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Jesus Freaks (youth movement)
Encyclopedia
The Jesus Freaks are a German
evangelical
(Christian
) youth organization.
The movement uses the Alpha and Omega
symbol to represent Jesus Christ.
minister in 1993, based the organization on the Jesus People movement which began in the 1960s in the United States. In 1994 the organization established itself as the Jesus Freaks International, a non-profit group headquartered in Berlin
. Over 100 groups or churches are established in Germany, Switzerland
and Austria
. They also organize the annual Freakstock
Christian music festival
, which claims to be the biggest alternative Christian Festival in Europe.
Critics cite the movement as leaning towards conservative fundamentalism
, and having the appearance of a closed society with a high level of peer pressure
internally. However, point out that they provide ministry to drug abusers, the homeless, and others often marginalized by the mainstream church.
Duane Pederson, who became one of the primary voices in the US Jesus Movement
of the 1970s, see parallels between that movement and the new German one. Specifically, both movements were created from grass roots
,
Dreyer has also authored the Volxbibel, a translation of the Bible in the language of the German youth.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
(Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
) youth organization.
The movement uses the Alpha and Omega
Alpha and Omega
The term Alpha and Omega comes from the phrase "I am the alpha and the omega" , an appellation of Jesus in the Book of Revelation ....
symbol to represent Jesus Christ.
Background
The Jesus Freaks movement was created in September 1991 in Hamburg, Germany by Martin Dreyer. Dreyer, who would be ordained as a free churchFree church
The term "free church" refers to a Christian denomination that is intrinsically separated from government . A free church does not define government policy, nor have governments define church policy or theology, nor seeks or receives government endorsement or funding for its general mission...
minister in 1993, based the organization on the Jesus People movement which began in the 1960s in the United States. In 1994 the organization established itself as the Jesus Freaks International, a non-profit group headquartered in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Over 100 groups or churches are established in Germany, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. They also organize the annual Freakstock
Freakstock
Freakstock is an annual Christian festival held by members of the German Jesus Freaks movement. First held in Wiesbaden in 1995, the festival was moved to Gotha in 1997. Over 8000 people attend annually...
Christian music festival
Christian music festival
A Christian music festival is a music festival held by the Christian community, in support of performers of Christian music...
, which claims to be the biggest alternative Christian Festival in Europe.
Fundamentalism
Fundamentalism is strict adherence to specific theological doctrines usually understood as a reaction against Modernist theology. The term "fundamentalism" was originally coined by its supporters to describe a specific package of theological beliefs that developed into a movement within the...
, and having the appearance of a closed society with a high level of peer pressure
Peer pressure
Peer pressure refers to the influence exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change his or her attitudes, values, or behavior in order to conform to group norms. Social groups affected include membership groups, when the individual is "formally" a member , or a social clique...
internally. However, point out that they provide ministry to drug abusers, the homeless, and others often marginalized by the mainstream church.
Duane Pederson, who became one of the primary voices in the US Jesus Movement
Jesus movement
The Jesus movement was a movement in Christianity beginning on the West Coast of the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s and spreading primarily through North America and Europe, before dying out by the early 1980s. It was the major Christian element within the hippie counterculture,...
of the 1970s, see parallels between that movement and the new German one. Specifically, both movements were created from grass roots
Grass Roots
Grass Roots is an Australian television series produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation between 2000 and 2003.The series is set around the fictional Arcadia Waters Council near Sydney, and was primarily a satirical look at the machinations of local government...
,
Dreyer has also authored the Volxbibel, a translation of the Bible in the language of the German youth.