A New Old Spirituality for Youth Ministry? Christian Discipleship and Practice in the Norwegian CrossRoad Movement

Abstract

Making the case that Christian discipleship in the Scandinavian movement Korsvei (CrossRoad Movement, abbreviated CRM) is enacted and understood as a new old spirituality, this article asks why the CRM is considered relevant by an increasing number of people, including youth. This small scale research is designed as a case study of the CRM based on document analysis of the spirituality of the movement in dialogue with Diana Butler Bass’ research on practicing or pilgrimage congregations in the US context and in light of the concepts subjectivization and retraditionalization. It draws on Paul Heelas and Linda Woodhead’s work The Spiritual Revolution, yet questions their conclusion that traditional religion is giving way to holistic spirituality. The present article rather argues that a cultural climate of subjectivization also within the Christian context in Norway has led to the negotiation of tradition and to old spiritual practices being approached in a new way, here called retraditionalization. It further suggests that the new old spirituality of the CRM might be considered a resource for youth ministry in a time when an emphasis on spiritual practice and communities has entered the curriculum of youth ministry.