Awakening the Spirit, Sharpening Conscience: Media & Religious Education

The media and youth culture are an integral part of the emergent meanings and developing values of young people. Media and their messages challenge and support, as well as threaten and undermine the spiritual, moral, and faith journey of youth. The course explores the complex world of late childhood and adolescence. It seeks to develop, with the participants, practical responses for youth ministers and religious educators that engage the media of popular culture, take seriously young people's questions and dreams, and draw on the power and wisdom of the Scriptures and Church tradition. The course will consist of lectures, seminar presentations, group assignments and a final paper or project.