Postkiwi

The first session of the Emerging Generations course will focus on an understanding of generational culture and generational cohorts. I’ll be engaging with:

1. Karl Mannheim’s “A Problem of Generations”, from Essays on the Sociology of Knowledge, written for post World War I Germany. This will provide a historical context for current approaches to generational theory. Opportunity to unpack the meaning of ‘cohort’.

2. Turner and Edmonds - looking at the dynamics of generational cohorts and sub groups, with consideration of education and gender as factors.

3. Strauss and Howe - their theory of generational cycles in the United States - how valid is their theory? Application by Mike Regele in his book, “Death of the Church”.

4. Hugh Mackay - his Australian research on ‘generational slices’. Insights gained. The limitations of such approaches.

5. Meredith and Schewe - their framework for generational culture based on defining moments. Marketing in the context of life stage, natural ageing, socio-economic background and ethnicity as well as generational culture.

6. Andy Crouch - a critique of defining distinctive and innovative generations - appeal to continuity, consideration of Biblical models of generation.

I’ll be looking at Jesus as an example of a counter-cultural prophetic leader - challenging the assumptions of his elders and peers.