Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 28, 2016 Letters
Dear Editor;
I am a Muslim but may I add that I am not a born Muslim. I was a Christian for about 90% of my life and I converted to Islam about two years ago. I am nineteen years of age and have observed that my peers and even younger individuals have given up on religion and I see why. There are so many distractions today, for example: Social Media, the quest for material things, popularity, sex, parties and so-called ‘swings’ and social acceptance, with the latter being a subject I will specifically write about in my next letter. These ‘distractions’ have left the Churches, Mosques and Mandirs with a predominantly older following (age 30 and above) with the number of youths few in attendance.
This has led me to the conclusion that the traditional ways have become clearly ineffective and that the leaders within the three main religions namely Christianity, Islam and Hinduism in this country should incorporate fresh, realistic, modern and creative ideas and programmes within their ministering and their everyday spiritual/religious activities. I have a few ideas or suggestions that are straight forward but quite simple. They are as follows:
My first suggestion is to place young, mature and knowledgeable yet down to earth individuals who are on par with the current trends and things that are considered ‘Loud or Dope’ and ‘Clown/Kitchen Cat itation’ (the first words mentioned meaning ‘Cool’ and the latter meaning ‘Not Cool’) in Leaderships positions and pivotal roles under the guidance of elders within the religious body. This will help solve the problem since it will be easier for youths to interact and be comfortable with someone that understands their plight and will make it much easier for them to be ministered to, and to learn about the respective religion than a forty-year-old minister who is out of touch with the social trends, harsh issues and problems etc. facing the youth today.
My second suggestion is to use Social Media and music to grab the attention of the youths. More teenagers spend their time on Social Networks, whether it may be Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat. By creating groups, conversations, pages and memes, the latter which is a social media phenomenon (I personally go through about one hundred memes a day) can be an effective means of interacting with the youth populace that the religious organizations have become so out of touch with. It is no secret that music plays an integral role in all cultures and nations since the beginning of time and also is a means of putting over a message or feelings and emotions of the artiste.
As we all know music plays an important part of our life from the motivational playlist that aids in our exercise to the ‘Hype Up’ music used in dubs to the religious songs or even the wide collection of music that dominate our local radio. Music takes up more than 50% of teenagers’ recreational time so it is safe to say music is also a main factor or part of youth’s lives since they try to copy the lifestyle and traits of their favourite artistes.
Therefore, it’s also safe to say that musicians/artistes and their music influence the youth whether it may be positive or negative. Religious leaders can reach out to popular local artistes for e.g. Jory, Lil Million and the rapidly rising stars such as Teardrop and Bluetooth, who can spare some of their time for a great cause by performing at concerts that are aimed at spreading positivity and religious awareness or even spare a song or two for something positive and to convey a greater message through music. Even a speech by these artistes can be very instrumental.
My third suggestion is to create programmes that are actually interesting and relevant to the youth while incorporating religious teachings with youth leaders playing a main role in the creation and management of these programmes. For e.g. in depressed areas such as Albouystown and Tiger Bay, there are high levels of illiteracy and a programme with the main goal of helping youths to read and develop their analytical skills would be a realistic programme since it is actually tackling an issue that is eating at the foundation of our education system.
It will also benefit churches because some light reading material that could be used, can be informative books on religion or the Holy Book of the respective religion.
This way you’ll be educating the youth about religion while imparting useful skills that will be used in their everyday life.
My fourth suggestion is for the religious leaders to speak about topics and issues that are affecting youth today such as depression and other psychological issues- peer pressure, sex, sexual orientation, crime, violence, lack of employment relationships, racism and teenage pregnancy etc. in their lectures and sermons.
They can go about interacting with youth and discern their thoughts and feelings by way of questionnaires to understand the entirety and importance of the problems, so your message can mirror the thoughts of the young people with the whole research aspect being done by the youth leaders in the respective religious bodies (an example of how young people in leadership positions can be of use since youth will be more comfortable speaking to someone in tune with what is going on and in the similar age range).
By confiding with the youth about their issues, wants and needs while placing much importance in their views is a great way for religious bodies to form a bond or relationship with the Guyanese Youth.
These are simple suggestions as I have stated before, and I challenge all religious leaders to place more energy and zest into the herculean task of bringing the youth back into the churches, mosques and mandirs.
We must welcome this challenge, for it is the only way you can all make a meaningful impact on the future and the minds of the young people thus securing generations to come. The instilling of principles, morals, belief of a higher power that we must all sooner or later answer to and the reinforcement of the sense of right and wrong is a major key.
Shane “Bull” Bakker
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