Reorganized Religion
The Reshaping of the American Church and Why it Matters
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3.0 • 1 Rating
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Uncover the ways the Christian church has changed in recent years—from the decline of the mainline denominations to the mega-churchification of American culture—and a hopeful reimagining of what the church might look like going forward.
The United States is in the middle of an unprecedented spiritual, technological, demographic, political and social transformation—moving from an older, mostly white, mostly Protestant, religion-friendly society to a younger diverse, multiethnic, pluralistic culture, where no one faith group will have the advantage. At the same time, millions of Americans are abandoning organized religion altogether in favor of disorganized disbelief.
Reorganized Religion is an in-depth and critical look at why people are leaving American churches and what we lose as a society as it continues. But it also accepts the dismantling of what has come before and try to help readers reinvent the path forward. This book looks at the future of organized religion in America and outline the options facing churches and other faith groups. Will they retreat? Will they become irrelevant? Or will they find a new path forward?
Written by veteran religion reporter Bob Smietana, Reorganized Religion is a journalistic look at the state of the American church and its future. It draws on polling data, interviews with experts, and reporting on how faith communities old and new are coping with the changing religious landscape, along with personal stories about how faith is lived in everyday life. It also profiles faith communities and leaders who are finding interesting ways to reimagine what church might look like in the future and discuss various ways we can reinvent this organization so it survives and thrives. The book also reflects the hope that perhaps people of faith can learn to become, if not friends with the larger culture, then at least better neighbors.
“A superb examination of the future of Christian institutions…. A must-read for anyone invested in the fate of the American church.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Smietana (The Breath of Life), a reporter for Religion News Service, delivers a superb examination of the future of Christian institutions. He suggests that the pan-denominational decline in church membership that began in the 1960s is the result of white churches' reluctance to diversify as the population of nonwhite Americans grows. The author also points to the pandemic, noting that "most congregations saw worship attendance drop by at least 10 percent." Digging into how cultural changes have depressed church affiliation, Smietana suggests that the corrosion of trust in institutional authority, the rise of megachurches, and increasing political polarization have all contributed. He explores how churches are adapting and what the future of organized religion might look like, telling the story of an aging, predominantly white church that merged with a nearby "youthful, multiethnic congregation," allowing both to benefit from the former's facilities and the latter's knack for connecting with younger congregants. Such anecdotes offer a vivid look into the state of organized Christianity, and the author's perceptive analysis reflects his decades of reporting on the "Godbeat." This is a must-read for anyone invested in the fate of the American church.
