Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195180954
- eISBN:
- 9780199835829
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019518095X.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This book aims to provide new insights on the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers. It presents the main findings of the National Study of Youth and Religion, a research project on the ...
More
This book aims to provide new insights on the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers. It presents the main findings of the National Study of Youth and Religion, a research project on the religious and spiritual lives of American adolescents conducted at the University of North Carolina from 2001 to 2005. The survey captured a broad range of differences among U.S. teens in religion, age, race, sex, socioeconomic status, rural-suburban-urban residence, region of the country, and language spoken. The book provides answers to questions about the character of teenage religion, the extent of spiritual seeking among youth, how religion affects adolescent moral reasoning and risk behaviors, and much more. It is hoped that by informing readers about the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers, it will help foster discussions in families, religious congregations, community organizations, and beyond, not only about the general state of religion in the United States, but also about cultural and institutional practices that may better serve and care for American teens.Less
This book aims to provide new insights on the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers. It presents the main findings of the National Study of Youth and Religion, a research project on the religious and spiritual lives of American adolescents conducted at the University of North Carolina from 2001 to 2005. The survey captured a broad range of differences among U.S. teens in religion, age, race, sex, socioeconomic status, rural-suburban-urban residence, region of the country, and language spoken. The book provides answers to questions about the character of teenage religion, the extent of spiritual seeking among youth, how religion affects adolescent moral reasoning and risk behaviors, and much more. It is hoped that by informing readers about the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers, it will help foster discussions in families, religious congregations, community organizations, and beyond, not only about the general state of religion in the United States, but also about cultural and institutional practices that may better serve and care for American teens.
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195180954
- eISBN:
- 9780199835829
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019518095X.003.0005
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter explores American adolescents’ thoughts, beliefs, and feelings about and experiences of religious faith and spirituality, drawing from interviews of 267 teens in 45 states. In most ...
More
This chapter explores American adolescents’ thoughts, beliefs, and feelings about and experiences of religious faith and spirituality, drawing from interviews of 267 teens in 45 states. In most cases, teenage religion and spirituality in the US can be seen as a reflection of the world of adult religion, especially parental religion. Few teenagers are rejecting or reacting against the adult religion into which they are being socialized. Rather, most are living out their religious lives in very conventional and accommodating ways.Less
This chapter explores American adolescents’ thoughts, beliefs, and feelings about and experiences of religious faith and spirituality, drawing from interviews of 267 teens in 45 states. In most cases, teenage religion and spirituality in the US can be seen as a reflection of the world of adult religion, especially parental religion. Few teenagers are rejecting or reacting against the adult religion into which they are being socialized. Rather, most are living out their religious lives in very conventional and accommodating ways.
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195180954
- eISBN:
- 9780199835829
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019518095X.003.0004
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter examines three specific groups of American teenagers: “religious seekers” who claim to be “spiritual but not religious”, teenagers who identify themselves as nonreligious and who never ...
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This chapter examines three specific groups of American teenagers: “religious seekers” who claim to be “spiritual but not religious”, teenagers who identify themselves as nonreligious and who never attend religious services, and teens who are highly religiously active and devoted. It is shown that most American teenagers espouse rather inclusive, pluralistic, and individualistic views about religious truth, identity boundaries, and need for religious congregation. Parents of teenagers strongly influence the character of their children’s religious lives. Teens who are more religiously serious and active are also more likely to be involved in a larger number of other programs — clubs, hobby groups, sports, or other organized activities; less religiously active teens tend to be involved in fewer.Less
This chapter examines three specific groups of American teenagers: “religious seekers” who claim to be “spiritual but not religious”, teenagers who identify themselves as nonreligious and who never attend religious services, and teens who are highly religiously active and devoted. It is shown that most American teenagers espouse rather inclusive, pluralistic, and individualistic views about religious truth, identity boundaries, and need for religious congregation. Parents of teenagers strongly influence the character of their children’s religious lives. Teens who are more religiously serious and active are also more likely to be involved in a larger number of other programs — clubs, hobby groups, sports, or other organized activities; less religiously active teens tend to be involved in fewer.
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195180954
- eISBN:
- 9780199835829
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019518095X.003.0006
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter explores some of the major social forces and factors that shape the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers. It is argued that understanding the religion and spirituality of ...
