At Progressive Revival, Diana Butler Bass highlights recent stories in the news about the decline of Christian churches, and asks why:
What is causing the erosion of Christianity in North America? Most North Americans look at Christianity—especially as embodied in religious institutions—and find it wanting. I suspect that Christianity is in decline because it appears both hypocritical and boring. Although young North Americans express deep longings for a loving, just, and peaceful world, they don’t find an equal passion for transforming society in meaningful ways in most congregations. And, sadly, many churches simply lack the imagination and passion that many spiritual people are searching for. Folks aren’t looking for answers nearly as much as they are trying to clarify their questions and are hungry for accepting communities in which to ask them.
If you think about it, mainline liberal churches embody a theological vision of God’s reign that resonates with contemporary hopes for social transformation. But they often lack passion, acting on God’s dream for the world in business-as-usual ways. Conservative churches are chock-full of passion. But they are often passionate about all the wrong stuff—like excluding people and supporting the military-and-economic status quo that is destroying the planet.
Read the full post here.