How important is religion for young people in America today? What are the major influences on their developing spiritual lives? How do their religious beliefs and practices change as young people enter into adulthood? Christian Smith's Souls in Transition explores these questions and many others as it tells the definitive story of the religious and spiritual lives of emerging adults, ages 18 to 24, in the U.S. today. This is the much-anticipated follow-up study to the landmark book, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers. Based on candid interviews with thousands of young people tracked over a five-year period, Souls in Transition reveals how the religious practices of the teenagers portrayed in Soul Searching have been strengthened, challenged, and often changed as they have moved into adulthood. The book vividly describes as well the broader cultural world of today's emerging adults, how that culture shapes their religious outlooks, and what the consequences are for religious faith and practice in America more generally. Some of Smith's findings are surprising. Parents turn out to be the single most important influence on the religious outcomes in the lives of young adults. On the other hand, teenage participation in evangelization missions and youth groups does not predict a high level of religiosity just a few years later. Moreover, the common wisdom that religiosity declines sharply during the young adult years is shown to be greatly exaggerated. Painstakingly researched and filled with remarkable findings, Souls in Transition will be essential reading for youth ministers, pastors, parents, teachers and students at church-related schools, and anyone who wishes to know how religious practice is affected by the transition into adulthood in America today.

This title contains a cultural analysis of emerging adult religion, based on interviews, trying to describe and understand the contours, textures, and complexities of the cultural categories, narratives, discourses, attitudes, and norms of young adult faith and religious and spiritual practice.

The declining religious participation among young adults, or "Rise of the Nones," has signaled alarms across American Christianity. A closer look into the faith lives of thirty young adults who are, or were at one time, connected with a church, however, shows an articulate and aesthetically embodied faith life that seeks out connection with others, expression of their identity, and an openness to encountering God. Young adults see themselves, and all people in this pluralistic world, as bearing the image of God. They see creativity, in their own lives and in the lives of others, as evidence of this identity. This book is not an appeal to put more art into congregations, but rather an invitation to attend to aesthetic, embodied ways of knowing that exist among all people.

Life for emerging adults is vastly different today than it was for their counterparts even a generation ago. Young people are waiting longer to marry, to have children, and to choose a career direction. As a result, they enjoy more freedom, opportunities, and personal growth than ever before. But the transition to adulthood is also more complex, disjointed, and confusing. In Lost in Transition, Christian Smith and his collaborators draw on 230 in-depth interviews with a broad cross-section of emerging adults (ages 18-23) to investigate the difficulties young people face today, the underlying causes of those difficulties, and the consequences both for individuals and for American society as a whole. Rampant consumer capitalism, ongoing failures in education, hyper-individualism, postmodernist moral relativism, and other aspects of American culture are all contributing to the chaotic terrain that emerging adults must cross. Smith identifies five major problems facing very many young people today: confused moral reasoning, routine intoxication, materialistic life goals, regrettable sexual experiences, and disengagement from civic and political life. The trouble does not lie only with the emerging adults or their poor individual decisions but has much deeper roots in mainstream American culture--a culture which emerging adults have largely inherited rather than created. Older adults, Smith argues, must recognize that much of the responsibility for the pain and confusion young people face lies with them. Rejecting both sky-is-falling alarmism on the one hand and complacent disregard on the other, Smith suggests the need for what he calls "realistic concern"--and a reconsideration of our cultural priorities and practices--that will help emerging adults more skillfully engage unique challenges they face. Even-handed, engagingly written, and based on comprehensive research, Lost in Transition brings much needed attention to the darker side of the transition to adulthood.

The authors of the bestselling "Angelspeake" describe the nature of life and death as it has been revealed to them by angelic communicators. This guide offers lessons in caregiving, transition, and how to recognize and communicate with loved ones who have made the transition to a new form of life.

This introductory textbook solidly situates Christian education in the church and ministry context of the 21st century. With over 20 years of ministry, teaching, and leadership experience, Freddy Cardoza is uniquely qualified to bring together a wide range of Christian educators. This volume features the expertise of 25 evangelical scholars of Christian education, including diverse, next-generation voices in the field. It provides balanced biblical-theological and practical perspectives for church and parachurch leaders, equipping them to meet the ever-changing needs of our world. Additional resources for professors and students are available through Textbook eSources.

