Is there a disconnect between religion and youths today? Two experienced practitioners discuss whether religions should evolve and the pitfalls that come with it.
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00:00 But should these people be part of the religion?
00:03 Lead services, lecture, represent.
00:08 Hi everyone, I'm Morty Miller from the Jewish community here in Singapore,
00:22 and the founder of Shalom Point.
00:24 Hi, my name is Biao Wei and I represent my family temple,
00:27 Ji Zhen Gong, and I'm also the director of Singing Memorial,
00:31 where we house Ancestor Pedestals.
00:33 So, it's wonderful having the opportunity to speak today.
00:38 Today I want to speak about the youth.
00:42 And it seems like that there is a decreasing number of believers,
00:48 that youth today, and this is things we're hearing from all over,
00:52 are less religious.
00:53 So I was wondering what are your thoughts about this?
00:56 I do not see it declining.
00:59 I feel like the youth, they just have a different approach when it comes to,
01:04 you know, not even religion, just spirituality.
01:07 I think that a lot of the youth, that they are really interested,
01:10 they just don't know what is the right way to approach.
01:13 But I feel it's more of, they have to find their own purpose.
01:17 Like why? Why do you pray? Why do you practice this religion?
01:22 So do you feel like they weren't really taught this purpose?
01:26 An example I would use is that a lot of, maybe let's say my Chinese religious friends,
01:32 they always hear this term from their parents,
01:35 "Don't ask so much."
01:38 So every time they practice stuff with their parents, they always say,
01:41 "Oh, why do I have to do this?"
01:43 Then the parents always say, "Don't ask so much, just do."
01:47 You know, then when they grow up right, they will never know.
01:50 If you keep not educating them, then they will never have a chance to learn.
01:55 When I'm thinking of the numbers and people maybe driven away from religion,
01:59 first of all, I have this belief that religion is here to stay.
02:06 Now we're in another time, an enlightened time, and no more need for religion.
02:12 But religion keeps showing up in different parts of the world,
02:17 in different ways, in different forms.
02:20 And we know that this does not contradict science.
02:24 People are Nobel Prize winners, and they're very religious.
02:28 And I think the question that I need to ask myself as a Jewish person
02:32 is what are the answers that Judaism can give people that are asking
02:37 and looking for this spiritual aspect in life?
02:42 I see the way that they pray, I can tell that they do it out of habit.
02:48 But after when I strike conversation with them,
02:52 they realise that, oh, they actually have a lot of questions and things like that.
02:56 They haven't found their own purpose.
03:00 Why do they practise it?
03:02 Is it out of fear, piety?
03:05 They might not feel like they want to do it, because it might be very early in the morning,
03:10 or their parents drag them out of bed.
03:13 But of course, we told them that, oh, we don't want you to feel pressured,
03:18 that, oh, this is the only way you have to pray.
03:20 But it's just to not make them feel like they are kept in a box.
03:24 There are people, and I see this around me,
03:28 that are practising religion out of habit.
03:32 I think it's okay.
03:34 We have a saying in Judaism,
03:36 sometimes you start something not 100% from the right motives.
03:44 But if you do it, and you're consistent,
03:48 and the community will accept you,
03:51 then eventually, you will end up at the right place.
03:54 And when I say the right place, I mean one of two.
03:59 You might feel like you're more connected,
04:02 and another option is that you'll feel like it's not for you.
04:06 And if it's not for you, it's not for you.
04:08 So I don't think we should push.
04:10 That's what I'm saying.
04:11 I don't think we can or should force anyone.
04:15 Like if people feel like they belong, and they don't believe,
04:19 and they want to be part of the ceremony,
04:21 and they want to be part of the prayer,
04:23 and the practice says, let them be part of it,
04:27 they will end up in the right place for them.
04:31 I can hope, as a religious person, as a person of faith,
04:35 that they will feel what I feel.
04:36 But I have no guarantee, and it's okay.