More
This chapter explores some of the major social forces and factors that shape the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers. It is argued that understanding the religion and spirituality of contemporary American adolescents means framing that understanding within the larger social and institutional contexts of therapeutic individualism, mass-consumer capitalism, the digital communication revolution, residual positivism and empiricism, the structural disconnect of teenagers from the world of adults, the problems of adults, and other relevant cultural contradictions that may affect the religious and spiritual lives of contemporary youth. This is not because youth are normally consciously aware of or articulate about these big-picture social influences, but because these larger contexts are objective, structural, institutional, and cultural realities that powerfully form youth’s lives.Less
This chapter explores some of the major social forces and factors that shape the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers. It is argued that understanding the religion and spirituality of contemporary American adolescents means framing that understanding within the larger social and institutional contexts of therapeutic individualism, mass-consumer capitalism, the digital communication revolution, residual positivism and empiricism, the structural disconnect of teenagers from the world of adults, the problems of adults, and other relevant cultural contradictions that may affect the religious and spiritual lives of contemporary youth. This is not because youth are normally consciously aware of or articulate about these big-picture social influences, but because these larger contexts are objective, structural, institutional, and cultural realities that powerfully form youth’s lives.
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195180954
- eISBN:
- 9780199835829
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019518095X.003.0008
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter explores the associations between religiosity and youth outcomes. It addresses the question of causality and selection effects, seeking to clarify whether and to what extent religiosity ...
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This chapter explores the associations between religiosity and youth outcomes. It addresses the question of causality and selection effects, seeking to clarify whether and to what extent religiosity is associated with more positive adolescent life outcomes. It is shown that religious faith and practice can and does shape teenagers’ lives in positive and constructive ways. The story of Antwan, a 16-year-old African American Southern California boy, helps illustrate this point. His religion provides him with moral directives by which he has learned to negotiate his life in largely helpful ways.Less
This chapter explores the associations between religiosity and youth outcomes. It addresses the question of causality and selection effects, seeking to clarify whether and to what extent religiosity is associated with more positive adolescent life outcomes. It is shown that religious faith and practice can and does shape teenagers’ lives in positive and constructive ways. The story of Antwan, a 16-year-old African American Southern California boy, helps illustrate this point. His religion provides him with moral directives by which he has learned to negotiate his life in largely helpful ways.
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195180954
- eISBN:
- 9780199835829
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019518095X.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter presents data from the National Survey of Youth and Religion. Among the survey’s findings are that three quarters of U.S. teens between 13 and 17 years old are Christians. About one-half ...
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This chapter presents data from the National Survey of Youth and Religion. Among the survey’s findings are that three quarters of U.S. teens between 13 and 17 years old are Christians. About one-half are Protestant, and one-quarter are Catholic. Teenagers who are pagan or Wiccan represent less than one-third of 1 percent of U.S. teens. The Protestant denominations of the congregations teens attend, religious self-identities of the parents of teens, belief similarity of religions adolescents, religious tradition, religious service attendance, characteristics of religious faith, religious and spiritual beliefs and experiences, personal religious practices, religious groups activities, and teens’ evaluations of religious congregations are discussed.Less
This chapter presents data from the National Survey of Youth and Religion. Among the survey’s findings are that three quarters of U.S. teens between 13 and 17 years old are Christians. About one-half are Protestant, and one-quarter are Catholic. Teenagers who are pagan or Wiccan represent less than one-third of 1 percent of U.S. teens. The Protestant denominations of the congregations teens attend, religious self-identities of the parents of teens, belief similarity of religions adolescents, religious tradition, religious service attendance, characteristics of religious faith, religious and spiritual beliefs and experiences, personal religious practices, religious groups activities, and teens’ evaluations of religious congregations are discussed.
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195180954
- eISBN:
- 9780199835829
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019518095X.003.0007
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter explores the question of why U.S. Catholic teenagers seem less religiously engaged than their teenage counterparts in other U.S. Christian traditions. Several reasons were identified to ...
