The book suggests that the defining problem driving out most people who leave is … just how American life works in the 21st century. Contemporary America simply isn’t set up to promote mutuality, care, or common life. Rather, it is designed to maximize individual accomplishment as defined by professional and financial success. Such a system leaves precious little time or energy for forms of community that don’t contribute to one’s own professional life or, as one ages, the professional prospects of one’s children. Workism reigns in America, and because of it, community in America, religious community included, is a math problem that doesn’t add up.
I grew up Methodist, but once my parents started working weekends, that just stopped entirely.
I feel like the internet is replacing the function of what churches used to be, which were the primary social activity of any given location. They were where you'd find work, find a spouse, make friends. They were a genuine third location to have some connection to your community.
They were also places for kids to get abused and for insane reactionaries to feel validated. I guess it's a mixed bag. But churches just aren't operating as that third location anymore. People can go online for community at this point. Is that better? Probably not.
I guess it's also easier now to research alternate religious opinions, or to see them at least. My cousins who grew up fundamentalist had no clue other religions existed until everyone became Islamophobic after 9/11.
damn the internet really has replaced them completely then huh
Before 9/11, I thought the only 3 religions were Judaism, Christianity, and Asian.
And I thought Christianity was about a guy named Christian.