhas been published on the web by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons at Loyola Marymount University and Loyola Law School. Formore information about Digital Commons, please contact digitalcommons@lmu.edu. To contact the editorial board of Catholic Education: A Journalof Inquiry and Practice, please email CatholicEdJournal@lmu.edu.Recommended CitationKiefer, K. P. (2004). The New Faithful: Why Young Adults Are Embracing Christian Orthodoxy, by Colleen Carroll. Journal of CatholicEducation, 7 (4). http://dx.doi.org/10.15365/joce.0704102013teacher-researchers nor is it laden with esoteric terms. It is, however, a user-friendly handbook for aspiring teacher-researchers wishing to turn their class-rooms into laboratories where teachers and students are at the heart of theresearch. Research has the power to transform classrooms, and it begins withinquiry. Hubbard and Power say that “inquiry has been oxygen for us” (p. 185),and they hope that such inquiry breathes life into the work of teacher-researchersgiving them the chance to reinvent themselves and their work.    Anne-Marie Cashmere is an assistant professional specialist and clinical field supervisor withthe Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Program at the University of Notre Dame.  THE NEW FAITHFUL: WHY YOUNG ADULTS AREEMBRACING CHRISTIAN ORTHODOXYCOLLEEN CARROLL, LOYOLA PRESS, 2002.Reviewed by Kevin P. KieferIn the book The New Faithful, Carroll uses an anecdotal approach to explain whymany young people today choose Christian orthodoxy.  The underlying premisethroughout the book is that the group of young Americans at the end of GenerationX (ended in 1983) is searching for a truth and meaning in life that is not provid-ed by the current societal norms and values.  In seeking this truth, young peopleare rejecting ethical relativism and embracing notions that are religious innature, with God as the source of all truth.  Because of this revelation, they aredrawn to the religious identities and devotions that their parents rejected.One of the first surprising comments in the book is that young adults aremore likely today to hold traditional views on sexuality, such as the immoralityof premarital and extramarital sex, homosexual relations, and birth control.Citing Illinois high school teacher Sue Davids, Carroll writes, “Whereas stu-dents thirty years ago fought for sexual liberation, students today have seen thedark side of free love, and they want stability” (p. 123).  Carroll goes on todescribe the increasing popularity of chastity and abstinence programs acrossthe country.  Virginity pledges and the True Love Waits campaign are reachingmore teens than ever before.  It seems that more young adults are waiting untilmarriage to explore their sexuality.  Young adults are finding strength from secular and postmodern persecutionon college campuses by ardently defending their faith both affectively and philo-sophically through campus fellowships.  In a post-modern society where ethicalrelativism is a prevailing paradigm, many college students are embracing thenotion of absolute truth and engaging in apologetics with their professors andpeers.  To draw strength to combat relativistic instruction and dialogue, these550 Catholic Education/June 2004young adults often “gravitate . . . to groups that have a clear identity and strengthof conviction.  In some cases, these elements even override denominational dif-ferences” (p. 178).  The battle against relativism has united some unlikely alliesin a common cause to seek God and the truth.  Their faith commitment demands that young adults neither sell out nor optout when it comes to political participation.  They must participate in the polit-ical process, and even though they lean toward “the right,” Christians cannoteasily identify themselves with any political party.  There seems to be a move-ment toward identification as independents within the young Christian commu-nity.  While some adults would find these young Christians, who seem to bemorally conservative and socially progressive, inconsistent in their politicalstances, young Christians find themselves to be holding to a truth that the rest ofthe country may not see.  These young adults say that their political philosophyis consistent.  In fact, they say, it is more defensible to conform one’s politicalideology to Christianity than to force Christianity into political categories.  As aresult, it is not possible to lump this orthodox group into either of the two main-stream political parties today.  Many young adults are bringing Christ to their workplaces and to theirplaces of recreation, coming to know that their vocation is to evangelize wherethey are.  Young Christians are discerning a true vocation in their work, realiz-ing that God is calling them to be professionals in all areas, and to serve God inthese capacities.  They believe that, “a job is never just a job.  