I like to listen to Michael Medved. He is an Orthodox Jew, but his insight into Christianity has a good bit of clarity. The link below is to an opinion piece published in USA Today. It’s a good read, and I’d love to get your opinion on it. A couple of quotes:
“Recent history in both the Jewish and Christian communities suggests he’s (Jonathan Sarna justifying pluralism) wrong: Disaffected young people seldom flock to watered-down versions of religious faith that lack continuity or integrity. The rapidly growing denominations are those that make demands on potential adherents and advance clear standards of right and wrong. That’s why Evangelical and Pentecostal Christianity has grown while “mainline” Protestant denominations have dwindled, and why traditionalist Catholicism boasts more worldwide vitality than liberal strains of the church. Meanwhile, Mormons uphold multiple restrictions (giving up alcohol, coffee, tobacco, among other things) and yet constitute one of the fastest-growing creeds in the USA.”
and
“Talk of “pluralism” only dodges the issue, because if religion fails to provide forceful guidance on the most crucial behavioral issues of life, it offers only meager servings of lukewarm porridge. That might be good enough for Goldilocks, but it won’t nourish the spiritual seekers who desire — and deserve — more commitment and clarity.”
Here’s the link: http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/04/post_70.html#more
Technorati Tags: Michael Medved, Christianity, Pluralism
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Seems like its proven over and over again that kids not only need structure in their lives but crave it! There is something about the absolutes that Christianity calls for that give us definitive guard rails and helps us to avoid that 8 foot hole in the ground with storm water shooting out of it ;).