Crucibles of transformation: Religious service and emerging adults

Citation

King, P. E., & Merola, C. M. (2017). Crucibles of transformation: Religious service and emerging adults. In L. M. Padilla-Walker & L. J. Nelson (Eds.), Flourishing in emerging adulthood: Positive development during the third decade of life (pp. 330–362). Oxford University Press.

Abstract

In the following chapter, participation in both structured and unstructured forms of religious service is presented as a crucible of transformation. Although most emerging adults are involved in exploratory activities, perhaps such experiences are not all as developmentally and socially productive as others. Based on the match between the developmental tasks of emerging adulthood and the ideological social, and transcendent opportunities available through religious service, this chapter makes the case that engagement in religious service is a potentially potent developmental context for emerging adults. Despite this opportunity for transformation and growth, the statistics available suggest that relatively few emerging adults are engaged in religious volunteerism. In order to fully understand the potential significance of religious service for thriving among emerging adults, the chapter reviews existing evidence of what is known about frequency of religious service and the positive outcomes associated with it—as well as examining potential mechanisms within this crucible of religious service that may allow for positive transformation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

Copyright

Year: 2020

Holder: American Psychological Association

DOI: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-30845-029