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This chapter explores the question of why U.S. Catholic teenagers seem less religiously engaged than their teenage counterparts in other U.S. Christian traditions. Several reasons were identified to explain the lack of religious engagement of Catholic teens. One is that Catholic teenagers significantly reflect the relative religious laxity of their parents. Thus, the evident “problem” of Catholic teens can be viewed in part as a larger challenge of Catholic adults generally, and parents specifically.Less
This chapter explores the question of why U.S. Catholic teenagers seem less religiously engaged than their teenage counterparts in other U.S. Christian traditions. Several reasons were identified to explain the lack of religious engagement of Catholic teens. One is that Catholic teenagers significantly reflect the relative religious laxity of their parents. Thus, the evident “problem” of Catholic teens can be viewed in part as a larger challenge of Catholic adults generally, and parents specifically.
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195180954
- eISBN:
- 9780199835829
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019518095X.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This introductory chapter begins with a discussion of the lack of attention given to the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers. It then provides a brief description of the National ...
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This introductory chapter begins with a discussion of the lack of attention given to the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers. It then provides a brief description of the National Study of Youth and Religion, a research project on the religious and spiritual lives of American adolescents conducted at the University of North Carolina from 2001 to 2005. This is followed by an overview of the chapters included in this volume.Less
This introductory chapter begins with a discussion of the lack of attention given to the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers. It then provides a brief description of the National Study of Youth and Religion, a research project on the religious and spiritual lives of American adolescents conducted at the University of North Carolina from 2001 to 2005. This is followed by an overview of the chapters included in this volume.
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195180954
- eISBN:
- 9780199835829
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019518095X.003.0002
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter presents the stories of two white 16-year-old Baptist girls, who shared their views about various topics including their families, school, religion, and sex. Their stories provide a ...
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This chapter presents the stories of two white 16-year-old Baptist girls, who shared their views about various topics including their families, school, religion, and sex. Their stories provide a human face to the statistics presented in this book, and highlight the central themes that emerged from interviews with various American teenagers. Among these are that American teens experience and represent in their lives various religious and spiritual beliefs, practices, experiences, identities, and attitudes; that there are many adolescents in the United States for whom religion and spirituality are important; and that religious faith and practice in American teenagers’ lives operate in a social and institutional environment that is highly competitive for time, attention, and energy.Less
This chapter presents the stories of two white 16-year-old Baptist girls, who shared their views about various topics including their families, school, religion, and sex. Their stories provide a human face to the statistics presented in this book, and highlight the central themes that emerged from interviews with various American teenagers. Among these are that American teens experience and represent in their lives various religious and spiritual beliefs, practices, experiences, identities, and attitudes; that there are many adolescents in the United States for whom religion and spirituality are important; and that religious faith and practice in American teenagers’ lives operate in a social and institutional environment that is highly competitive for time, attention, and energy.
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195180954
- eISBN:
- 9780199835829
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019518095X.003.0009
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
The concluding chapter summarizes and elaborates the findings in this volume. Some recurrent themes have emerged from the analyses in this book. Among these is that religion has a significant ...
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The concluding chapter summarizes and elaborates the findings in this volume. Some recurrent themes have emerged from the analyses in this book. Among these is that religion has a significant presence in the lives of many U.S. teens today. Most U.S. teens are content to follow their parents’ religious footsteps, and most feel quite positive about religion. The religiodemographic diversity represented by U.S. adolescents is no more varied today than it has been for a very long time.Less
The concluding chapter summarizes and elaborates the findings in this volume. Some recurrent themes have emerged from the analyses in this book. Among these is that religion has a significant presence in the lives of many U.S. teens today. Most U.S. teens are content to follow their parents’ religious footsteps, and most feel quite positive about religion. The religiodemographic diversity represented by U.S. adolescents is no more varied today than it has been for a very long time.
Lynn Schofield Clark
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195300239
- eISBN:
- 9780199850525
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195300239.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the Left Behind series are but the latest manifestations of American teenagers' long-standing fascination with the supernatural and the paranormal. This ...
