I have no idea what Generation We're in Now...

Before doing any homework assignment, I do what I (and what I believe anyone younger than I) would normally do: look for anything that I can find about it online. We were asked to read Tom Beaudoin’s book, Virtual Faith, where Beaudoin explores Christian theology from the standpoint of GenXers. A very brief review of the book can be found here, as well as an article of Beaudoin can be found here. Currently, Beaudoin is teaching as a practical theology professor at Santa Clara University.

As we reflect on his book, which was published over 10 years ago, my classmates are divided by their opinions. My classmate and friend, James, finds that this book may be too late for those who are post-GenX, where another classmate and friend, Angelina, writes about the validity of the book for GenXers but brings to life the pop-culture that is immersed within it.

I write to you not about to write a review, as I have not read a majority of the book. I do want to post midway into reading to engage my thoughts and my peers. In this case, I carry more of a stance with James’ opinions, but receptive to the ideas that Beaudoin brings to the table with his book and with his life.

Although this book has nothing to do with my generation, I believe there are many things to note:

• Generation-defined culture is only one genre of culture. It’s safe to say that the world is multi-cultural by age, ethnicity, gender, geography, social/economic status, etc. As future religious leaders, we should be aware of the various cultures associated with GenX to engage in a more effective ministry. Furthermore, there is a need to understand the relationship between cultures. In this case, there may be a need to understand where GenXers came to be from the Baby Boomers, as Bedouin goes into detail of the origins of GenX. There should also be an equal need to understand where the next generation is being pushed by those who come from GenX.
• Relative to any form of reading, it is important to make the world relative to your frame of view – in this case, your cultural identity. I realize that I am not part of the GenXers, but the struggle to identify the differences between the theology from the Baby Boomers and the GenXers is something to reflect upon my own generation and the generation prior.
• Technology extends our senses. In a recent blog video posted by Callid Keefe-Perry for our class expresses the writings of Marshall McLuhan, explaining that “the medium is the message.” GenXers as described by Beaudoin do not see the world the same way as the generation before them. Pop culture has been their viewing window into the world. They have been witnesses of a generation of good leaders who were assassinated, and they kept their sadness in. I bring all of this in because the culmination of technology of that time period gave them this view. MTV was a major influence upon the GenX culture. I Googled/wiki’d what other factors defined GenX: home computing, internet, video games, and birth-control pills, to name a few. To believe that all of these things had no effect on GenXer views of Christianity is to hide underneath a veil of unconsciousness. I think there may be some usefulness to describe how technology extends our theology, which is the core belief of Beaudoin’s book.
• I am very aware that culture does affect the frame reference of Christianity, whether it is intentional or not. Agreed, Christianity has this built-in understanding that we can change the world through the transformation of the Holy Spirit. These two articles (one written by my professor, Phillip Clayton, and the other written by Pastor Chad Holtz) dialogue on the emphasis of Christianity on culture or visa-versa. It is my understanding that Christianity from a missionary point of view was most effective by adapting and emerging from the native culture. Many countries have been assimilated into Christianity with this method. If that is the case however, the world will always change because of Christianity, and Christianity will always need to acclimate to whatever culture it is immersed in to be effective. Yes, another chicken and the egg routine similar to James’ blog comments, but also promotes the need of new age theologians who can incorporate new technology and new culture.

I hope that Christianity is affected by technology, because Christianity needs to be more influential in the technology used today. I do not mean this in any evangelistic notion or anything, but rather, to ask how modern technology has affected Christianity so that we as Christians can develop theologies and theological practices for emerging generations/cultures, whether physical or virtual. Here are some weird notions you can all play around with:

• What are the latest technologies that have been made or exploded in popularity within the last 10 years? Do they have any relevance to the changes/trends on Christianity or religion in general?
• Some things to consider: cell phones, laptop/touchpad computers, ipod and other MP3 players, Kindle readers, Toyota Prius (Gen. 2 and 3), multi-core computer processors, digital cameras, Wikipedia and Urban Dictionary, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• More random things to consider: YouTube, Farmville, Xbox 360, Wii, doppelganger week, etc. (also, the emergence of nanotechnology in the various fields of science. History goes back as far as 1960’s but has been more mainstream within the last 10 years.)
• There have been people who have emerged in amazing popularity within the last 10 years who have played a role in our culture and Christianity as well. They may have also affected Christianity in more ways than none: Barack Obama, Taylor Swift, Star Wars Kid, Beyonce Knowles, Osama Bin Ladin, Miley Cyrus, Dave Chappelle, Manny Pacquiao, Sarah Palin.

• Technology now seems to be in a place where new technology does not extend the senses farther, but extends the senses faster. What does that mean to Christianity?

• Can Christianity be just as effective in virtual communities like Facebook, twitter, Myspace, blog communities, and other virtual environments like instant messaging, chat rooms, etc.? This is the big question to where my TAG class revolves around, but I mean it is worth noting if a person could take all the various aspects of Christianity and create a theology that is relative to the current generation, maintains a level of practicality, and has the capacity to hold onto past theological doctrines/commitments.

I’m done :)

-Jon