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PREACHING TO POSTMODERNS: Demographics

PREACHING TO POSTMODERNS: Demographics. DEMOGRAPHICS: Generational Issues. George Barna: Generation Next, Baby Busters, The Second Coming of the Church. THE SENIORS. Birth Years: before 1926 Formative Factors World War I Great Depression Serious about faith, close relationship with God

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PREACHING TO POSTMODERNS: Demographics

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  1. PREACHING TOPOSTMODERNS:Demographics

  2. DEMOGRAPHICS: Generational Issues George Barna: Generation Next, Baby Busters, The Second Coming of the Church

  3. THE SENIORS • Birth Years: before 1926 • Formative Factors • World War I • Great Depression • Serious about faith, close relationship with God • Appreciate stability • Close family ties • Rooted in community • Generation least affected by stress • Actively engaged in church, volunteer activities • Part of the “Greatest Generation” Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  4. THE BUILDERS • Birth Years: 1927-1945 • Formative Factors • Great Depression • World War II • Cold War • Appreciate stability • Family, Community, Friends, Employment • Not open to change- prefer predictability • Emphasis on Duty, Obligation • Part of the “Greatest Generation” • Satisfaction found in “simple things” Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  5. THE BOOMERS • Birth Years: 1946-1964 • Formative Factors • Cold War • 60s: Counter-Cultural Movement • Vietnam • Question authority (the establishment) • Uncertain of the relevance of the church • Curious mixture of laissez faire and utilitarianism • Search for Excellence in all of life Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  6. THE BUSTERS • Birth Years: 1965-1983 • Formative Factors: • Watergate • Vietnam Syndrome • Inflation, Unemployment • Age of “limitations” • Question authority (Boomers are Establishment now!) • First generation not to “have it better” • Interested in process of growth, embrace change • Disenchanted with “superficial stuff”- even in church! • Interested in relationships, involvement • Want options, not directions • Feel abandoned, are disillusioned Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  7. THE MOSAICS/MILLENNIALS • Birth Years: 1984-2002 • Formative Factors • End of Cold War • MTV Age/Clinton Presidency • Desert Storm, War on Terrorism • The Digital Generation (non-linear thinking) • High Levels of Stress/Anxiety • Self-Reliant- and Skeptical! • Interest in “spirituality” • Believe in the Bible- but not in absolute truth! • Brighter than previous generations (IQ) • Relationships more important than achievement Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  8. Generation X Born 1965-197651 million Accept diversityPragmatic/practicalSelf-reliant/individualisticReject rulesKiller lifeMistrust institutionsPCUse technologyMultitaskLatch-key kidsFriends-not family Millennials Born 1977 – 199875 million Celebrate diversityOptimistic/realisticSelf-inventive/individualisticRewrite the rulesKiller lifestyleIrrelevance of institutionsInternetAssume technologyMultitask fastNurturedFriends = family ALTERNATE SCHEME http://www.abanet.org/lpm/lpt/articles/mgt08044.html Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  9. GENERATIONAL VALUE SYSTEMS • Key Factors in Generational Identity, per Strauss and Howe, The Fourth Turning, An American Prophecy • A Common Location in History • Common Beliefs • Perceived Membership in a common generation Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  10. GENERATIONAL VALUE SYSTEMS • “The major generational watershed, as far as religious beliefs and practices are concerned, is between those who in our research we call Pre-boomers (born prior to 1946) and those who have come after. Although Boomers (born 1946-1964) and Xers (born 1965-1979) differ in some respects, they are much more like each other than like Pre-boomers.” Jackson Caroll, Circuit Rider, 22:5 Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  11. GENERATIONAL VALUE SYSTEMS • G.I. Generation Value Cohort (pre-1946) • Consumer Generation Value Cohort (post 1946) • Deferred Pleasure vs. Instant Gratification • Group vs. Individual Orientation • Assumptions of Sameness vs. Difference • Spirituality of Place vs. Spirituality of Pilgrimage • Results: Bimodal Congregations/Chapels, Gil Rendle, The Multigenerational Congregation Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  12. CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS • Currently, 75% of Americans are Caucasian • By 2050, only 50% of Americans will be Caucasian • The Hispanic population has overtaken African-Americans as the largest “minority” population • In some areas of the country (e.g., parts of California), there is no longer a majority population • Racial and Ethnic diversity- a fact of life • 15-20% of population moves every year Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  13. CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS -Barna, The Second Coming of the Church, p. 6 Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  14. CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS • Contemporary American Beliefs: • God helps those who help themselves, 81% • All religions teach equally valid truths, 40% • All people pray to the same G/god, 53% • If you do enough good, you will go to heaven, 55% • Jesus was not resurrected physically, 40% • The Bible is not completely true in all it teaches, 34% • The primary purpose of life is enjoyment, 58% • Satan is not real, only a symbol of evil, 60% • Whatever works is the only truth you can know, 32% • Barna, The Second Coming of the Church, 21 Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  15. DEMOGRAPHICS: The Army Today

  16. ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL: Rank • General Officers- 310 • Field Grade Officers- 26,799 • Company Grade Officers- 37,396 • E-7 through E-9- 47,641 • E-5 through E-6- 63,309 • E-4- 100,352 • E-1 through E-3- 118,155 Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  17. ‘05 ALL ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/docs/demographics/FY05%20Army%20Profile.pdf Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  18. ’05 ACTIVE DUTY OFFICERS: http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/docs/demographics/FY05%20Army%20Profile.pdf Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  19. ‘O5 ACTIVE DUTY WARRANTS: http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/docs/demographics/FY05%20Army%20Profile.pdf Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  20. ’05 ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/docs/demographics/FY05%20Army%20Profile.pdf Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  21. ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL: Age http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/docs/demographics/FY05%20Army%20Profile.pdf Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  22. ‘05 ALL COMPONENTS http://www.armyg1.army.mil/hr/docs/demographics/FY05%20Army%20Profile.pdf Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  23. THE ARMY: Broad Strokes • Leaders, largely from “Busters” • Increasing racial and gender diversity • Decreasing influence of “Boomers” • Incoming recruits are “Mosaics” or “Millennials” • Implications for Ministry, especially Worship and Preaching? • Effects of Postmodern thought? Preaching to Postmoderns 2

  24. PREACHING TOPOSTMODERNS:Demographics

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