More
Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the Left Behind series are but the latest manifestations of American teenagers' long-standing fascination with the supernatural and the paranormal. This book explores the implications of this fascination for contemporary religious and spiritual practices. Relying on stories gleaned from more than 250 in-depth interviews with teens and their families, the book seeks to discover what today's teens really believe and why. It finds that as adherence to formal religious bodies declines, interest in alternative spiritualities as well as belief in “superstition” grow accordingly. Ironically, the book argues, fundamentalist Christian alarmism about the forces of evil has also fed belief in a wider array of supernatural entities. Resisting the claim that the media “brainwash” teens, the book argues that today's popular stories of demons, hell, and the afterlife actually have their roots in the US's religious heritage. The book considers why some young people are nervous about supernatural stories in the media, while others comfortably and often unself-consciously blur the boundaries between those stories of the realm beyond that belong to traditional religion and those offered by the entertainment media. At a time of increased religious pluralism and declining participation in formal religious institutions, the book says, we must completely re-examine what young people mean—and what they may believe—when they identify themselves as “spiritual” or “religious”. Offering insights into how the entertainment media shape contemporary religious ideas and practices, the book paints a portrait of the spiritual state of America's youth.Less
Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the Left Behind series are but the latest manifestations of American teenagers' long-standing fascination with the supernatural and the paranormal. This book explores the implications of this fascination for contemporary religious and spiritual practices. Relying on stories gleaned from more than 250 in-depth interviews with teens and their families, the book seeks to discover what today's teens really believe and why. It finds that as adherence to formal religious bodies declines, interest in alternative spiritualities as well as belief in “superstition” grow accordingly. Ironically, the book argues, fundamentalist Christian alarmism about the forces of evil has also fed belief in a wider array of supernatural entities. Resisting the claim that the media “brainwash” teens, the book argues that today's popular stories of demons, hell, and the afterlife actually have their roots in the US's religious heritage. The book considers why some young people are nervous about supernatural stories in the media, while others comfortably and often unself-consciously blur the boundaries between those stories of the realm beyond that belong to traditional religion and those offered by the entertainment media. At a time of increased religious pluralism and declining participation in formal religious institutions, the book says, we must completely re-examine what young people mean—and what they may believe—when they identify themselves as “spiritual” or “religious”. Offering insights into how the entertainment media shape contemporary religious ideas and practices, the book paints a portrait of the spiritual state of America's youth.
Christian Smith
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- March 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780823226474
- eISBN:
- 9780823236640
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Fordham University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5422/fso/9780823226474.003.0004
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
For the last four years, through the National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR), the author has been intensely researching the religious and spiritual lives of teenagers ...
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For the last four years, through the National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR), the author has been intensely researching the religious and spiritual lives of teenagers in the United States. This chapter explores some NSYR findings about the religious and spiritual lives of U.S. teenagers that have implications for the challenge of religiously socializing youth and shed light on the question of internal secularization. The guiding question is this: What are the prospects of success for established religious communities in contemporary U.S. culture seeking to induct their youth into the beliefs, commitments, and practices of their historical faith traditions in ways that will both form the lives of their youth as individuals and carry on with significant continuity those collective faith traditions into the future? The chapter begins by exploring some of the social and cultural difficulties and challenges that faith communities face in this task. It then describes one of the major results of faith communities’ general failure to successfully meet those difficulties and challenges: a pervasive, functional, religious belief system among teenagers called Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. It concludes by suggesting ways that, from a sociologist's point of view, faith communities might respond to this popular “alternative” de facto religious faith and better form and educate their young people.Less
For the last four years, through the National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR), the author has been intensely researching the religious and spiritual lives of teenagers in the United States. This chapter explores some NSYR findings about the religious and spiritual lives of U.S. teenagers that have implications for the challenge of religiously socializing youth and shed light on the question of internal secularization. The guiding question is this: What are the prospects of success for established religious communities in contemporary U.S. culture seeking to induct their youth into the beliefs, commitments, and practices of their historical faith traditions in ways that will both form the lives of their youth as individuals and carry on with significant continuity those collective faith traditions into the future? The chapter begins by exploring some of the social and cultural difficulties and challenges that faith communities face in this task. It then describes one of the major results of faith communities’ general failure to successfully meet those difficulties and challenges: a pervasive, functional, religious belief system among teenagers called Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. It concludes by suggesting ways that, from a sociologist's point of view, faith communities might respond to this popular “alternative” de facto religious faith and better form and educate their young people.
Lynn Schofield Clark
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195300239
- eISBN:
- 9780199850525
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195300239.003.0008
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter describes the type of American teenagers called the Intrigued. These teenagers are highly committed to religious traditions but they are intrigued by the realm represented in the legends ...
