Without Millennials New Thought will be extinct
BY HARV BISHOP
There is no future for New Thought if denominations such as Centers for Spiritual Living (Religious Science) and Unity can’t attract Millennials. The key to attracting Millennials is putting social justice front and center, says Masando Hiraoka, a ministerial student and Science of Magazine: Guide for Spiritual Living columnist.
Numbers of adherents for major New Thought churches are in decline. Aging Baby Boomers represent the majority of the New Thought demographic. Millennials were born between 1980 and 2000.
“If New Thought wants to attract younger populations,” says Hiraoka, a Millennial, “or be taken seriously by the Millennial generation it will not happen unless this social justice message of creating a world for everyone comes through. Without that it will be harder to reach them. People need meaning in their lives.”
Millennials are simultaneously vilified as spoiled and entitled and celebrated as a generation intensely passionate about helping others and the planet. Millennials rate of volunteerism is higher than previous generations.
“If you look at the Millennials, we’re an interesting generation.” Hiraoka reflects. “We have the most college debt. We have the most number of different jobs per individual post-college. We’re willing to work for less money. And we’re less apt to keep our mouths shut in the work place.
“What are my friends doing? I have one that does outdoor education. I have another who started an independent school in Tucson where the education system is terrible. Another friend who is becoming a rabbi. Another friend works for one of the biggest mining companies in the world. But he is the only advocate for the communities in which they’re going into so his job is like ‘Hey, these guys are coming whether you like it or not- what can we do because they’re also coming with a lot of money to help this community.’ So he builds schools, and he builds infrastructure.”
New Thought can grow if it takes its ethic of the Oneness of all humanity and the planet seriously, says Hiraoka. New Thought, and Centers for Spiritual living in particular, he says, is strong in diversity for the LGBTQ community, but has room to grow in terms of race, class and reaching out to Millennials. And increasing diversity is connected to the progressive New Thought vision of creating a world that works for everyone.
“Ultimately, what it comes down to is how we can serve?” Hiraoka says. “How can we meet people where they’re at? I feel like we’ve been serving a particular part of the population. When you walk into most centers it’s largely white, largely Baby Boomer generation, largely female. I think we have served that population very well but I think we’re at a point where we have to look at how we serve more people. So the social justice vision interacts with this diversity piece. I don’t see New Thought and Centers for Spiritual Living moving forward without it.
“Social justice and diversity are intertwined. When you look out in the world, race and socio-economic inequality are related. All these aspects of diversity and social justice are all entangled and enmeshed. I have faith that that’s where we’re moving if we can look at how we serve people.
“Ultimately we have to do that if we really want to walk the talk, if we really want to say we believe in this idea of Oneness. It is a word that gets thrown around a lot, but the idea of Oneness has very powerful implications. It means that we’re not soloed human beings. We’re living in a world and we’re living on a planet that’s connected. We affect each other. So I think if we really live from that place we’ll be moved to do what we can to serve because we are realizing that our life is so connected to the lives of the people around us. Our own happiness, our own sense of self are all interwoven in the lives of everyone around us.”
Our interview with Masando got us to thinking. Churches and spiritual organizations successful in drawing Millennials, such as Washington DC’s National Community Church and the Sanctuaries interfaith movement, incorporate these ideas:
1) Provide opportunities to make the world a better place and ways for people to find their life’s purpose.
2) Stress interfaith and interdenominational rather than polarizing religious teachings. Sanctuaries brings together Buddhists, Muslims, Jews and Christians; National Community church crosses traditional Christian denominational boundaries.
3) Incorporate the arts, music, poetry, painting and conversation into spiritual gatherings. Give participants a direct role in services and meetings rather than turning people into passive spectators. Music is key at National Community Church and Sanctuaries draws on all art forms in its highly participatory gatherings. They also incorporate the arts in advocating on issues such as affordable housing.
Can these ideas be adopted in whole or in part in a New Thought context? What are your ideas for reaching Millennials in New Thought congregations? What are your congregations doing to meet the needs of Millennials?
