One of the biggest changes in American religious life in the last 100 years is the decline in mainline church attendance and the tremendous increase in non-traditional religious worship groups.
Maybe that’s not so astonishing. After all, society has clearly fragmented compared to other times of social stability. Our consumption based economy thrives on impulsive searches for consumer satisfaction in everything from fast food to music to sources of news and opinion. Religion is based on voluntary associations, which means that in our society impulse driven desire for gratifying participatory events is as strong in religious trends as it is in any other.
Out there in that consumer satisfaction based environment of religious options there seems to be a surging interest in spirituality. Like other forms of impulsive consumption, this new spirituality has more to do with personal emotional and psychological nurture and empowerment than traditional spirituality which emphasized a self-emptying discipleship.
So what are the essential tenets of this new spirituality? Is there any place for traditional Christian characteristics such as confession of sin or grace, or salvation through Christ or revelation through scripture and liturgy?
What’s the relationship between God and a 21st century spiritualist? Has God become the big, Zen master therapist in the sky?
What do you want from your religious associations and practices? Are you seeking enlightenment? A community where you feel included? A bridge over troubled water?
What's it all about?
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