Introductory notes for readers of this thesis - Theses - Flinders ...

It certainly seems somewhat disingenuous for the church, in light of the research findings,to simply preach theology as fixed meaning (eg ‘four spiritual laws’), accessible onlythrough participation in unfamiliar rituals, at inconvenient times, and requiring awillingness to abandon experiential choice processes for uncritical acceptance of aworldview someone else has prepared previously. To extend the metaphor, the researchfindings suggest that contemporary young people would rather learn to cook forthemselves and be given the freedom and support to be involved in the ongoing creationand construction of new tastes, flavours and innovations in the kitchen!Ironically in light of the above, the comparative ‘success’ of the conservative Protestantchurches is notable—as is the correlation between committed participation in suchcongregations and commitment to social justice and community service 83 . ConservativeProtestant congregations tend to take seriously personal spiritual growth, offermeaningful opportunities for interaction with family and friends, and practicalopportunities for various kinds of service. Some, but not all, young people whose familyupbringing reflects the worldview of traditional Christian theology do find spiritualenlightenment, a sense of communal belonging and motivation for action within suchfaith communities. Will young people sustain conservative theological worldviews overtheir lifespan? Factors, such as the contradictions of life’s circumstances, furthereducation, and the potential for growth through adult years along the lines of faithdevelopment theory, require a different kind of spiritual direction to enable young peopleto maintain their faith. It also seems fairly clear that the spirituality of the conservativechurches remains almost exclusively accessible only to those who have been orientatedinto its tenets by accident of birth. Is there a place in such churches for a little lesspersuasive talk and a little more silent adoration of the holy mystery of transcendence?Could some small movement towards a theological posture of unknowing allow for asubsequent theological discourse that is somewhat more fluid, imaginative and open toongoing surprises, wonder and conceptual development? Could such a movement result83 A correlation also emphasised in more general terms from an international perspective by T. Donnelly etal., ‘The relationship between spiritual development and civic development’, in The handbook of spiritualdevelopment in child and adolescence, Roehlkepartain , E.C. et al. eds. (London: Sage Publications, 2006),239–51.214