Hiraoka will be part of a forthcoming Science of Mind: Guide for Spiritual Living magazine article with other leading New Thought voices asking how Centers for Spiritual Living’s mission statement- “creating a world that works for everyone”- can become a reality.
There’s a lot here I agree and disagree with.
I have always felt that these labels like “Baby Boomers, Gen Xer’s, Millennials”
, etc. tend to further separate people in a world where too much of that is already going on by virtue of birth or location or religion for us to be adding to the problem by adding yet stickers on each other. Language matters and ours can be more combative than supportive.
New Thought has a much larger reach than suggested here. Though I think some of the problems he listed are accurate. There is a strong New Thought presence in the black community that Mr. Hiraoka failed to mention. One of their strengths, in my opinion, is the teaching how the Christian bible speaks to us in a metaphorical and metaphysical language and how to understand. This practice, in my opinion, has fallen largely by the wayside in the mostly white centers mentioned and it’s particularly sad because we find ourselves living yet again in a time when the dangers of literal biblical interpretation is a very real effect that we are confronted with virtually every day.
So I do have a problem with stressing interfaith and interdenominational teaching if you mean in a literal fashion because I don’t believe in literal interpretations of almost any religion. My teaching, my belief, says to me that there is only One power so I see teaching literal interpretations of any religion as yet another separator which, history clearly shows, gives man much less in nobility and more reasons to fight with each. I do believe that there is a common denominator in all religions that isn’t so obvious to practitioners of literalism and that is what we have to offer and what we should be stressing. It can be very liberating to learn that there is only One power and that power resides in each individual (It certainly has been for me). If I’m focused on making myself a better person hopefully that has its effect on the world at large.
I absolutely agree that we should be out there and active in our communities and we should begin to be more open about who we are and what we believe. I happen to think our beliefs are an antidote to literal religion (my aim is mostly at the big 3 with that comment). As it is, we have to combat people believing we’re only about manifesting money. While prosperity is a part of this teaching it’s certainly not the only part and far from the most important part.
I practice my faith privately mostly because what I’m looking for spiritually is harder to find at Center these day. For me, singing and holding hands doesn’t do much. I don’t want to knock it too much because I know some people love that. But it’s the message, God is in each and every one of us and on some level IS us. That our job as individuals is to strengthen that inner connection with the Divine, this, I believe, has the greatest potential for a truly positive impact in the world.
Totally agree.
As a new thoughter- millenial – just- I find the something in being in a meditation mindfulness or yogic/ vegan environments. I believe the idea of being sedentary and flocking to a building needs to be evolved. I see my self desiring social interaction and movement people of my age – understanding our common foundation in values yet thriving in connecting on our individuality and being in the ‘being’ new thought not so much talking of it. Rarely do I desire the sit down Sessions and if so a reflective personal moment or meditation does more for me than fitting my concerns into the byte size or a service or sermon after talk
I love this concept of “belonging to one another” though I would hesitate to believe that what we need to do more of is in alignment with #2 above:
“2) Stress interfaith and interdenominational rather than polarizing religious teachings. Sanctuaries brings together Buddhists, Muslims, Jews and Christians; National Community church crosses traditional Christian denominational boundaries.”
In fact, I believe the exact opposite. I think that we need to have a clear and defined identity. Otherwise we are just a place where people come that believe whatever they want and as such they have no consistent context in which to agree that they are all safe. As a “millennial” myself and a minister of a Religious Science community I can say that people are starving to really understand what we are and what that means. In order to have a community that can act together and accomplish social justice together they must find their common ground and for us Religious Science is that common ground.
I also disagree that the term “millennial” is one worth perpetuating. We’re all humans. It’s almost like the baby Boomers and Gen-X’ers forgot about how much they HATED being typified by a term like this and then here they are slapping the label around on the younger generation. There is no broad sweeping way to describe an entire generation of humans… it’s actually a joke in my opinion.
