Abstract
The article explores how does youth ministry research on youth connect with systematic or more specifically fundamental theology. The first section, following the introduction, aims to summarise traditional perspectives on young people predominantly as an age-related group.
The second section attempts to describe the specific theological vision on youth and its connection to youth theology. The final section seeks a new perspective on youth by introducing fundamental theology and drawing on its particular concept of "expectation" proposed by Czech theologian Vladimír Boublík.
It is argued that a theological understanding of youth is a necessary prerequisite for any genuine theological engagement with young people and vice versa. Here, theological engagement with young people may bring fresh insights into the dry bodies of traditional theological disciplines, including fundamental theology.
The article proposes that theological understanding of youth is imperative for anyone who wants to reflect on youth, either from a theoretic or practical point of view within the Christian community. It is also necessary to consider youth theology in all its different facets.
This is important, not only for working with young people, but also for any theological discipline that will engage with youth in one way or another. Fundamental theology is not an exception.