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In my 10-year teaching career, I’ve noticed various trends such as bottle flipping, fidget spinners, and viral vandalism. This year, teachers are talking about a new trend called “Coin Boys.” While I haven’t personally witnessed it yet, a frustrated teacher on Reddit shared the following:
“The newest thing here is a flock of self-proclaimed ‘coin boys’ who carry a quarter on hand at all times and constantly flip it. They have their entire personality revolve around coins, coin flips, and chance. When we went around doing an ice breaker, 4 or 5 of the kids said some variation of ‘I live by the coin and die by the coin’ as their fact.
Just about an hour ago, when I assigned the first assignment of the school year, one of the coin boys was bold enough to say ‘heads I do it, tails I don’t.’ I told him if he flipped the coin he would be getting a call home on the first week of [high school]. He flipped it anyway and it came up heads (thank god for that at least).
But then the other coin boy in that class flipped his coin and it came up tails. He said the coin has spoken and he’s not doing it. I say very well, enjoy your 0 and your call home — what a great way to start off the school year and your high school career.”
As a teacher, observer of Generation Z, and student of religion, I find this account fascinating. In my Comparative Religions elective course for high school students, I’ve noticed how Gen Z engages with religion in innovative ways. The “Coin Boys” are a modern take on an ancient religious practice called cleromancy, which involves divination through random means like dice, cards, or coins.
While it’s uncertain if the Coin Boys story is true, the fact that it resonated with many teachers on Reddit suggests a widespread acceptance of the tale. Even if it’s a hoax, the story has sparked discussions about Gen Z’s interest in cleromancy, particularly through practices like Tarot cards. This aligns with research showing a growing engagement with tarot cards and fortune-telling among young people.
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The Coin Boys, whether real or fictional, shed light on the magical-religious worldview of Generation Z. Their fascination with cleromancy mirrors ancient practices seen in cultures worldwide. This trend highlights the intersection of play, education, psychology, and religious ideas among young people today.
Ultimately, the Coin Boys story serves as a reminder of how ancient practices continue to influence modern behaviors and beliefs, even in seemingly secular contexts. Johann Huizinga, the renowned cultural historian of play, made a compelling case in Homo Ludens for the close connection between play and religion. He argued that ritual and myth are deeply rooted in what he termed the “play instinct” or “ludic function.” According to Huizinga, sacred rites and children’s games share similarities in their ability to transport participants to another world, involve role-play or pretend, use unique vocabularies, and establish sacred spaces with special rules. Huizinga also pointed out that gods in various cultures engage in games of chance, suggesting that play was a favorite pastime even for deities.
Contrastingly, while ancient diviners sought to discern order and logic in the world through practices like cleromancy, modern-day activities like the coin flipping of the Coin Boys may stem from a nihilistic worldview. This shift could reflect broader societal trends, such as the challenges faced by Gen Z, particularly in terms of mental health.
Notably, the Coin Boys phenomenon raises questions about gender dynamics in education, as observed by scholars like Richard Reeves. Boys’ disengagement from school has been linked to various factors, including differences in intellectual and emotional development, a predominantly female teaching force, reduced physical education time, and decreased funding for technical education. These disparities contribute to the gender gap in higher education, indicating a need for systemic change.
Ultimately, the Coin Boys’ actions may serve as a form of protest against the perceived constraints of the education system, offering a way for young men to assert their autonomy. Alternatively, engaging in practices like coin flipping could be a means of self-exploration and introspection, aligning with the age-old imperative to “Know Thyself.” In a world where decision-making can be overwhelming, simple acts like flipping a coin may offer insight into one’s inner desires and motivations. In order to successfully integrate the provided article into a WordPress platform, the following revised content can be used:
“Specify which option belongs to heads and which to tails, and then let the coin fly. The key is to evaluate your gut feeling after the coin lands. If you feel a subtle sense of relief at being ‘told’ what to do by the coin, that’s the right choice for you. If, instead, you find it absurd to make a decision based on a coin toss, that will indicate you should choose the other option.”
Is this magic or psychology? Perhaps both. Alan Watts, the popularizer of Buddhism and Taoism, suggested in his book “Way of Zen” that eastern divination methods like the I Ching could be compared to the Rorschach test in Western psychology. Both can be seen as ways to tap into the intuitive or unconscious aspects of the self – what Watts refers to as the “peripheral vision” of the mind. Therefore, practices like Tarot reading and the use of coins should not be dismissed too quickly.
In his 2004 book “Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less,” psychologist Barry Schwartz challenges the belief in Western industrial societies that more freedom and choices lead to greater welfare. Instead, Schwartz argues that the explosion of choices in modern affluent Western societies has actually increased anxiety and depression, leading to decision fatigue and analysis paralysis. The abundance of choices has overwhelmed us, leaving us dissatisfied and drained from constantly weighing the pros and cons of each decision.
Since 2004, the range of choices available to us has only continued to expand. A prime example is online dating, which has drastically changed the dating landscape since the launch of Tinder in 2012. Despite the vast pool of potential mates at our fingertips, studies show that many individuals, especially Gen Z, are experiencing dating app burnout. This shift in the dating scene has not necessarily led to improved love lives.
Schwartz’s work provides a framework for understanding the appeal of modern cleromancy, whether through coin flipping or Tarot cards. Cleromancy can serve as a powerful tool to cut through the mental fog of analysis paralysis and decision fatigue, offering a way to outsource the burden of decision-making in a world saturated with choices.
The phenomenon of the “Coin Boys” offers a fascinating insight into the intersection of religion, play, and psychology among the Gen Z cohort. By adopting and adapting ancient cleromancy practices, modern adolescents are navigating contemporary challenges in unique ways. Whether seen as a rebellious act against the constraints of modern life, a nihilistic expression, or a practical tool for self-reflection and decision-making, the phenomenon highlights the enduring relevance and adaptability of magical-religious practices in navigating the complexities of human experience.
-Corey Landon Wozniak lives in Las Vegas, NV with his wife and four sons. He teaches English and Comparative Religions at a public high school.
The post Live By The Coin, Die By The Coin: Religion, Play, and Gen Z “Coin Boys” appeared first on The Revealer. Please rewrite this sentence.
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