It also brings me to the biggest point I would like to make…
It’s about time we stopped being concerned with the “kind” of people we appeal to. The more we focus on the amazing principles of this teaching, Religious Science, the more we will be seen by those we can reach. If we are unidentifiable, if we are undifferentiated from the blob of New Thought, then we slide into the same obscurity that has shrouded our teaching for decades now. At the time that it was thriving it was being lead and identified quite clearly for what it was. When that stopped, when the organization divided because of individual personality cults and a need to “advance” the teaching, we split and have been in decline ever since in my opinion. Call me old school but, perhaps it’s time to stop feeling like our identity is to not have one of our own?
Want to attract PEOPLE regardless of demographic? Make sure you have what they want and are able to find you. I already know that 100 million people would be passionately proud to be in this teaching. Now it’s a matter of making sure they can find us. Being discernible is how that happens.
Thanks for these thoughtful comments Rev. Brian. I think it is less about applying item 2 as it has been done in other settings and more about applying it in a New Thought or Religious Science context. What it suggests to me is that (forgive the term again) Millennials want to see truth in more than one belief system and are suspicious of belief systems where it is my way or the highway (there is some evidence that they are more politically pragmatic and less ideologically polarized as well.) For me, Religious Science is already there and it is more a matter of what you say- making sure they find us. As to being more identifiable and standing for principle I think you will be interested in Mitch Horowitz’s guest blog next week on this topic. I also want to point readers of this blog to Rev. Brian Aker’s thought provoking essays on the HuffPost and on his website It’s Really Real.
-Harv
Every so often I get to read something that brings me so completely back to why I’m involved with the Centres for Spiritual Living. In this article the message is clear. If New Thought is to evolve and find a more relevant place within the twenty-first century our spiritual community will need to, “provide opportunities to make the world a better place and ways for people to find their life’s purpose.”
I enjoyed the article, particularly for its call to action. On a personal note, reading the three elements of the article’s call to action reminded me that I’m already embodying much of what is suggested. In my talks I often make a point of making connections to other teachings and spiritual paths. A particular favourite of mine is likely Buddhism. However, I am reminded that I could be making a greater effort to stress the beauty shared by so many faiths and teachings.
In addition, we’ve already begun incorporating the arts within our spiritual community. The Ministry of Outrageous Care certainly gives members in our community a chance to have a direct role in services, meetings and activities.
Providing opportunities to make the world a better place, at least for the Centre for Spiritual Living Saskatoon, starts with me as their Senior Minister. I am reminded that Ernest Holmes would have supported living these teachings in meaningful ways. After all, Holmes did teach that he would, “rather see a student of this Science prove its Principle than to have him repeat all the words of wisdom that have ever been uttered. It is far easier to teach the Truth than it is to practice it.”
That said, I’m clear that as a practitioner it’s my role to live these teachings and to make them my own. If anyone, or any group, finds inspiration by applying these teachings as a part of an effort to make the world a better place through some form of social activism I say more power to them. However, before launching ourselves into such an endeavour two thoughts do come to mind.
First, before we launch into any effort of social activism it is essential, at least if we aspire to be true to the Science of Mind teachings, that we blend co-creative awareness with our activism. Making the world a better place for everyone starts with making the world a better place through walking the walk of these teachings.
Second, I will continue to invite anyone within our spiritual community interested in some form of social activism to consider getting involved in leadership within our outrageous care structure. I’m excited to support a conversation about how to take ideas fuelled by passion to make the world a better place. Whether the cause that calls is about social justice, the environment or human rights I’m ready to support those of our community in finding a way to combine the best of the Science of Mind teachings with their passion to make a difference. After all, if we can’t find a way to inspire people in finding their life’s purpose what is the point of gathering in spiritual community?
This is a very valuable discussion and everyone has offered some insightful views. From my perspective, being engaged with the community is certainly a good way to create the kind of welcoming environment that encourages millenials (or anyone) to take a look in the door. But that must only be a start because New Thought organizations can’t just be another group at work in the community, valuable though that may be.
