Much has happened since my last post in April. I took some time away from the "blogosphere" for two reasons: (1) I don't want to depend on it everyday; so, I have decided to try blogging on a periodic basis instead of daily - perhaps once a week will be enough. (2) I wanted to see if anyone was listening out there. I have had a few conversations face to face about blog posts, but not a lot online. It is my intent that we would converse online so that everyone would have the benefit of getting in on the conversation. To that end, I have a few things to add to my last post about "Emerging".
There are a lot of studies out in print and on the internet about the "decline" of the church in the US. As many reasons as studies are out there! Every study has a new take or tries to explain the decline in lots of different ways. The Pew Forum for Religion (pewforum.org, a trusted group that does studies on the church) has put out a lengthy report on "The Rise of the Nones". "Nones" is the name given to the group of people since the 1960s who self-identify with "no affiliation" when asked about religious preference. After reading that report, I started researching the decline phenomenon and gathered some interesting insights:
1. There are changes in the modern family demographics: late marriage means few or no children. Among the people who fit into this group, there is not the draw for faith formation for the children like in the past. For many reasons, the smaller families have not opted to train their children in the faith communities that have nurtured them.
2. Sunday is filled with many activities other than worship. This then begs a question: Should the church consider worshiping on Saturday night and honoring families by encouraging more family activities on Sunday?
3. There is an increasing search for meaning that the Church does not provide. This was a shocker for me. The Church should be a place that confronts all of the challenges of life and gives meaning to all that we do. On further research, especially through reading Peter Rollins and Brian McLaren, I have realized that often the Church does not confront the realities of doubt and disbelief. The Church is in the business of faith and does not allow for either doubt or disbelief, even though everyone experiences them - even pastors!
4. There is no or little connection with the community for the Nones. Even though the Nones experience a need for more community involvement, most people today live in communities where neighbors don't know one another! Community connections have been lost.
5. There is little of no focus on what God has called the religious community "to do" in the community. For Christians, there is much biblical basis for faith and works together; the lack of working one's faith shows a lack of understanding of Jesus' mission and life.
In September, I will be starting a study to tackle some, or maybe all of these challenges - and maybe a few others. The participants will study two books by two different women theologians: Phyllis Tickle's, The Great Emergence and Diana Butler Bass', Christianity for the Rest of Us. Each of these wonderful theologians tackles the challenges of the modern church in a different way. In addition, if you are interested in historical background and more theological stuff, you could read ahead of time Karen Armstrong's The Great Transformation (It fits in well with Tickle's book and fills in the gaps of her research.)
All three of these women theologians have written and taught extensively and anything they write I would commend to you. Karen Armstrong is my "go-to" historical theologian, Phyllis Tickle is my "go to" challenge theologian and Diana Butler Bass makes things so easy to understand that she has become a "go to explicator" for me (if that's a word!)
Well, that's enough assignment and thought-provoking stuff for now. Until next week.
God's peace,
Tim
