What Do You Believe? is a sensitively filmed and artfully edited "discussion-provoker" about the spiritual life of young people in the United States. This "introduction" to youth from a variety of religious perspectives really has a dual purpose: it introduces us to the opinions and beliefs of high school students from a number of traditions, or no tradition whatsoever; and it introduces--opens up--important questions teens sometimes ask themselves, but rarely discuss with peers. The result is enrichment for its high school audience, I believe, and a doorway into class discussions that may be deepened by virtue of the young people and the themes that come to us here.

In preparation for this video, Sarah Feinbloom, with sponsorship from What Do You Believe?, the interfaith center at the Presidio in San Francisco, interviewed a number of high school students on tape. Although most appear to be from the Bay area, the racial and ethnic mix of those who made it for the "final cut" is superb, and all are great looking, articulate, kids.

Among the many who speak to us in the video, three boys and three girls are highlighted. Although no adult voice is heard during the entire fifty minutes, the questions that had been asked by their interviewer were clearly thought provoking for the interviewees, as they help us, the viewers, get to know and appreciate these young people struggling to make sense of their place in the world as both spiritual and social beings facing issues of sexuality, drugs, and personal relationships.

Anthony, the Roman Catholic, laments that he only prays when asking God for something, and that "[as a hormone-filled teenager] I don't feel as close to God right now as I should be." Mazouza, who got kicked out of school when she was an eighth-grader, and one of whose fights the police had to come break up, speaks of how her life changed--became harder, but so much easier--when she made the decision to "wear the veil." These two are followed by an Asian Buddhist, Carina, who struggles with a modern life-style that "forces us to do stuff that goes against Buddhist values," and Morgan, the young woman who learned paganism from her mother, and who likes Paganism in part because it would be disturbing to be raised in a religion where everything was male."

Bi-racial, dreadlocked David, whose feeling is that "I have more to worry about than most people. The fact that I'm mixed, I'm Jewish, and I don't believe in God" is, for me, a real high point in this video. David's sister's depression had allowed him to lose his faith in God, and yet we see him really invite himself to believe again, as soon as he has a sign that says he's ready. The last of the featured youths lives on the Lakota reservation. Julius Non-Afraid articulately explains the values his religion has taught him: generosity, wisdom, courage, and respect--for others, and for Mother Earth. "When you feel the drum beat, you know God is in you."

Dealing with up-to-date, "in" teenagers on camera is always a tricky proposition. Ten years later, such videos too often lose their usefulness from something as trivial as a change in clothing style. The themes in this work are of much more lasting value, and for at least the next few years to come, What Do You Believe is a great introduction to the field of spirituality for teens, as it opens lots of doors, but pushes no particular agenda. It makes teen spiritual questioning an "in" thing to do, and we are indebted to Feinbloom and her What Do You Believe? colleagues.

review © 2002 by David Streight and RSiSS