Podcast Summary
Understanding the shift in American culture towards anti-Christianity: The decline in church attendance and Christianity's influence in America signals a shift towards a post-Christian culture, and Christians must navigate this new reality with wisdom and resilience.
We are living in a post-Christian America, a shift that has been occurring for several years. This transition raises questions about its implications and how to navigate it as Christians. Author Aaron Wren discusses these issues in his book, "Living in a Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture." While some argue that Christians have a victim complex, Wren contends that there has been a growing negative perspective towards Christianity in America for decades. He points to the 1950s as a high point of church attendance and institutionalized Christianity in America. However, since then, church attendance has declined, and Christianity's influence has waned. Wren's book offers insights into this trend and how Christians can respond in a competitive culture that often opposes their values.
Three Phases of Christianity's Perception in America: From a positively viewed faith shaping American culture, Christianity transformed into a negatively viewed lifestyle choice, impacting career prospects and openly repudiating moral norms (1964-present)
The perception of Christianity in America underwent significant shifts from the 1960s to the present day. According to the speaker, this transformation can be divided into three distinct phases: the positive world (1964-1994), the neutral world (1994-2014), and the negative world (2014-present). During the positive world, Christianity was generally viewed positively, and its moral norms still held sway. However, by the late 1990s, Christianity began to lose its positive image and became just another lifestyle choice in a pluralistic society. The negative world, which began in 2014, marks the first time in American history that official elite culture views Christianity negatively. Being a Bible-believing Christian can now harm one's career prospects, and Christian moral norms are openly repudiated. The speaker attributes this shift to various factors, including the decline of communism and the changing cultural landscape of the 1960s and beyond.
The decline of Christianity's role in American society: The assumption that American ideals and Christian ideals were inseparable was widespread, but many people did not share this perspective. The decline of Christianity's role in American society began in the 1960s and has continued to the present day, driven by deregulation and the urban renaissance.
The assumption that the triumph of Western liberal democracy equated to the triumph of Christianity was a delusion. The decline of Christianity's role in American society began in the mid-century era with the waning influence of the Protestant establishment. This was followed by deregulation during the Carter and Reagan administrations, leading to corporate consolidation and the rise of monopolies. The urban renaissance of the late 1990s further shifted societal focus away from religion and towards secular values. The belief that American ideals and Christian ideals were inseparable was widespread, but many people did not share this perspective. The decline of Christianity's role in American society began in the 1960s and has continued to the present day. The assumption that the triumph of the West equated to the triumph of Christianity was a delusion, and it's important to remember that many people did not see it that way.
The greatest generation failed to uphold Christian values in the 1960s and 1970s: The shift from conformist 1950s to diverse and individualistic 1960s and 1970s saw the decline of publicly upheld Christian moral norms and the unraveling of old social glue
The shift in American society during the 1960s and 1970s, as depicted in shows like Mad Men, was marked by a decline in the public upheaval of Christian values. This era, known as the greatest generation, was still leading the way but failed to genuinely live out Christianity in a way that could have prevented its erosion. In the 1950s, Christian moral norms were publicly upheld, and violations were met with penalties. However, this began to change as people moved into suburbs, breaking up old social networks and creating more homogeneous districts. This rupture between generations, coupled with the conformist nature of the 1950s, set the stage for a more diverse and individualistic society. While there is debate about whether the greatest generation could have bridged the gap, the fact remains that the old social glue began to unravel, leading to a more complex and diverse America.
The CrowdHealth model's origins in the 80s and 90s: The CrowdHealth model, an alternative to traditional health insurance, emerged during the 1980s and 1990s, influenced by the self-help industry and Christianity, with the boomers embracing it due to their focus on personal success and stability.
The CrowdHealth model offers an alternative to traditional health insurance by providing access to a community that helps cover unexpected medical expenses through membership fees. This model emerged during the 1980s and 1990s when the self-help industry and Christianity became intertwined, leading to a focus on personal success and stability. The boomers, as the original "me" generation, embraced this shift and contributed to the transformation of how Christianity was viewed during this period. While the self-help industry didn't originate in the 80s and 90s, it gained significant popularity during this time. The boomers, who faced challenges like the Vietnam draft and stagflation earlier, experienced economic success after the 1981 recession and became known for their self-oriented mindset. Today, we continue to see the impact of this generation's focus on personal achievement and the evolution of alternative models like CrowdHealth.
Religious landscape shifts in late 20th century, filled by charismatic faiths: The late 20th century saw a decline of mainline denominations and rise of charismatic faiths like evangelicalism and Pentecostalism, but these new faiths had their own issues like prosperity gospel and moral failings among leaders.
The religious landscape in America underwent significant shifts during the late 20th century. The decline of mainline denominations left a gap that was filled by more charismatic and individualistic faiths like evangelicalism and Pentecostalism. However, these new faiths also had their issues, such as the prevalence of prosperity gospel and moral failings among some leaders. The shared fear of communism during this time helped unite various conservative groups, but once communism lost its threat, these divisions began to surface. The year 2014 marked a turning point for the speaker, who sensed a shift in the cultural climate towards opposition to Christian conservative principles. Despite not fully understanding the reasons behind this shift, the speaker felt compelled to engage and educate young people about the importance of their political involvement.
Obama's Second Term: A Cultural Shift on Race and Sexuality Issues: During Obama's second term, America experienced a significant cultural shift, with the acceptance of gay marriage becoming the norm and an increase in far-left race ideology. This shift was evident on college campuses and in politics, setting the stage for the Trump election in 2016 as a response.
