Youth Ministry in a Multifaith Society: Forming Christian Identity Among Skeptics, Syncretists and Sincere Believers of Other Faiths

The author presents a pretty good perspective on interacting with other faith groups....calling it a win/win situation. He also provides a goodly amount of information from Europe and other places and what has been happening there as it pertains to youth. All in all it was quite interesting.This book was a required read for YM610 Asbury Theological Seminary

I read a lot of books, but this book was one of the best written on this topic. This may be the only book written on this topic. Biblically grounded, well researched, this book was and is extremely helpful in helping me understand the context my kids are growing up in and how I as a youth worker can help them thrive. Very practical as well.

If you pick up my copy of Youth Ministry in a Multifaith Society by Len Kageler, you'll notice that nearly every page in the last three chapters is dog-eared. It's that good.In this book, youth ministry researcher, professor, and practitioner, Len Kageler explores the question “How do we ground our young people in the faith while encouraging their relationships with friends of other faiths?”To do so, Len presents research on youth ministry in Muslim and other religious communities. I found learning about Muslim youth ministry absolutely fascinating, especially the many ways in which we employ similar methods for reaching our respective youth.Perhaps even more interesting to me, however, was Len's exploration of other Christian youth ministries that may not adhere to the traditional view that “the only way to know God is through Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross”. Instead, such ministries “happily affirm their Christian faith but also affirm there are other equally valid ways to know God”. My experience in suburban, North American youth ministry is that I encounter such ministries far more frequently than I do people of entirely different faiths.While Len's book is excellent overall, where he truly excels is in his practical, research-based suggestions for how to conduct youth ministry among teens living in a multifaith world. His suggestions include- Grounding teens in their Christology – their beliefs about Jesus.- Giving teens space for “positive doubt”, which is “the notion that as the adolescent brain gets its cognitive upgrade we should expose our students to other points of view regarding faith.”- Involving teens in interfaith experiences that, to be clear, don't mean participants "give up their respective faiths but rather harness the compassion implicit in that faith for the good of others.”As someone particularly interested in Christology, I especially appreciated Len's closing chapter. In it, he explores the Christology “expressed in the seven 'I am' statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John” and the “two most important paired words in the entire New Testament, 'In Christ'”. He does so knowing that “our Christology uniquely connects us with both Jesus' presence and power as we engage in student ministry in a multifaith society.” This chapter is so strong; It alone is worth the price of the book.Without a doubt, Len's book is one I'd include on a short list of must-reads for those in youth ministry. In it, he clearly shows that “most Christian young people today do not understand their own faith, let alone the faith (or nonfaith) of others.” Yet, rather than just raise an alarm, Len also delineates a clear path forward. I'm convinced that by using his suggestions for how to help young people understand their own faith, we can help it flourish, even in a multifaith society.

In today's culture, it is refreshing to hear a voice speaking with such relevance to issues that we face in ministry every day. Whether you are new to youth ministry, or a seasoned veteran, this book will help you understand the cultural shifts we face as youth workers and the pressures and views our students come face to face with on a daily basis. This book is a must-read for anyone who is looking to remain effective in reaching students today. Dr. Kageler has provided an invaluable resource for the youth ministry community.

Kageler provides a very well researched look at doing ministry in a pluralistic society. Gone are the days where Christianity rules the day and students have a one track mind when it comes to religion. With students exposed to so much, or little to none on the opposite end of the spectrum, this must change how we minister to students and their families. There is lots of research presented in this book, from multiple sources, to really back up the changing tide in our religious culture but Kageler also provides lots of easy-to-relate to stories to practically apply the changes needed. This is a fantastic book that will quickly and easy bring you up to speed with our current landscape and give you practical tools needed to try some new things to better reach students.

I read this cover to cover, an easy read, written with humor, insight and helpful information. The author's perspective is not only helpful to those who work with youth, but to anyone in a pluralistic society -- which is pretty much all of us today. Don't miss this excellent book.