It is an extensionof their faith journey, a way for them to spread the gospel, reverence God, andpromote Christian values, which often clash with those of the workplace” (p.225).  In addition, many young adults are trading in the career ladder and mon-etary incentives to pursue work that is more fulfilling to their vocation as disci-ples.  The concept of sacrificing worldly success to serve Christ in their occupa-tion is appealing to these Christians. And somewhat surprisingly, this attitude extends into the recreational pat-terns of these young adults.  Young adult ministry has grown extensively in thepast few years.  The description of a place “packed with hip young profession-als sipping Corona and straining for a decent view of the small square stage infront” sounds like a scene from a concert (p. 34).  However, it is a Theology onTap meeting; it is a place where young adults come together to socialize and heara speaker discuss issues of faith.  Such events as these have allowed youngadults to live their vocation in the workplace and during the after-hours social-izing that in mainstream society can be a source of escapism from reality.  Here,the young adults tackle reality side-by-side with recreation.This book offers some insight for Catholic educators who work at the highschool and college level.  Assuming the claims of the book are true, there seemsto be a resurgence of interest in faith and devotional practices.  These outwardsigns reflect a growing movement that young people want to define themselvesas Christian.  With Catholic identity a growing concern in Catholic schools,teachers and principals can tap into this renewed interest in the faith and use itto re-center the focus of the school on the gospel and a life of prayer that seeksthe truth.BOOK REVIEWS      551Catholic parents may find this book interesting, not so much as an instruc-tion manual on parenting, but as a consolation that faith is becoming importantagain in the lives of their children.  If patterns of discontent with societal valuescontinue, then parents can feel confident that they have a definite responsibilityto pass along the faith to their children.  Many parents have abdicated theirresponsibility of catechesis to religious education programs or to Catholicschools.  However, ignoring their parental responsibilities and allowing a rela-tivistic approach to religion seem to be counterproductive.  The students inter-viewed in the book cite a hunger for the truth; parents should be the first ones togive this truth to their children.This book is a fascinating read and the anecdotal approach is compelling.The stories of the young adults involved are a sign for hope for the future.However, there are some notable weaknesses in the book.  The first weakness isthe geographic distribution of those interviewed.  The stories seem to draw heav-ily upon Midwest and Northeast experience.  A second weakness is that whilethere is mention of minorities, there seems to be a glaring lack of comment onLatino youth in the country.  As the Hispanic culture is the fastest growingminority group, and is largely Catholic, it seems strange that this group does nothave more of a contribution to the book.  The third weakness is that those whowere interviewed seem to be a small population that may not be a representativecross section of young Catholics.  In some sense, the book seems to focus onupper-middle class youth who do not fully represent the broad spectrum ofCatholicism in the United States.  Carroll mentions the major criticism of this movement toward orthodoxy isthat those who seek it are trying to escape from the real world.  The response tothis criticism, that these people are simply seeking the truth, could be betterdeveloped.  There is a lack of theological or psychological sophistication in sucha response.  Finally, the title of the book is somewhat misleading as Carroll pri-marily draws upon the Roman Catholic tradition for her stories and research.While there is mention of other faith traditions, the crux of the book rests uponwhat might be termed conservative Catholicism.  In conclusion, it may be somewhat of a jump to assume that this cross sec-tion of young adults represents a large-scale movement toward orthodoxy.  Onthe other hand, there is clear evidence that many young people are rejecting thesecular relativism that their parents embraced.  Perhaps Carroll is implying thatyoung adult Christians are moving toward common ground that is still as count-er-cultural today as it was after the Resurrection.  If this is the case, then thereis truly cause for hope and celebration of the future for Christianity in the UnitedStates.Kevin P. Kiefer is chair of the theology department at Blessed Trinity Catholic HighSchool in Roswell, Georgia. 552 Catholic Education/June 2004

The New Faithful: Why Young Adults Are Embracing Christian Orthodoxy, by Colleen Carroll

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The New Faithful: Why Young Adults Are Embracing Christian Orthodoxy, by Colleen Carroll

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