04:39 Of course I've had people actually ask me,
04:42 "How do you encourage youth to continue the practice and religion?"
04:48 The thing is that there's no sure way to do it.
04:51 You have to genuinely connect with them.
04:54 So when I speak to them, I won't even talk about religion.
04:57 But they are the ones that, when they see me,
05:00 they just feel like opening up to me.
05:02 Then I'll just share with them.
05:03 So then, actually, they are not really religious.
05:06 But they keep coming back to look for me.
05:08 It's just because they feel like I'm a more open person.
05:11 I don't judge them, they can ask me about anything.
05:14 Then they will just keep showing up.
05:16 Then eventually, like what you mentioned before,
05:19 they might find their way in this religion, or they might not.
05:25 We know some terrible things happen in the name of God.
05:29 And Rabbi Menachem Fruman, a contemporary rabbi,
05:34 he used to say, and he was half joking, half serious,
05:39 and he used to say it's a miracle that people believe in God,
05:43 regardless of the fact that they're religious people in the world.
05:47 They see some bad deeds done by religious people.
05:51 But nevertheless, they stick to religion, they stick to faith.
05:57 So I think, first of all, when I see the numbers,
05:59 I'm asking, is my religion promoting peace in the world?
06:05 Is my religion promoting understanding in the world?
06:08 I hope yes.
06:10 And I want to ask myself how I can help that happen.
06:15 And then I believe numbers will eventually change.
06:19 The walls surrounding religion, protecting religion, were high walls.
06:25 And anyone who was not exactly observant of everything
06:29 that is expected to be observant of was excluded.
06:34 Now we do not have the privilege to do that.
06:37 And I think it's wrong. It's wrong.
06:39 Today we have to realize there is so much the world offers,
06:43 and so many perspectives and things, beautiful things.
06:47 Why do that? We have to be more inclusive.
06:50 The big question is when inclusiveness shakes the boat.
06:55 When inclusiveness leaves you with nothing.
06:58 Sometimes you let in more and more and more,
07:01 and then you don't identify your own religion.
07:03 I think that for my religion, I always try to modernize the things.
07:09 Of course, it's to welcome the younger generation
07:12 and encourage them to continue this practice.
07:15 So one of the few things that of course have involved is our praying service.
07:20 We actually have this praying service where we actually pray on behalf of them.
07:25 So they will tell me what they need, I will fulfill it for them,
07:28 and I'll take a video and send it to them.
07:30 But the thing that I feel that is very difficult to change
07:35 is the burning of joss paper.
07:38 I feel that because this practice has been so many years, right,
07:43 even for our tradition to evolve, it really takes a lot of time
07:48 and it's a long journey.
07:50 There's always the question where to draw the line.
07:54 Like what is necessary and is essential to religion that we cannot give up on?
08:00 And what are things that we can be more open to?
08:05 We can and should be open to additions
08:08 that do not contradict the principles of faith.
08:11 If somebody wants to bring elements,
08:14 spiritual elements, philosophical elements,
08:18 we can think together how to bring them to Judaism
08:22 with an enriching Judaism.
08:25 Think together with youth.
08:28 What do you suggest?
08:29 And I think many times people will be surprised how much can be done,
08:36 not everything.
08:37 So always the question is how to hold on to the core,
08:41 to the fundamentals of the religion.
08:44 But yes, allow people to take part of it,
08:47 participate even if they don't observe everything fully, it's okay.
08:51 I myself don't always observe everything.
08:54 But should these people be part of the religion?
08:58 Lead services, lecture, represent?
09:02 Yes, because their heart is in the right place.
09:06 I think I really learned a lot from your perspective
09:09 and it's really inspiring for me.
09:11 Thank you so much for sharing as well.
09:13 I feel like it's such a fun conversation
09:17 and more people of different religions should actually talk about this.
09:21 I think it's really interesting.
09:22 If you have any questions,
09:25 please comment here below.
09:29 And thank you so much. Bye bye.
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