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.

  • UlyssesT [he/him]
    ·
    edit-2
    11 months ago

    It's sometimes semi-ironically called "heaven insurance" by casual churchgoers, with the half-believed argument that if they suddenly die they're "covered" for their place in heaven for at least until next week. galaxy-brain