Virtual Faith | Book Review

Reviewed by Thomas Scarborough

This book describes the spiritual profile of “Generation X”. Author Tom Beaudoin prefers to describe this generation “in terms of what is primarily cultural: a living generation”. However, it has been loosely defined as the “thirteenth generation” of the United States, or “those born from the early 1960s to the late 1970s”. That is, it is the generation who are currently in their mid-20s to mid-40s.

A key characteristic of Generation Xers, writes Beaudoin, is their heavy use of symbolism, which is evident throughout the culture — witnessed in tattoos, pop videos, fashion accessories, and in many other ways. When carefully interpreted, this reveals a “constant yearning, both implicit and explicit, for the almost mystical encounter of the human and divine”. This ought not to be derided “as being full of sin and devoid of grace”, but understood as being part of a genuine spiritual search. Generation Xers are “strikingly religious”.

A second key characteristic of Generation Xers is that they “are experts in superficiality and posing”, and are constantly querying others as to their fidelity. It is partly for this reason that they “see right through” the mere “religious institutionalism” of many Churches. They are not easily fooled, and recognise a Church “domesticated and drained of any energy”. Nonetheless, “they still retain a striking fascination with Jesus”, and one of their “specific marks” is “reclaiming Jesus against Christian Churches”.

The author’s answer to Generation X, at the end of the book, comes as something of a surprise. He proposes that they “must reappropriate tradition, which is one of my primary challenges to Xers themselves”. However, in view of the special characteristics of the generation, he proposes the following “threefold emphasis for ministry”: “a return to humility in ministry, a willingness to ‘go virtual’, and a renewal of mystical practices and spiritual disciplines”.

This book is well written, and includes an appropriate section on method, and a good index at the back. However, I felt that there was a certain superficiality about it. With its heavy emphasis on symbolism, it would seem to sanitise the generation of many of the profound spiritual struggles and deep real-life impasses that are encountered in ministry. Further, with its emphasis on the genuineness of Generation X’s search, it may effectively expunge a good deal of genuine hopelessness and evil from its description and analysis.

Beaudoin, Thomas More

1998 Virtual Faith: The Irreverent Spiritual Quest of Generation X. New York, NY: Jossey-Bass. ISBN 0-7879-5527-2. Publisher Price: US$16.