Under the Oak

This morning, I ran across this article by Micklethwait and Woolridge at WSJ.com. It summarizes the results of the latest American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS). On the one hand, there has been a marked increase in “atheism” (somehow atheists in this report can also believe in God). On the other hand, there is some encouraging news for those of us who are seeking to break through the grip of denominationalism in this country.

The polling numbers actually underline the strength of the nation’s pluralism. More than one in four Americans have swapped religions. Americans harbor a powerful distaste for religious establishments, seeing faith as something that they should choose rather than inherit. More than ever, they mix and match spiritual traditions. In other words, the forces that made America such a uniquely religious country, competition and choice, are working as powerfully as ever. In the American model, modernity goes with pluralism.

When I initially read this section, my reaction was disgust as it displays a lack of commitment and more important a lack of understanding – the “build-a-church mentality”. However, there are some positives sides to this. Faith is not inheritable, and it appears that more Americans are willing to vary from their parents’ beliefs. One in four Americans have “swapped religions”, which is, as I said, somewhat disturbing, but at the same time, that kind of movement between religious traditions is perhaps indicative of a restlessness and discomfort with the status quo of religious organizations in America. In some ways, this reinforces the need for the “restoration ideal” of unity around the word of God. People are searching, and we have a responsibility to show them the simplicity and truth of the Kingdom.

“. . .the fields are white for harvest.” (John 4:35)