Adolescence can be characterised as the process of finding the balance between the questions about identity (‘Who am I?’) and togetherness (‘Who am I with?’). The social environment of adolescents has a significant influence on this process. This environment, however, is in transition: from organisations to open networks with new forms of relationships and connections for adolescents. This transition also influences the field of youth ministry. This article considers the role small groups of adolescents can play in youth ministry in this changing social context. Based on qualitative research conducted amongst five small groups of adolescents, this article argues that togetherness is important through undirected being-together, based on emotional and affectual bonds. The results of this research are related to Maffesoli’s theory of tribalisation: being-together precedes formal organising. Being-together is a basic given and an important factor to consider in youth ministry.
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See Nancy T. Ammerman, Sacred Stories, Spiritual Tribes: Finding Religion in Everyday Life (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014), pp. 288–304.
David Hesmondhalgh, ‘Recent concepts in youth cultural studies. Critical reflections from the sociology of music’, in Youth Cultures – Scenes, Subcultures and Tribes, eds. Paul Hodkinson and Wolfgang Deicke (New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 2007), p. 48.
Paul Hodkinson, ‘Youth cultures – A critical outline of key debates’, in Youth Cultures – Scenes, Subcultures and Tribes, eds. Paul Hodkinson and Wolfgang Deicke (New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 2007), pp. 1–21, at p. 8.
William M. Buwoski et al., ‘Peers and Socialization’, in Handbook of Socialization: Theory and Research, eds. Joan E. Grusec and Paul D. Hasting (New York: The Guilford Press, 2007), pp. 355–381, at p. 359.
K.H. Rubin, M. Bukowski and J.G. Parker, ‘Peer interactions, relationships and groups’, in The Handbook of Child Psychology, eds. William Damon and Nancy Eisenberg (New York: Wiley, 1998), pp. 619–700. Buwoski gives an overview of the literature regarding peer relations. M. Buwoski, ‘Peers and Socialization’, pp. 355–381, at p. 356.
N.K. Denzin and Y.S. Lincoln, ‘Introduction. The Discipline and Practice of Qualitative Research’, in The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, eds. N.K. Denzin and Y.S. Lincoln (Thousand Oaks: Sage, 2005), pp. 1–32, at p. 10.
Nahid Golafshani,‘Understanding Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Research’ in The Qualitative Report 8–4 (2003), pp. 597–607 at p. 604.
See also Zygmunt Bauman, ‘Survival of a social construct’, Theory, Culture and Society 6 (1992), pp. 1–36.
Henning Luther, Religion und Alltag. Bausteine zu einer Praktische Theologie des Subjects, (Stuttgart: Radius-Verlag GmbH, 1992), pp. 150–151.
Gerrit de Kruijf, Christelijke Ethiek (Zoetermeer: Meinema, 1999), p. 140.
Frederik Onslow van Gennep, De terugkeer van de verloren Vader (Utrecht: Ten Have, 1989), pp. 470–473.
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Adolescence can be characterised as the process of finding the balance between the questions about identity (‘Who am I?’) and togetherness (‘Who am I with?’). The social environment of adolescents has a significant influence on this process. This environment, however, is in transition: from organisations to open networks with new forms of relationships and connections for adolescents. This transition also influences the field of youth ministry. This article considers the role small groups of adolescents can play in youth ministry in this changing social context. Based on qualitative research conducted amongst five small groups of adolescents, this article argues that togetherness is important through undirected being-together, based on emotional and affectual bonds. The results of this research are related to Maffesoli’s theory of tribalisation: being-together precedes formal organising. Being-together is a basic given and an important factor to consider in youth ministry.
All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
---|---|---|---|
Abstract Views | 245 | 34 | 2 |
Full Text Views | 234 | 0 | 0 |
PDF Views & Downloads | 65 | 1 | 0 |