We’ve long heard people say they’re “spiritual, not religious,” an attitude particularly prevalent among youth. What exactly does that mean?University of Missouri graduate student Anthony James set out to define adolescent spirituality a bit more by asking youth themselves—all of whom identified themselves as being spiritual—what they thought it meant to be spiritual. He received all sorts of answers that fell into seven broad categories: 1) to have purpose; 2) to feel connection with people, nature and a higher power; 3) to have a foundation of well-being; 4) to have conviction; 5) to have self-confidence; and 6) to have a sense of virtue—a motivation to do what’s right. James labeled the seventh category as “unable to define.” Many of the teens James talked to, although they believed themselves to be spiritual, said they didn’t know what that actually meant or how it manifested in their lives. “Although the assumption is that many people are ‘spiritual,’ spirituality is not something that is easy to articulate and define,” James said. “People have a hard time separating spirituality from religion, but the differences are important to understanding behavior and development.” (Medical News Today)
Girl Dies at L.A. Rave
A 15-year-old girl recently died of a suspected overdose after attending a rave in Los Angeles. The 14th annual Electric Daisy Carnival, held June 29, 2010, at L.A.’s Memorial Coliseum, was Sasha Rodriguez’ first rave, according to her family. She apparently went without her family’s permission; and though drug use, they say, was “not her character,” she apparently was taking ecstasy. She passed out at the rave, and by the time she reached the hospital was comatose—suffering respiratory arrest and multiple organ failure. While the carnival was said to require attendees to be 16, some attendees said they never saw anyone checking identification. “We’ve got kids in inappropriate situations who are dying,” said Kimberly Keith, a friend of the Rodriguez family. “That’s a city-, state-, county-owned building. They throw it, they rent it, yet they fill it full of minors in a setting where everybody knows what a rave is about. Where’s the accountability?” Sasha was the rave’s only casualty, though about 120 attendees were transported to local emergency rooms, mainly because of drug intoxication. About 185,000 people attended the event. (Los Angeles Times)
Dads Make a Difference
Kids who talk with their fathers “most days” are happier than those who rarely talk with their dads, according to a new study released by the Children’s Society in Great Britain. About half of the 1,200 children (ages 11-15) polled said they “hardly ever” talk to their fathers about important things, compared to 28 percent who said the same about their mothers. That’s not necessarily a bad thing: Fathers tend to play and roughhouse with their kids more than moms do, which is an important aspect in child-rearing, too. “There are now studies showing that this so-called rough-and-tumble play supports healthy exploration later on in life,” says William Pollack, a Harvard Medical School professor. “People used to worry that it might increase aggression in boys, but there’s plenty of data out there to show that it can lead them to be more empathetic.” (New York Daily News)
The Healing Power of Music
Two major concert tours, stocked with some of the world’s biggest Christian music acts, will crisscross the country this year in the hopes of helping people in need. Building 429’s Annual Summerfest Tour, which also features such stars as Britt Nicole, Mikeschair and Finding Favour, began July 6, 2010, in Dodge City, Kansas. The 13-city tour is a partnership with Food for the Hungry and will try to foster sponsorships for children in Haiti. “After being in Haiti just a couple months ago, the work of Food for the Hungry has rooted itself even deeper in our hearts,” said Building 429’s frontman Jason Roy. “We’re proud to be partnering with them on this upcoming summer tour, working to save the lives of thousands of Haitian children.” Meanwhile, World Vision and AEG Live recently announced the headliners for the 20-city Make a Difference Tour 2010—a roster that includes TobyMac, Michael W. Smith and Third Day. The Make a Difference Tour (also sponsored by HearItFirst.com) will kick off its 20-stop tour with a Sept. 30 concert in Youngstown, Ohio. Organizers hope to find sponsors for 25,000 children through World Vision. Max Lucado’s new book Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make a Difference is the impetus for the concert, and the author has been a driving force in its planning. Lucado is donating all of his author royalties from the book to World Vision and other ministries. “Partnering with World Vision, TobyMac, Michael and Third Day is a real privilege and pleasure,” Lucado says. “None of us can help everyone, but all of us can help someone. When we serve the poor, we serve God. Who would want to miss a chance to do that?” (Press Releases)
