Is God back? It seems like lately there has been a flurry of bad statistics about the state of the Church in America (check out Barna's site for more details). However this book argues that things aren't so bad at all. Everyone's not becoming secular and atheist in their thinking. As a matter of fact, religion is stronger today around the world, perhaps than it ever has been. Here's part of their description:
"Since the Enlightenment, intellectuals have assumed that modernization would kill religion—and that religious America is an oddity. As God Is Back argues, religion and modernity can thrive together, and America is becoming the norm. Many things helped spark the global revival of religion, including the failure of communism and the rise of globalism. But, above all, twenty-first century religion is being fueled by a very American emphasis on competition and a customer- driven approach to salvation. These qualities have characterized this country’s faith ever since the Founders separated church and state, creating a religious free market defined by entrepreneurship, choice, and personal revelation. As market forces reshape the world, the tools and ideals of American evangelism are now spreading everywhere."
So here's the argument folks: Religion is thriving around the world and the reason is because of the American, consumer model of religion. Do you see any problems with this? Is this a good thing for the Church? Is it a good thing for the societies of the world? Do we want to create more 'consumers' of religious goods and services?
1 comment:
I think the "state of religion" in the world is really a matter of perspective. Depending on who you read, you will receive a different view. In Tim Keller's "Reason for God" he points out that he experienced a world that is at the same time becoming more secular/atheist and more conservatively religious. He points out that the culture is divided and both sides are growing.
The question of whether or not the American consumer mentality is good for the Church or not seems like a loaded question to me. If by consumer mentality we mean we are driven to provide quality and excellence in all we do as we strive to serve others, then I say so be it. However, if by consumer mentality we mean rampant church-shopping pastors and parishioners imbued with a, "What can this church offer me" attitude, then I say it is a sin to be repented of.
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