ERIC Number: EJ818118
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Dec
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1364-436X
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Drifting from the Mainstream: The Religious Identity of Australian Core Catholic Youth
Rymarz, Richard M.; Graham, John
International Journal of Children's Spirituality, v11 n3 p371-383 Dec 2006
Religious communities have an obvious interest in passing on their beliefs and practices to future generations. Many traditional churches, however, report major difficulties in retaining the interest and involvement of adolescents. This paper seeks to explore some of the beliefs and values of Australian core Catholic youth (14- to 15-years-old). Fifty-eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with adolescents with a pre-existing connection with parish communities. Most adolescents interviewed expressed either strong or weak familial pattern of church attendance and predicted a likely decrease in their future participation. The experience of older siblings, reported religious beliefs and a lack of supportive social networks either at school or in the wider community will be commented on. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Siblings, Catholics, Churches, Adolescents, Social Networks, Foreign Countries, Identification (Psychology), Attitude Measures, Interviews, Participation, Family Influence, Social Influences, Grade 9, Secondary School Students, Peer Influence, Religious Factors, Christianity
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 9; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A