New Thought youths' optimism on tap, on tape for PBS documentary

New Thought News Service

How do New Thought youths view spiritual tradition and its role in the world?

Millions may have the chance to get a sense of that when a PBS documentary about the Parliament airs, likely in late 2010.

Kell Kearns and Cynthia Lukas of Heaven on Earth Creations from New Mexico taped New Thought News Service team members Joe Murray, Katie Dutcher, Bree Alten, Wes Yarborough and Susana Wolds Tuesday as they took part in a free-form discussion with Jewish youth Benji Holzman and Baha’i youth Gulriz Locina.

Kearns and Lukas, who have been filming participants daily throughout the Parliament, may include the youths’ talk in the Parliament-approved program.

“We ended up talking about how we feel about where society is going,” said Joe Murray, a member of the Hilltop Center for Spiritual Living in Fallbrook, Calif. “We generally agreed that there is a shift that is taking place toward a more socially, environmentally, spiritually conscious community.”

Alten, a member of the Lakeside Community Church in Reno, Nev., flew in from Nepal, where she traveled and volunteered to work in an orphanage for a month, to take part in the Parliament.

The back-to-back experiences have been overwhelming, and have given her a unique vantage point from which to view the spiritual relationships among the world’s faith traditions.

“I was so, not shocked, but impressed with us,” she said of the New Thought youths’ participation in the taped talk. “We knew exactly what to say and it flowed unbelievably well. We’re so on it. It was so professional-sounding.”

Alten credited the group’s shared background in a tradition that values learning and youth participation for the success of the discussion.

“It’s how we were raised,” she said. “When you have a deep practice and a community that supports youth, it’s what happens. I was just really proud of us.”

Participants agreed that the talk reflected youths’ sense that there is positive change afoot.

“There was a definitely positive tone to our conversation,” Murray said. “We’re all very optimistic.

“And we realize that we are the next evolution of society. We are the next leaders. We are the people who will inherit the roles of leadership.”

Above left, producers Cynthia Lukas and Kell Kearns explain the PBS documentary project. Above from left, Bree Alten, Wes Yarborough, Gulriz Locina, Joe Murray, Katie Dutcher, Benji Holzman and Susana Wolds prepare for filming. Photos by Ariane Davis.