By Fr Soroj Mullick, SDB –
A recent study on the Catholic youth’s perception of religion in general shows that for the 84.6% of the youth in India, religion is very or somewhat important in today’s world. Only 29.2% of the youth go to Church. This indicates that they do not give importance to the formal prayer or liturgy.
Youth largely stick by the traditional Church-taught dogmas, without much critical or personal reflection. They do not give much importance to following the teachings of the Church. All these prove a kind of relationship with God, and with religion, that is focused on one’s personal dealings with God.
Contrary to this, the Catholic youth take an idolatrous approach to the dogmas, liturgical practices and devotions. Their views reflect the attitudes prevalent in Indian society today. For most of the Catholic youth in India, this is an individualistic kind of religion. The Catholic religion according to a large majority of youth is primarily grounded in beliefs that have not been particularly internalized, and have focused on a vertical relationship with God.
The religious experiences of the youth are subjective, personal and intimate. It is not shared so much, neither has the characteristics of the Christian Religion. It is a type of “God of the psyche”. Then, there is a gap between the youth who live inside and outside the Church. Those outside, show a definitive distance from the Church, yet they too have an image and definition of God: generic, abstract – an anonymous force – which does not present anything on Christian revelation.
The findings throws light on the general perception that youth are being alienated from religion and from institution. “Such a separation of God from religion is perhaps to be expected in the context of the post-modern culture in which we live today, where absolutes are increasingly being challenged and the individual is increasingly being perceived as far more important than any institution or structure.”
But, very few of them personally reflect on their own religion. All these results that emerge from the study would seem to raise questions regarding the kind of religion that is experienced by these Catholic youth. At the same time an increase in educational qualifications helps the youth to reflect critically on their own faith. But the same kind of critical approach does not develop towards other belief systems. They develop a greater openness to inter-religious and inter-caste groups and experiences.
They seem to be far more influenced by society and the pluralistic religious context of India. While their belief system on salvation is based on the rote process of faith education classes based on the Bible and the official Catechism, yet they also hold that all good people will be saved in their own religion and margas (ways to salvation) namely gnana, bhakti, karma and yoga.
There has been massive changes in the media, technology, sexuality and the economy which in turn has led to complexity, fluidity and uncertainty in society. They perceive the incompatibility between faith and science. With the trend of ‘Spiritual Materialism’ the value priorities of today’s young people are: family, health, friends, virtual acquaintances, earning money for leisure activities, couples, politics and in the last place, religion.
The current cultural trends of tolerance and acceptance of other values clash with Christianity’s claim to possess universal truths along with its repressive rules regarding sexual morality. Churches fail to instruct young people in faith, and often they leave them with vague beliefs and a disconnect between faith and life. The young people fail to be faithful followers of Christ. For them the Church, dogmas, religious expressions become obstacles to creativity, freedom and self-expression.
Preoccupied in their world of ‘self-interest’, the young people prefer not to ‘grow up’, instead extend their youth as a phase of life to be enjoyed. David Kinnaman and Aly Hawkins summed up these changes, within three concepts: access, alienation and authority. In such context, the Church has to help those young without God and those who have forgotten Him and provide with the wisdom to relate rightly with God, to others, and to culture.
The contemporary youth culture fail to fulfill the basic needs of youth and their yearning for God. As there is more to life than material things the Church – the body of Christ – will have to respond to the expectations of young people enabling them to make choices with commitment in their lives. The Church becomes the ‘traveling companion’ of young people (World Youth Day 1995, Manila, Philippines), helping youth to lead a life of prayer and service, and to encounter Jesus Christ in the sacraments. Consequently, he/she exhibits a deep spiritual life based on righteousness, honesty and humility.
The the General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) as well as the National Youth Pastoral Plan (NYPP) affirm that the renewal of catechesis is intrinsically related to the renewal of the Church and all of its pastoral activities. The two contextualize catechesis in distinct but complementary frameworks that relate catechesis to numerous essential dimensions of Christian life and the Church’s mission. The evaluation and planning necessary for effective youth catechesis will have to consider the multifaceted context in which it is carried out. Therefore, the challenge is a total commitment of youth to the Church with youth catechesis as the source and locus, for addressing the youth issue.
Fr. Soroj Mullick, SDB is a Salesian priest from the Kolkata Province. He has a Licentiate in Catechetics and a Doctorate (Christian Education) from UPS, Italy. He has number of years of teaching experience in college and in the formation of future priests. Besides, he has written number of research papers and articles, and has 25 years of Ministry in India and abroad as Educator, Formator, Retreat Preacher, Editor and engaged in School, Parish Catechetical & Youth Ministry. He is now an assistant priest in Bandel Basilica, rendering pastoral and catechetical ministry to the parishioners and to the pilgrims. He can be contacted at [email protected].