Young Adults: Sinners and Saints...just like the rest of us.

Last week's time magazine cover story "The Me, Me, Me Generation" argues that young adults are self obsessed narcissists who care only about themselves. This assertion is in sharp contrast with other generational studies that say Millenials (18-33 year olds) are idealistic, altruistic, and want to make a difference in the world.

So who's right? Are young adults narcissists or saints?

Well, according to Elspeth Reeve in "The Atlantic Monthly"they may be both. Reeve rightly points out that every modern generation has been deemed narcissistic at one time or another. "Basically, it's not that people born after 1980 are narcissists, it's that young people are narcissists, and they get over themselves as they get older." This doesn't necessarily mean that they aren't also idealistic and dedicated to helping others.

Martin Luther once famously said that we are "at the same time both sinners and saints". This is a human challenge not merely a generational one.