They have to be clear on what, and it’s not being crass, they offer that makes them a particularly good place to call home with a particularly interesting bunch of people. That is quite likely where the impacts of this way of seeing and living in the world on our own individual lives becomes important. If a New Thought church or group or whatever is a place where people come to explore how they can gain greater authority within their own lives, whether based on the principles and teachings of Holmes or whomever so they build lives that work for them that much better — and at the same time, carry that same spirit into their communities so all around them can build better lives, then you’re more likely on to something that will work for everyone, including healthier New Thought institutions.
After all, if all you want is to find a way to contribute to your community, there are lots of options. Join a political party, take part in a cause that matters to you, be part of a community org, volunteer someplace, and on and on. But the challenge in that kind of approach is that we’ve all known people who were so burned out from giving that they had little left for themselves. The whole point on the New Thought side generally starts with us first. As we understand just what powers are available to us and within us and through us, we realize just how much we can give from a place of love and gratitude to all around us. We start by taking enlightened care of ourselves and from that base, we share so much more effectively with others. We share from our joy in what works for, not our firm beliefs about how others must live their lives. And that happy notion that what’s truly good for me in spirit and good for you in spirit is good for all of us in all manner of ways.
I have been going to the Centers for Spiritual Living for more than 20 years. I have seen the “A World That Works For Everyone” slogan several times. Lately I’ve been wondering why that has not been at the forefront in the talks and activities in the church. It’s wonderful to see it finally come to light. I have also been wondering why the younger generations don’t come to the Centers. I think having more arts in the Centers and people more involved is a great idea. I wonder what else we can do to attract the younger generations….
Terrific article….As someone who is interested in becoming a teacher and counselor in the New Thought field (I’m presently enrolled in the University of Sedona) it confirmed what I’ve been mulling over for a while now: how our ideas might help those who have not traditionally been the focus of this movement: the poor, the homeless, and the often destitute survivors of addiction or criminality….those who are looking to overcome a desperate past while trying to regain their footing in the present. I believe—I know—we have the tools to help them rebuild their lives, from scratch if necessary. Now it’s just a matter of desire and will…Theirs and ours. This should encourage us to reach out to neighborhoods and communities in distress, through book study, counseling groups and even, and probably more importantly, interfaith gatherings and spiritual centers. The potential for future renewal is there for all of us.
You are right sir, the Oneness Principle has very powerful implications. Why don’t you go back and review it. The paradigm is Oneness with God. Oneness with all people is an affirmation, a great idea, not the Principle.
Your passion for social justice is awesome. You seem to be waiting for someone to create the opportunity for you. Whose permission do you need? I am the permission giver. Go for it I say! In your own authentic way – art, poetry, music. All of it!
Try something easy like collective meditation for peace with interfaith initiatives. Tons of resources to get started in my new book. http://peacecentersinternational.org/NEW!-Waves-of-Peace.html
Finally it is what we say it is. Why call something precious “extinct” “irrelevant.” Be diligent, find something that is working and ask a lot of questions like “how can we get it to work where we are?”
Hello Rev. Margo,
Thanks for your comments and web site book recommendation. It is a wonderful web site and I wish you much success with your sacred activism project.
I think you and Masando are talking about different things. Masando is speaking to the relevance (and survival) of New Thought churches and organizations while I interpret your remarks as speaking to New Thought philosophy more generally. The latter is healthy as you say and the organizations, as Masando says, are struggling and could disappear. In other words both perspectives can be true.
I am puzzled by how you are parsing the phrase Oneness with God. Take the first two steps of treatment. God is One, I am one with God. Who is One with God if not people (and indeed all creation)? I would agree there is a difference between the metaphysical fact of Oneness and the conscious realization of our Oneness in this world which arguably would create a more just and loving world. And I don’t think Masando would disagree with that. Masadno is very active in diversity issues within the CSL organization. He’s not waiting for any one’s permission. He is saying that a more active social justice component within CSL (rooted in Principle) will likely attract more millennials and make for more long term sustainability for the organization and other New Thought organizations. Collective meditation is a wonderful thing. So is more direct action. It is not either or. Masando is not in any way saying New Thought philosophy is irrelevant.