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This chapter describes the type of American teenagers called the Intrigued. These teenagers are highly committed to religious traditions but they are intrigued by the realm represented in the legends of the supernatural. The chapter describes the experiences of an Anglo-American female from mainline Protestantism, a Mexican American Catholic male, and an African American male affiliated with conservative Protestantism. It compares the Intrigued with the Traditionalists in terms of openness to the possibilities of the realm beyond that which is represented in the media.Less
This chapter describes the type of American teenagers called the Intrigued. These teenagers are highly committed to religious traditions but they are intrigued by the realm represented in the legends of the supernatural. The chapter describes the experiences of an Anglo-American female from mainline Protestantism, a Mexican American Catholic male, and an African American male affiliated with conservative Protestantism. It compares the Intrigued with the Traditionalists in terms of openness to the possibilities of the realm beyond that which is represented in the media.
Lynn Schofield Clark
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195300239
- eISBN:
- 9780199850525
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195300239.003.0007
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter examines the experiences of Traditionalist American teenagers and their parents in order to determine how the separation from the media influences teen interpretations of the ...
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This chapter examines the experiences of Traditionalist American teenagers and their parents in order to determine how the separation from the media influences teen interpretations of the supernatural. It explores the question of whether teenagers who expressed a serious level of religious commitment are interested in supernatural beings, power, or practices. It also analyzes the tendency of the traditionalist teenagers to be guided by an overarching concern with personal morality that framed their understanding of the media and of religion.Less
This chapter examines the experiences of Traditionalist American teenagers and their parents in order to determine how the separation from the media influences teen interpretations of the supernatural. It explores the question of whether teenagers who expressed a serious level of religious commitment are interested in supernatural beings, power, or practices. It also analyzes the tendency of the traditionalist teenagers to be guided by an overarching concern with personal morality that framed their understanding of the media and of religion.
Matthew F. Delmont
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- September 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780520272071
- eISBN:
- 9780520951600
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520272071.003.0007
- Subject:
- History, American History: 20th Century
This chapter examines how the convergence of commerce and community through American Bandstand led to the emergence of the national youth culture. Building on Josh Kun's notion of “audiotopia” and ...
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This chapter examines how the convergence of commerce and community through American Bandstand led to the emergence of the national youth culture. Building on Josh Kun's notion of “audiotopia” and Benedict Anderson's concept of “imagined communities,” it considers how American Bandstand's producers articulated a vision of national youth culture that incorporated different teenagers in different parts of the country but excluded black teenagers from the program's studio audience. It also explains how American Bandstand established Philadelphia as the locus of this national youth culture by drawing extensively from the creative abilities of the city's youth. Finally, it shows how American Bandstand emerged as the afternoon site of the nation's youth, including working-class Italian-American teenagers from Philadelphia.Less
This chapter examines how the convergence of commerce and community through American Bandstand led to the emergence of the national youth culture. Building on Josh Kun's notion of “audiotopia” and Benedict Anderson's concept of “imagined communities,” it considers how American Bandstand's producers articulated a vision of national youth culture that incorporated different teenagers in different parts of the country but excluded black teenagers from the program's studio audience. It also explains how American Bandstand established Philadelphia as the locus of this national youth culture by drawing extensively from the creative abilities of the city's youth. Finally, it shows how American Bandstand emerged as the afternoon site of the nation's youth, including working-class Italian-American teenagers from Philadelphia.
Lynn Schofield Clark
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195300239
- eISBN:
- 9780199850525
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195300239.003.0006
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter describes a type of American teenager called the Experimenters. These teenagers are highly interested in the supernatural and they try out different ways of tapping into the supernatural ...
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This chapter describes a type of American teenager called the Experimenters. These teenagers are highly interested in the supernatural and they try out different ways of tapping into the supernatural realm. Each of the teenagers who fall into this category interviewed for the study identifies with a religious tradition and attempts to relate their “experiments” with the supernatural realm within those traditions. The chapter describes the stories and experiences of three teenage girls and analyzes the relationship between gender and the appeal of the supernatural.Less
This chapter describes a type of American teenager called the Experimenters. These teenagers are highly interested in the supernatural and they try out different ways of tapping into the supernatural realm. Each of the teenagers who fall into this category interviewed for the study identifies with a religious tradition and attempts to relate their “experiments” with the supernatural realm within those traditions. The chapter describes the stories and experiences of three teenage girls and analyzes the relationship between gender and the appeal of the supernatural.
