The Meaning of Religion and Spirituality in the Lives of Youth: The Case of Finnish Christian School Students
Amongst the complex changes in youth, religious development is also particularly salient. This paper analyzes what is the meaning of religion in youth and what are the possible stress factors that one might encounter when upholding a religious worldview in today’s world. The participants of this stu...
| Authors: | ; ; ; |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2024
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| In: |
Journal of youth and theology
Year: 2024, Volume: 23, Issue: 1, Pages: 124-150 |
| IxTheo Classification: | AD Sociology of religion; religious policy AG Religious life; material religion CB Christian life; spirituality CH Christianity and Society KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history KBE Northern Europe; Scandinavia RF Christian education; catechetics |
| Further subjects: | B
Experience
B resource B personal religious worldview B Religion B Youth B Challenge |
| Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Amongst the complex changes in youth, religious development is also particularly salient. This paper analyzes what is the meaning of religion in youth and what are the possible stress factors that one might encounter when upholding a religious worldview in today’s world. The participants of this study were 41 grade 9 students (ages 15–16) attending four different Finnish Christian schools. The results reveal that religion plays a significant role in the lives of the youth. Furthermore, personal faith functioned as a resource in multiple ways, enabling the youth to experience their life as meaningful. Moreover, according to the youth, a personal religious worldview enabled them to find hope, comfort and strength in different life situations. However, religion was also experienced as a stress factor causing challenges in life, such as being subjected to bullying and discrimination. Still, even then the youth viewed religion as an essential part of their life. |
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| ISSN: | 2405-5093 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of youth and theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/24055093-bja10045 |