The Bishop of Kerry Dr Bill Murphy launched a new book by one of the world's top lay theologians at the National Religious Education Congress held at the Brandon Hotel in Tralee which had the theme, Come be Nourished: Share the Good News!The book entitled, Will There Be Faith? is written by Kildare native, Professor Tom Groome who is Professor of Theology and Religious Education and chair of the Department of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College's School of Theology and ministry.
The book examines the reasons for the decline of organised religion in the United States and seeks to put forward solutions for such decline.
Speaking recently about the book Professor Groome stated, “There are lots of empirical data that mainline religions in the United States are not doing so well with their religious education. Even among churches that seem to have some success in retaining their youth, the research indicates that their young people's faith often reflects a moralistic therapeutic deism rather than authentic Christianity.”
“They embrace a 'nice guy' image of a God who comforts and consoles, is called upon only as needed, and makes no real demands on their daily living other than that they 'be good, nice and fair to each other’.”
In attempting to arrest any decline in the faith in a catholic context Professor Groome says that returning to memorising core texts of the catechism and a memorised questions and answers format is not the way forward.
He added, “Instead, what is urgently needed is a comprehensive approach to religious education that is effective in the context of our time and user friendly for both teachers and parents. Will There Be Faith? attempts to propose as much.”
The book is published by Harper and Collins publishers. Other keynote speakers at the Congress included Fr Paddy Rushe, Baroness Nuala O'Loan and Dom Mark Ephrem Nolan.