Four Powerful Influences on Student Belief Systems Young people are influenced by more than the four factors on the following two slides. These influences, however, are evident and easy to identify, discuss, and contrast with a Biblical perspective. Each can be expanded into larger presentations and applied across several subject areas and disciplines. They can be used as a lens to examine curriculum and our practices in community in terms of the question: what are our participants in the classroom or the congregation learning and from whom?

Four Powerful Influences on Student Belief Systems Relativism: in its extreme form, the view that all truth is finally subjective, based only on personal experience and opinion, and there are no absolutes. cancels one authority with another dismisses religious and moral truths in milder forms, can lead to further searching Student connection: a new and important capacity for examining sources of authority Social Media Moralism: altering decades of relativism, now “blame-and shame” assertions about dignity claim the moral high ground—that keeps shifting. Related somewhat to warrior cultures and honor cultures (see Ruth Benedict) Incoherence of insisting on zero tolerance for intolerance Sin—but without source and norm (instead: “safe place”) Student connection: instant, constant exposure may lead to internalization or desensitization

Four Powerful Influences on Student Belief Systems, cont. Student connection: a route for accessing and expanding power and influence Pragmatism: the quintessential American philosophy that truth, knowledge, and reality are determined by reference to practical concerns: “Does it work?” the worldview of many successful adults truth is contingent and contextual in society and culture relegates religion to personal and private (cf 2 Tim 3:5) Emotivism: truth and reality are measured and checked by our feelings because our emotions are real and we have ready access to their power and sincerity. our passions are powerfully related to relationships relationships are extremely important to us emotions provide a common coin for transactions Student connection: an intense and widely accepted way of interpreting experience and confirming values Table Talk: While these four plainly overlap, which would you say is/are the most prevalent in our culture? Among young people in general? Among our students? And how would you contrast these with a Biblical perspective?