Teens and Obsession

Recent article in the Lexington Herald-Leader (January 23, 2007) cites the most recent annual UCLA survey of college freshmen. In it, nearly three-quarters of those surveyed in 2006 thought it was essential or very important to be "very well-off financially." That number is a jump from 62.5 percent in 1980 and 42 percent in 1966.

This compares well with a recent poll from the Pew Research Center which found that about 80% of 18-25-year-olds see gitting rich as a top life goal for their generation.

This research simply reinforces the fact that materialism is an obsession that must be addressed by the church. I'll post some more on this in the days to come, but here are my opening questions:

1. What do you consider to be the primary causes of this obsession with materialism in our culture?

2. What is it about youth developmentally that makes them so susceptible to this?

3. How has the church contributed to this unhealthy obsession?

Let the discussion begin.