Product Description

Reveals the deep and pervasive search for meaning that haunts Generation X. This book is must reading for anyone who would understand the spirituality of young people at the turn of a new millennium.––Robert A. Ludwig, author of Reconstructing Catholicism for a New Generation

In Virtual Faith, Beaudoin explores fashion, music videos, and cyberspace concluding that his generation has fashioned a theology radically different from, but no less potent or valid than, that of their elders.

Beaudoin′s investigation of popular culture uncovers four themes that underpin his generation?s theology. First, all institutions are suspect –– especially organized religion. Second, personal experience is everything, and every form of intense personal experience is potentially spiritual. Third, suffering is also spiritual. Finally, this generation sees ambiguity as a central element of faith.

This book opens a long overdue conversation about where and how we find meaning, and how we all can encourage each other in this central human searching.

Tom Beaudoin earned his Master of Theological Studies from Harvard University School of Divinity in 1996 and is currently working toward a Ph.D. in Religion and Education at Boston College.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #581205 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
"His book is the most comprehensive and accessible reading on the religious nature of irreverence among members of the so–called "Generation X." This book is ground breaking and important simply because it makes a bold move: he aims two rays of light––God′s and Madonna′s–– straight at each other, and actually takes seriously the wild spectrum that results." ––Amazon.com

"Has Tom Beaudoin caught a new wave of spirituality at its birthing? Maybe he has. In any case, he enables the reader to peer into a reality that is both religious and secular, both outrageous and touching, both post modern and, in its own odd way, very traditional. If he is wrong, he is fascinatingly and brilliantly wrong, and no reader will regret taking this trip through the various layers of our contemporary divine comedy with him as their Virgil."

"Tom Beaudoin takes us on a romping, eye–opening voyage through GenX culture––its music, its fashion, its imagery, its spiritual quest. There is nothing quite like this book in print: so honest a portrayal of GenX, and so passionate a plea for a creative engagement between this generation and religious institutions." ––Wade Clark Roof, Author of A Generation of Seekers

"Can we (Boomers and beyond) belive it? That the Spirit is blowing, as ever where She will, even though the pop culture of Generation X. Anyone who would say so and then attempt `a theology by, for, and about GenX′ is certainly irreverent. But Beaudoin is also courageous, creative, and confronting. This book will be a catalyst of a whole new theological conversation––one we have never heard before." ––Thomas H. Groome, author of Educating for Life

"Virtual Faith reveals the deep and pervasive search for meaning that haunts Generation X and lays bare their spiritual hungers. This book is must reading for anyone who would understand the spirituality of young people at the turn of a new millennium." ––Robert A. Ludwig, author of Reconstructing Catholicism for a New Generation

From the Author
Taking a look at spiritual themes in popular culture...
I have written this book not only for those born from the early '60s to the late '70s, but for anyone interested in the way spiritual and religious themes are woven throughout popular culture. I hope to contribute to a discussion within my generation about our various relationships to the sacred, as well as to offer an interpretation of the cultural and religious characteristics that make "Generation X"--or whatever you want to call us--unique. This book is a moment in a cultural conversation, and not a definitive "answer" about my generation, spirituality, and pop culture -- and so I welcome responses of whatever sort!

From the Inside Flap
Tattoos. Body piercing. Retro. Grunge. These are some of the stereotypical images of Generation X. Look a bit harder, and the images are troubling, even heretical: crucifixes as fashion accessories, music videos with religious and sexual imagery in unashamed juxtaposition, rave masses in which prayer and ecstatic experiences aren′t quite what they used to be.In this profoundly original book, Tom Beaudoin issues a provocative challenge: what if, instead of dismissing these expressions as heretical or blasphemous, we took them as serious expressions of a generation′s search for a religion they can believe in?Beaudoin, himself an unapologetic member of Generation X, explores fashion, music videos, and cyberspace and concludes that his generation has fashioned a theology radically different from but no less potent or valid than that of their elders. Virtual Faith is an invitation to explore this theology with him as our guide.Beaudoin′s investigation of popular culture uncovers four themes that underpin his generation′s theology. First, all institutions are suspect?especially organized religion. Recoiling from perceived hypocrisy, yet hungering for spiritual experience, this generation has taken religion into their own hands. Second, personal experience is everything. GenXers want to discover everything for themselves, and every form of intense personal experience?including sex?is potentially spiritual. Third, suffering is also spiritual. Images of a suffering Jesus have a personal meaning for this generation that they don′t have for their elders. Finally, this generation sees ambiguity as a central element of faith. Rather than retreating from doubt, they embrace it.This book opens a long overdue conversation about where and how we find meaning, and how we all can encourage each other in this central human searching. Parents and religious leaders of all religious persuasions will gain an understanding of GenX theology in its own terms

Customer Reviews

From a campus pastor - "Let the conversation continue!"
I recently heard the author speak at a conference I attended. He did make some disclaimers at the beginning of his presentation - his book was not inclusive in terms of research with minority cultures - it did reflect experiences of middle class and not poor - BUT I found him to be honest and forthright in putting on the table some interpretations worthy of further conversation, and certainly "on target" in reflecting attitudes and behaviors of those students walking on the campus I serve. I wonder why no mention is made, however, of H.Richard Niebuhr's classic, "Christ and Culture" since Beaudoin is so fascinated with the interaction of pop culture and religion. These are "ambiguous days" when it comes to the institutional church knowing how to relate to GenX and GenY folk.

This book was blasphemous and heretical
This book was so disturbing I found myself wondering how the author could even call himself a christian. In addition as a member of Gen x myself I am appalled at how off he was in his accessment of my generation. We are not a bunch of MTV, grunge, goth groupies. Most of us are fairly normal people who do not fit these discriptions at all. I am sick of these pseudo intellectual professor types claiming to think they know who my generation is.

Great Commentary on pop culture
This is a very insightful book. Well worth getting. The author does a lot of analysis on different events and pieces of pop culture. When reading this book, I suggest two things. First read the appendix on his methodology first. Next, read one chapter and put it down for a day. If read over too quickly, you'll lose some of the meaning.