Americans are swapping organized religion for personal truth: study

[Michie]

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more Americans are leaving organized religion in search of personalized faith perspectives that embrace syncretism — a fusion of different religions.

The study, Breaking Free of the Iron Cage: The Individualization of American Religion, was published in the peer-reviewed open access academic journal Socius.

Landon Schnabel, associate professor of sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University, is the lead author. His co-authors are Ilana Horwitz, assistant professor of Jewish studies at Tulane University; Peyman Hekmatpour, teaching assistant professor of sociology at Oklahoma State University, Tulsa; and Cyrus Schleifer, associate professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma.

Continued below.

Americans are swapping organized religion for personal truth: study

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more

www.christianpost.com

 

[timothyu]

That has been apparent for a century with over 10,000 Christian denominations in the US alone. However those who like power will be the first to sound the alarm when their control over the narrative is threatened. It's like when a thriving business starts to lose relevance. It is more concerned about its own survival.

However Jesus made it simple and easy to avoid the power struggles. He has already had His spat with organized religion and they did Him in for it. His good news was a movement, not a religion.
He made it simple to come to God's wisdom over our own, with four duties for us to adhere to if we wished to proceed to the next level of our consciousness, be it here or beyond. Put God's Will first over our own will, thus loving all as self, acting in servitude to all in need, including enemies. Repent/change from our self-serving nature, and spread the Gospel of the Kingdom, a counter-culture which is clearly explained in the Lord's Prayer. His Kingdom will come and His Will will be done in earth as it is in Heaven... not ours. We must return to servitude, not only to God but to each other. Tell that to the world and see how it reacts.

 

[FireDragon76]

This assumes that the institutional church ever had a handle on "God's truth" in the first place, and wasn't just engaged in what amounts to spiritual cosplay.

Barna throws around alot of seemingly sophisticated analysis but at the end of the day are blinded by the legacy of Fundamentalism.

Perhaps we are entering the "Age of the Spirit", as prophesied by Joachim of Fiore many centuries ago.

It seems like people are more interested in things like mysticism and idealist metaphysics than they were decades ago. Perhaps Christians need to explore ways that people can engage with that, within the Christian tradition, rather than relying upon dogmatic religion and moral authoritarianism.

 

[RileyG]

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more Americans are leaving organized religion in search of personalized faith perspectives that embrace syncretism — a fusion of different religions.

The study, Breaking Free of the Iron Cage: The Individualization of American Religion, was published in the peer-reviewed open access academic journal Socius.

Landon Schnabel, associate professor of sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University, is the lead author. His co-authors are Ilana Horwitz, assistant professor of Jewish studies at Tulane University; Peyman Hekmatpour, teaching assistant professor of sociology at Oklahoma State University, Tulsa; and Cyrus Schleifer, associate professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma.

Continued below.

Americans are swapping organized religion for personal truth: study

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more

www.christianpost.com

I cannot say I’m too surprised. It’s the sign of the times.

 

[timothyu]

I cannot say I’m too surprised. It’s the sign of the times.

Same as what the Sanhedrin tried to stop.

 

[RileyG]

Same as what the Sanhedrin tried to stop.

What do you mean?

 

[RileyG]

This assumes that the institutional church ever had a handle on "God's truth" in the first place, and wasn't just engaged in what amounts to spiritual cosplay.

Barna throws around alot of seemingly sophisticated analysis but at the end of the day are blinded by the legacy of Fundamentalism.

Perhaps we are entering the "Age of the Spirit", as prophesied by Joachim of Fiore many centuries ago.

It seems like people are more interested in things like mysticism and idealist metaphysics than they were decades ago. Perhaps Christians need to explore ways that people can engage with that, within the Christian tradition, rather than relying upon dogmatic religion and moral authoritarianism.

This reminds me of moralistic therapeutic deism. Essentially, they view God as grandfatherly who doesn’t really care much about humanity unless someone asks him to do something. Everyone is essentially good.

 

[timothyu]

What do you mean?

Following a new (but original) truth rather than sticking to the controlled narrative

 

[RileyG]

Following a new (but original) truth rather than sticking to the controlled narrative

I see.

 

[jas3]

Following a new (but original) truth rather than sticking to the controlled narrative

So syncretism with non-Christian religions is the original truth?

 

[timothyu]

So syncretism with non-Christian religions is the original truth?

No.. who said that? Christians have enough trouble with their own.

