GOOD RELIGION
Have you read Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics (Free Press, 2012) by Ross Douthat? Ross is a columnist for the New York Times. He is a Harvard graduate and Phi Beta Kappa member. Brilliant thinker. Seminal writer. I follow his columns and enjoy his insights.
The premise of his book is outlined in the opening pages. He begins by crafting a portrait of America after the economic disaster of 2008. Debt, deficits, reckless financial decisions and the like are traced to the selfish appetite of a society that "can't get no satisfaction." He points out the fact that some have tried to blame the "decline of America" on religion. In fact, he explains two contradictory reasons offered for the downturn of our nation: one is the idea that America is too dependent on religion, the other is that America has turned its back on its religious roots.
Douthat concludes the real reason for the seeming decline of the American way is something deeper than either of these opinions. Here is his take:
". . . America's problem isn't too much religion, or too little of it. It's bad religion: the slow-motion collapse of traditional Christianity and the rise of a variety of destructive pseudo-Christianities in its place." (p. 3)
Douthat portrays Christianity as forming the "center" of American life for most of this country's history. He laments the misuse of the Christian faith for political, economic or geopolitical gain. His critique of many modern expressions of "Christianity" are strong and (I think) on-target. He ends his book by calling for a return to vibrant, orthodox Christianity that takes the Bible seriously and following Jesus to be a mandate.
It is a good read.
I thought about it today when I was driving to an early breakfast meeting and heard the news from Paris about the shootings at the headquarters of the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hedbo. I had never heard of this magazine until today. Apparently, the cartoonists had offended the sensibilities of some Islamic terrorists.
When I heard the report--I thought about Douthat's book. Wow. How much damage has been caused by bad religion? It may be the terrorism associated with radical Islam or the insecurities exhibited by Hindu extremists in India or many other forms of atrocities committed in the name of religion. It is sad.
I can't imagine how much it must grieve God. He created this world and it was good (Genesis 1). In fact, it was very good (Genesis 1:31).
Douthat's book is not about terrorism or acts of atrocity committed in the name of God. But, the insights in his book about many forms of bad religion are on my mind today as I pray for God's people to reflect His goodness in His world.
The premise of his book is outlined in the opening pages. He begins by crafting a portrait of America after the economic disaster of 2008. Debt, deficits, reckless financial decisions and the like are traced to the selfish appetite of a society that "can't get no satisfaction." He points out the fact that some have tried to blame the "decline of America" on religion. In fact, he explains two contradictory reasons offered for the downturn of our nation: one is the idea that America is too dependent on religion, the other is that America has turned its back on its religious roots.
Douthat concludes the real reason for the seeming decline of the American way is something deeper than either of these opinions. Here is his take:
". . . America's problem isn't too much religion, or too little of it. It's bad religion: the slow-motion collapse of traditional Christianity and the rise of a variety of destructive pseudo-Christianities in its place." (p. 3)
Douthat portrays Christianity as forming the "center" of American life for most of this country's history. He laments the misuse of the Christian faith for political, economic or geopolitical gain. His critique of many modern expressions of "Christianity" are strong and (I think) on-target. He ends his book by calling for a return to vibrant, orthodox Christianity that takes the Bible seriously and following Jesus to be a mandate.
It is a good read.
I thought about it today when I was driving to an early breakfast meeting and heard the news from Paris about the shootings at the headquarters of the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hedbo. I had never heard of this magazine until today. Apparently, the cartoonists had offended the sensibilities of some Islamic terrorists.
When I heard the report--I thought about Douthat's book. Wow. How much damage has been caused by bad religion? It may be the terrorism associated with radical Islam or the insecurities exhibited by Hindu extremists in India or many other forms of atrocities committed in the name of religion. It is sad.
I can't imagine how much it must grieve God. He created this world and it was good (Genesis 1). In fact, it was very good (Genesis 1:31).
Douthat's book is not about terrorism or acts of atrocity committed in the name of God. But, the insights in his book about many forms of bad religion are on my mind today as I pray for God's people to reflect His goodness in His world.
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