From day one, Bridget Julia McNeil has grown up quickly. As a child of the ’60s, girl of the ’70s, and teenager of the ’80s, she learns to navigate her own path, stumbling and regaining her balance along the way. That path takes her from her childhood home in Colorado to Mexico, Hawaii, and, finally, on a great adventure in the Philippines, Thailand, Nepal, and India at the age of sixteen. Love and the search for enlightenment suffuse her travels. What she does not realize is that her journey has a guide: from a place near the center of all creation, the spirit Darius watches over Bridget, making sure she is always safe and on the right track in a mission she has no idea she is on.

Discover the transformative power of angels with "Oracle of Angels - Rituals and Practices" by Olivia Evans, an essential work for all who seek a deep connection with the divine. This comprehensive spiritual guide explores the timeless wisdom of angels, offering powerful rituals and spiritual practices that open a direct channel to celestial beings. In each chapter, you will find an in-depth exploration of the qualities and symbolism of archangels like Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Uriel. Learn how to invoke Michael's protection, heal with Raphael's energy, receive revelations from Gabriel, and find wisdom and repentance with Uriel. Each archangel is presented with specific practices and rituals, powerful prayers, and ancient methods that allow you to access their blessings and guidance. "Oracle of Angels - Rituals and Practices" is not just a book; it is a portal to a spiritual journey that elevates the soul and strengthens the spirit. Ideal for spiritual practitioners, esoteric scholars, and anyone seeking a life more connected to the sacred. Olivia Evans combines deep knowledge with accessibility, making this guide an indispensable companion for spiritual growth. Prepare to transform your life with the wisdom and protection of angels. Find "Oracle of Angels - Rituals and Practices" on major self-publishing platforms like Google Books, Apple Books, Draft2Digital, and Kobo. Elevate your spirituality and feel the presence of angels by your side every step of your journey. Buy now and begin your spiritual transformation today!

This is a book about past-life and life-between-lives regression cases. Unlike Pieter's previous book; "When Souls Awaken, Real-life Accounts of Past-Life and Life-between Lives Regressions", which, along with cases, also shared a lot of philosophical information, this book focuses solely on the cases themselves. This book is a collaboration between Pieter and his wife Jenna, who are both Newton-trained regression therapists. This collection of 30 cases of past-life and life-between-lives regressions will take you on a spiritual journey where you can vicariously experience the amazing spiritual world and all the wisdom that comes with it. From early western settlers to medieval royalty, alchemists, and more, these accounts show the eternal journey of the soul through many lifetimes, aspiring to develop ever higher forms of evolution and spiritual unfoldment. Pieter Elsen and Jenna Iantorno are professional regression therapists with years of experience, helping countless souls find their higher purpose in and beyond life. They are the fonders of the Path of Light Center, a wellness center in Virginia.

One of today's hot topics is the faith of "emerging adults" (the 18-30 age group). This book surveys the current research on emerging adulthood, describes the common changes emerging adults experience in their Christian faith as they move through their twenties, and discusses how emerging adults and their parents can successfully navigate those changes. In 2000, psychologist Jeffrey Arnett posited a new life stage—"emerging adulthood"—to describe the 18-30 age group. This age group was marked by a growing chasm between adolescence and the completion of traditional adult milestones. A number of scholarly studies of this age group have been done in the last decade. This book surveys that research, and offers an overview of how emerging adults view Christian faith. It explains how emerging adults reject or modify several of the Christian faith’s most common tenets and assumptions. And it offers guidance to parents, grandparents, ministers, and anyone who seeks to better understand the perplexing changes often seen in emerging adults’ religious faith and practice. In addition to presenting in reader-friendly form the conclusions of recent research on this age group, Wandering in the Wilderness weaves in the reflections of real-life emerging adults who responded to the author's request to share their own experiences of Christian faith. These provide powerful, poignant glimpses into the topic.