Religion inside America gets more Gappish in its orientation

ARTICLE: "Emphasis Shifts For New Breed Of Evangelicals," by Michael Luo and Laurie Goodman, New York Times, 21 May 2007, p. A1.

ARTICLE: "Hispanics Bring Catholicism to Its Feet: The Church offers livelier services for a growing constituency of charismatics," by Anthony Faiola, Washington Post National Weekly Edition, 21-27 2007, p. 35.

Swap out Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson for Rick Warren and Joel Osteen (not covered here) and you see evangelicals shifting from the myopic Core focus of gay marriages and abortion to more Gap-heavy issues like AIDS, Darfur and global warming.

A twenty-year effect in the making, says one expert, predicting that the non-partisan, non-political nature of this new wave will inevitably become more policy-focused (though not necessarily political and partisan).

I think this shift is great, and it bears long-term watching.

Ditto for Hispanics enlivening Catholic masses, which I personally dislike but everyone else in my family would welcome.

Me? I probably have to go Buddhist at that point. I want it quiet, with humming and incense and maybe some yoga, but that's it.

Comments

[Brian H]

Sorry. Yoga is a Hindu thing, not Buddhist. But I guess they're both kinda Oriental, right? :p

[Mike Anglin]

Did you consider Falon Gong? :)

[Michael Russell]

You might also want to check out Scientiology. It's like Buddhism for the modern world, but taking into account the tremendous advancement in human understanding afforded by the scientific method over the last 2000 years, and directing it towards the spiritual rather than the material. And as a non-denominational religious philosophy, it does not require conversion or an abandonment of your Catholic faith.

[Michael]

It's ironic, though. At the same time hispanic churches are pushing for livelier services, conservatives are pushing for a return to the Latin Rite. I guess the underlying theme is: one size fits all doesn't fit anymore.

[Daniel Scheeringa]

Tom,

1 word for you: Episcopal

[Tom Barnett]

I know yoga isn't Buddhist, but clearly I have no problem mixing and matching, yes?

I've been Episcopalian and liked it a lot. Then my kids hit school age and I realized I wasn't rich enough to be one. Eventually maybe.

[Stu Smith]

Might I suggest that you read Jeff Stout's "Democracy and Tradition",which provides a welcome antidote to the caricature inherent in the "Red State/Blue State" view of religion and points out the political dangers of the various religious communities withdrawing into mutually suspicious enclaves. A couple of the chapters are really hard to read (a PhD in Philosophy helps) but it's worth the effort.