What does "faith" mean today?

Young people in Nagaland, NE India (Photo by Deli)

Youth Spirituality: English-speaking group: 

Deli Kapani, Prakash Vijaya Maramreddy, Roshan Miranda, John Peter Savarimuthu

7 December 2016

Youth in Sri Lanka (Photo by Roshan)

A: Questions for the youth

What does ‘faith’ mean for the youth of today? What are some of the challenges young people encounter in their ‘faith journey’? Is there a decline of faith among the young people of today?

Discussion 

Faith is a deep personal relationship based on complete trust and confidence. It is a vital aspect of a human person. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the certainty of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). In every person there is an innate desire for transcendence. This unknown path is sought through faith. While, the term ‘faith’ is more often used to imply human relationship with God, it can also be applied to ordinary human relationships. For instance, a child’s trust in his /her parents, or a young couple abandoning their parents’ home to begin a new world together may be cited as examples of faith in human terminology.

South Sudanese families and youth in refugee camp, Uganda (photo by John Peter)

Faith is nurtured by the culture and society in which a person lives in. While faith is something very personal, it is deeply affected by the environment in which in which he/she lives. In a way it can also be said that a person’s faith in God is coloured by the norms and customs of the society. Living in a more permissive society, young people of today are facing more challenges in their journey of faith. Children from broken families find it difficult to comprehend the meaning of a caring or a compassionate God. Children from war-torn areas do not easily trust other people.

Since culture and society constitute the fabric of a person, a decline in cultural and social standards also reflect decline in the faith perspective of the people. A healthy culture and society is always a pre-requisite for a healthy growth in faith. So, if there is decline of faith among the people, religion alone is not to be blamed.

Christmas pageant in Hyderabad, India (Photo by Prakash)

B: Questions for the parents

What is the role of the parents in educating and bringing up the children today?

Discussion

To have a healthy tree, there must be good seed and good soil. If anyone of the two is lacking, it will affect the growth of the tree. In the growth of a child, heredity may be compared to the seed and environment may be compared to the soil. A child born of royal blood may not learn to become a prince if suitable environment is not provided to him. So also, a child without musical aptitude may not grow up to be a genius even if he/she is provided with the best of environment and trained by the most efficient teacher. Family and society play a very crucial role in the life of child. Family is the first school from where the child learns the first lessons of life. The social institutions modify it. Hence, responsible parenting and healthy social environment are pre-requisites for the healthy growth of a child. If any of the two is lacking, the growth of a child will be adversely affected.

The eminent members of the English-speaking group (photo by Joe)

Summary by Deli Kapani