Lynn Schofield Clark
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195300239
- eISBN:
- 9780199850525
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195300239.003.0011
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter sums up the key findings of this study on the influence of the supernatural and paranormal on the religious beliefs and practices of American teenagers. It discusses the proposed theory ...
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This chapter sums up the key findings of this study on the influence of the supernatural and paranormal on the religious beliefs and practices of American teenagers. It discusses the proposed theory called “the religion of the possible” and considers the role of the media in religious change and in the context of religious pluralism. It suggests that media education and media literacy should train teenagers to recognize the distinctions between reality and fantasy.Less
This chapter sums up the key findings of this study on the influence of the supernatural and paranormal on the religious beliefs and practices of American teenagers. It discusses the proposed theory called “the religion of the possible” and considers the role of the media in religious change and in the context of religious pluralism. It suggests that media education and media literacy should train teenagers to recognize the distinctions between reality and fantasy.
Lynn Schofield Clark
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195300239
- eISBN:
- 9780199850525
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195300239.003.0005
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter examines the experiences and stories of the so-called Mysticals, American teenagers who have no interest in organized religion yet who are familiar with it. It evaluates the experiences ...
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This chapter examines the experiences and stories of the so-called Mysticals, American teenagers who have no interest in organized religion yet who are familiar with it. It evaluates the experiences of an Anglo-American female, an African American male, and Anglo-American male. All of these teenagers have had previous experience with conservative Protestantism, but have all abandoned it in their childhood. This chapter analyzes how the differences in racial or ethnic background play a role in the interpretation of supernatural stories and their relationship with alternative spiritualities.Less
This chapter examines the experiences and stories of the so-called Mysticals, American teenagers who have no interest in organized religion yet who are familiar with it. It evaluates the experiences of an Anglo-American female, an African American male, and Anglo-American male. All of these teenagers have had previous experience with conservative Protestantism, but have all abandoned it in their childhood. This chapter analyzes how the differences in racial or ethnic background play a role in the interpretation of supernatural stories and their relationship with alternative spiritualities.
Lynn Schofield Clark
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195300239
- eISBN:
- 9780199850525
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195300239.003.0004
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter describes a type of American teenager called the Resisters. These are the teenagers who might be expected to fall into the secular camp because they are not only uninterested in ...
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This chapter describes a type of American teenager called the Resisters. These are the teenagers who might be expected to fall into the secular camp because they are not only uninterested in organized religion, but in fact they express a certain amount of vehemence toward organized religion. However, they are very much interested in the supernatural and in interviews they made the boldest statements of beliefs like equating God with aliens. The chapter describes the experiences of a male and female Anglo-American teenager to determine what influenced them to embrace such seemingly idiosyncratic approaches to the supernatural realm.Less
This chapter describes a type of American teenager called the Resisters. These are the teenagers who might be expected to fall into the secular camp because they are not only uninterested in organized religion, but in fact they express a certain amount of vehemence toward organized religion. However, they are very much interested in the supernatural and in interviews they made the boldest statements of beliefs like equating God with aliens. The chapter describes the experiences of a male and female Anglo-American teenager to determine what influenced them to embrace such seemingly idiosyncratic approaches to the supernatural realm.
Lynn Schofield Clark
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195300239
- eISBN:
- 9780199850525
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195300239.003.0002
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter discusses the role of evangelicalism on American teenagers' interest in the supernatural. It explains that despite the evangelical insistence upon the dichotomy between orthodox ...
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This chapter discusses the role of evangelicalism on American teenagers' interest in the supernatural. It explains that despite the evangelical insistence upon the dichotomy between orthodox religious beliefs and fictional stories of the supernatural, the latter might not have existed without the former. It also suggests that some stories, movies, and television programs about the supernatural were extracted directly from the nation's religious heritage. It cites a comment from a religious and cultural critic who pointed out that horror has long been a part of the Protestant tradition marshaled for the purposes of encouraging moral fortitude among the faithful.Less
This chapter discusses the role of evangelicalism on American teenagers' interest in the supernatural. It explains that despite the evangelical insistence upon the dichotomy between orthodox religious beliefs and fictional stories of the supernatural, the latter might not have existed without the former. It also suggests that some stories, movies, and television programs about the supernatural were extracted directly from the nation's religious heritage. It cites a comment from a religious and cultural critic who pointed out that horror has long been a part of the Protestant tradition marshaled for the purposes of encouraging moral fortitude among the faithful.
