Faith Formation in a Secular Age, Andrew Root
Faith Formation in a Secular Age, Andrew Root
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Faith Formation in a Secular Age
Responding to the Church’s Obsession with Youthfulness

Author: Andrew Root

Narrator: Mike Lenz

Unabridged: 9 hr 2 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 12/27/2022

Synopsis

The loss or disaffiliation of young adults is a much-discussed topic in churches today. Many faith-formation programs focus on keeping the young, believing the youthful spirit will save the church. But do these programs have more to do with an obsession with youthfulness than with helping young people encounter the living God?

Questioning the search for new or improved faith-formation programs, leading practical theologian Andrew Root offers an alternative take on the issue of youth drifting away from the church and articulates how faith can be formed in our secular age. He offers a theology of faith constructed from a rich cultural conversation, providing a deeper understanding of the phenomena of the "nones" and "moralistic therapeutic deism." Root helps listeners understand why forming faith is so hard in our context and shows that what we have lost is not the ability to keep people connected to our churches but an imagination for how and where God could be present in their lives. He considers what faith is and what steps we can take to move into it, exploring a Pauline concept of faith as encounter with divine action.

About Andrew Root

Andrew Root is Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of more than twenty books, including Faith Formation in a Secular Age, The Pastor in a Secular Age, The Congregation in a Secular Age, Churches and the Crisis of Decline, The Church after Innovation, and The End of Youth Ministry? Root is also coauthor (with Kenda Creasy Dean) of The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry. He is a frequent speaker and hosts the popular and influential When Church Stops Working podcast.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Shannon on November 08, 2017

I heard Andy Root speak last month on the topic of this book. Intrigued by his presentation, I bought the book and began reading it. I have to say, this is one of the most important theology books published this year. Nearly half of my copy is highlighted. The first part is a little tough to get thro......more

Goodreads review by Steve on November 11, 2017

How do we form faith in a secular age? Drawing upon the Catholic Canadian Charles Taylor’s insights, Andrew Root attempts to answer this question. Root challenges popular faith formation programmes - faith is more than assent to some variables of belief or going to church. What is refreshing that he......more

Goodreads review by Jeremy on September 03, 2023

First half of the book was excellent cultural analysis.......more

Goodreads review by Akash on January 26, 2021

If you are a someone with a role in a church (pastor, director, elder, volunteer, etc), then you need to move this book to the top of your “to-read” list. Andrew Root brings a voice and perspective that is very needed. Too many books are written to be fully practical- all about implementing a certai......more

Goodreads review by Jenny on September 03, 2021

Growing up in an Australian secular society I have noted that faith formation is viewed with curiosity, suspicion and scepticism (even by close family members). Faith formation is both personal and public but not an end in itself, but rather than an onerous task faith formation relates to being full......more

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