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Friday, November 30, 2007

Youth Culture 101 Study Guide Introduction

Walt Mueller is the preeminent authority on youth culture in evangelical circles. His books, articles and seminars have been helping to equip youth workers for years. I tip my hat to this humble veteran youth worker and research specialist. He has honorably and gracefully engaged generations of youth culture research novices (like me) - who have sparred with him from different philosophical and theological corners of the dialogue ring. In the end, I find myself returning to the wisdom I find in his words - words that are grounded, well-articulated and holistically missional.

As a result, I have selected his book, Youth Culture 101 as a text for one of my classes. I am developing this blog-based study guide for the youth workers studying on this subject at Railton School for Youth Worker Training. I have created these questions to invite these new sparring partners to enter the ring to wrestle through how we can reclaim children and youth for Christ in a media-saturated culture. To learn more about his ministry and resources for both parents and youth workers, check out his excellent website: http:cpyu.org

This dialogue ring welcomes others (both Christian and non-Christian) who might be interested in engaging with the questions outlined throughout this guide.This isn't intended to be an 'official' study guide of the book - just merely an attempt to help focus readers on identifying the gems that emerge from this text. If you think that there are other questions that might be pertinent to this chapter, email me and let me know.


I will be regularly updating these chapters over the next few weeks. Please check in regularly for updates.

Chapter One: Good News: There's a Teenager in Your Life
[Supplemental Resources and Info]

Chapter Two: The Times... They Are a-Changin'
[Supplemental Resources and Info]

Chapter Three: Media: The New Face of Nurture
[Supplemental Resources and Info]

Chapter Four: The Media How It's Shaping Kids
[Supplemental Resources and Info]

Chapter Five: Through the Maze: Teaching Kids Media Discernment
[Supplemental Resources and Info]

Chapter Six: It All Ads Up: Marketing's Powerful Influence on Teenagers
[Supplemental Resources and Info]

Chapter Seven: Fitting In: The Push and Pull of Peer Pressure
[Supplemental Resources and Info]

Chapter Eight: Hooking Up: Understanding Our Sexualized Youth Culture
[Supplemental Resources and Info]

Chapter Nine: Living in a Material World
[Supplemental Resources and Info]

Chapter Ten: Under the Influence: Teenagers and Substance Abuse
[Supplemental Resources and Info]

Chapter Eleven: When Adolescence Hurts: The Dark World of Teenage Depression and Suicide
[Supplemental Resources and Info]


Chapter Twelve: Especially for Parents: Helping Your Teenagers Find Their Places in God's Story
[Supplemental Resources and Info]

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