The period between 2013 and 2016 marked a significant cultural shift in America, particularly in relation to race and sexuality issues. During Barack Obama's second term, there was a noticeable increase in far-left race ideology and the frequency of terms like white supremacy and structural racism in media. Additionally, the acceptance of gay marriage became the societal norm, with figures like Louie Giglio being criticized for opposing it. This shift was evident on college campuses and in politics, with Republicans like Chris Christie publicly changing their stance on gay marriage to remain competitive. The Obergefell decision in 2015 further solidified this new social norm. These changes set the stage for the Trump election in 2016, which was a response to this profound cultural shift. Overall, Obama's second term was a pivotal moment in American history, leading to a new societal norm on race and sexuality issues.
The decline of moral standards in American society: Traditional moral norms are viewed as outdated, leading to a society that is increasingly post-Christian and, in some ways, anti-Christian, with few clear guidelines for right and wrong.
The decline of moral standards in American society, which began as a broader social shift, has profoundly affected both Christianity and secular society. Traditional moral norms, once considered non-negotiable, are now viewed as outdated. The election of Donald Trump, despite his controversial personal behavior, highlights this shift. Those who advocated for personal liberation in the past now find themselves without a moral compass to judge others. The result is a society that is increasingly post-Christian and, in some ways, anti-Christian. This trend is evident in politics, with politicians being more open about their personal lives, and in the wider culture, where once-taboo topics are now commonplace. The left, in particular, is struggling to maintain standards while advocating for a completely libertarian society. The end result is a society that is morally ambiguous, with few clear guidelines for right and wrong. This shift has significant implications for Christianity and the role it plays in American society.
Understanding Evangelical Response to Trump through Culture War, Secret Sensitivity, and Cultural Engagement: The Trump presidency has exposed deep divisions among evangelicals, with some unwaveringly supporting him and others never giving him credit, influenced by the culture war, secret sensitivity, and cultural engagement movements.
The Trump presidency has highlighted and widened the existing divisions among evangelicals in America. On one hand, there are those who will unwaveringly support him, no matter what, justifying his actions and words. On the other hand, there are those who will never give him credit for anything good, pushing him further to the left on various issues. The evangelical response to Trump can be understood through the lens of the three main responses to the decline of Christianity in America since the 1970s: the culture war, secret sensitivity, and cultural engagement. The culture war, represented by the religious right, has been the most visible and loyal voting block in the Republican Party. The secret sensitivity movement focused on making churches more consumer-friendly to attract suburbanites. The cultural engagement movement, which emerged in the 1990s, aimed to take advantage of the pluralistic public square and engage in conversations with people. However, there is currently no clear evangelical strategy for living in the negative world, and the existing groups have not effectively adapted to this new context.
Culture wars within the church: Evangelicals face internal conflicts over political leaders' character and values, leading to a culture war within the church, which can have social and economic consequences in a post-Christian world. Christians must adapt and respond effectively to these pressures.
The culture wars are evolving and causing internal conflicts within various groups, including evangelicals. While some prioritize character and values in political leaders, others feel the pressure to support certain candidates despite moral concerns. The result is a culture war within the church, with different factions attacking each other instead of finding new ways to adapt. This unprecedented societal shift, characterized by living in a post-Christian world, presents subtle yet significant pressures that can lead to social and economic consequences. Instead of focusing on perceived persecution, it's essential for Christians to recognize and respond to these pressures effectively. By doing so, we can continue to live faithfully in this new and complex society.
The loss of cultural Christianity impacts society's benefits: The decline of cultural Christianity may make it harder for authentic faith to shine, but it also reveals those who falsely claimed the label for social acceptance.
While the role of Christianity as the cultural norm in the United States has changed, leading to the separation of authentic faith from nominal Christianity, this shift also comes with losses for society as a whole. The ideas of rights and the institution of marriage, which have their roots in Christianity, have provided significant benefits, particularly for the most vulnerable members of society. The diminishment of cultural Christianity may make it more challenging for the authentic church to shine as a beacon of light in a dark world, but it also exposes those who have been pretending to be Christians for social acceptance.
Navigating the decline of mainstream cultural Christianity: Recognize challenges in evangelism due to declining foundational understanding of Jesus and the gospel. Seize opportunities to set a higher standard for Christianity and steward community institutions to sustain faith.
As mainstream cultural Christianity declines, there are both challenges and opportunities for Christians. On the one hand, we face complications in evangelism as people may not have a foundational understanding of Jesus or the gospel. On the other hand, we have the opportunity to set a higher standard for what it means to be a Christian and self-consciously steward our community to sustain faith. This may involve reaching out to introduce people to Jesus through "pre-evangelism" and creating our own institutions to transmit our values. Ultimately, it requires recognizing that we are no longer the cultural majority and thinking like a minority, without hating others or America.
Protestants Shift to Alternative Education: Protestants prioritize their children's education in a way that aligns with their values, moving towards homeschooling and Christian schools due to disconnection from public institutions and perceived negative consequences of public education.
The Protestant community is shifting away from relying on traditional institutions like public schools to sustain their values, as they no longer have control over these institutions and feel morally disconnected from them. Instead, they are opting for alternative educational options like homeschooling and Christian schools. This is a response to the perceived negative consequences of public education and the rejection of Christian values within these institutions. While this may not be a popular choice, and there may be criticism that it hurts the public education system, the responsibility for addressing the issues within public schools lies with those in charge, and Christians should prioritize their children's education in a way that aligns with their values. Education is seen as a form of discipleship, and the foundation laid during the formative years is crucial for navigating the complexities of the world. Therefore, it's essential for Christians to consider the worldview shaping their children's education and ensure it aligns with their values.