 

[Jermayn]

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more Americans are leaving organized religion in search of personalized faith perspectives that embrace syncretism — a fusion of different religions.

The study, Breaking Free of the Iron Cage: The Individualization of American Religion, was published in the peer-reviewed open access academic journal Socius.

Landon Schnabel, associate professor of sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University, is the lead author. His co-authors are Ilana Horwitz, assistant professor of Jewish studies at Tulane University; Peyman Hekmatpour, teaching assistant professor of sociology at Oklahoma State University, Tulsa; and Cyrus Schleifer, associate professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma.

Continued below.

Americans are swapping organized religion for personal truth: study

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more

www.christianpost.com

Yep. The term "my truth" is something I hear the kids saying all the time nowadays. Sorry, but there is only "THE truth".

 

[FireDragon76]

This reminds me of moralistic therapeutic deism. Essentially, they view God as grandfatherly who doesn’t really care much about humanity unless someone asks him to do something. Everyone is essentially good.

There was an Eastern Orthodox apologist that had a lecture on Youtube a while back (Nathan Jacobs) about the worldview of most of Gen Z and Millenials that are nones. It's a vague sense of spirituality, that things happen for a reason, and there's a sense of interconnection, but it doesn't depend on belief in God or the Bible in any way.

I take issues with some of his conclusions (I don't think Eastern Orthodoxy is necessarily the only, or even right, response), but I think he has some important insights that are true. It's clearly a different sentiment from moralistic therapeutic deism.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more Americans are leaving organized religion in search of personalized faith perspectives that embrace syncretism — a fusion of different religions.

The study, Breaking Free of the Iron Cage: The Individualization of American Religion, was published in the peer-reviewed open access academic journal Socius.

Landon Schnabel, associate professor of sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University, is the lead author. His co-authors are Ilana Horwitz, assistant professor of Jewish studies at Tulane University; Peyman Hekmatpour, teaching assistant professor of sociology at Oklahoma State University, Tulsa; and Cyrus Schleifer, associate professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma.

Continued below.

Americans are swapping organized religion for personal truth: study

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more

www.christianpost.com

Right. Because the Technocracy we live in enables each person to wander about in the miasma of atomized, idealistic discovery, without method and without discernment and without fuller historic awareness. It's a living version of "Ready Player One," but it's a social situation that has been developing at least since the onset of both the Reformation and the Printing Press.

 

[FireDragon76]

Right. Because the Technocracy we live in enables each person to wander about in the miasma of atomized, idealistic discovery, without method and without discernment and without fuller historic awareness. It's a living version of "Ready Player One," but it's a social situation that has been developing at least since the onset of both the Reformation and the Printing Press.

I admit I haven't seen that movie to absorb the full context of your observation.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I admit I haven't seen that movie to absorb the full context of your observation.

Lol. .........well, as insightful as you are, I'm sure you'll see the analogy if and when you see the movie.

 

[FireDragon76]

Lol. .........well, as insightful as you are, I'm sure you'll see the analogy if and when you see the movie.

I was a fan of The Truman Show.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I was a fan of The Truman Show.

Likewise here. I've always gone in for movies exhibiting a bit of Cartesian Skepticism.

 

[o_mlly]

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more Americans are leaving organized religion in search of personalized faith perspectives that embrace syncretism — a fusion of different religions.

The study, Breaking Free of the Iron Cage: The Individualization of American Religion, was published in the peer-reviewed open access academic journal Socius.

Landon Schnabel, associate professor of sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University, is the lead author. His co-authors are Ilana Horwitz, assistant professor of Jewish studies at Tulane University; Peyman Hekmatpour, teaching assistant professor of sociology at Oklahoma State University, Tulsa; and Cyrus Schleifer, associate professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma.

Continued below.

Americans are swapping organized religion for personal truth: study

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more

www.christianpost.com

Yes, the impulse to syncretize in order to water down God's will to something less demanding is not new. The prophets of the Old Testament had generally two messages for the Israelites: when times were materially good the message was, "repent and reform"; when times were materially bad and the Israelites were oppressed the message was, "keep the faith, remember God’s faithful love".

Modernity (aka rationalism) has placed fallible human reason above the certainty of revelation in discerning God's will. If we have a worldwide recession then the data in the study I predict will require a serious update.

 

[jas3]

No.. who said that? Christians have enough trouble with their own.

The article did. The "leaving institutionalized religion" part doesn't mean people are becoming nondenom Protestants, it means they're becoming "spiritual, but not religious."