THE “NOTHING IN PARTICULARS,” SOCIAL CAPITAL, AND DENIAL

 

Don’t celebrate the dying of the Christian influence too quickly. In an article entitled “Rise of the ‘nothing in particulars’ may be sign of a disjointed, disaffected and lonely future,” Professor of Political Science, Ryan Burge, has written:

 

·       The data indicates that those who [label themselves] 'nothing in particular' aren’t just cut off from organized religion. They have disconnected from many of the foundational structures that hold us together as communities. https://religionnews.com/2019/07/03/rise-of-the-nothing-in-particulars-may-be-sign-of-a-disjointed-disaffected-and-lonely-future/

 

While Protestants now make up only 39% of the US population and Catholics 18%:

 

·       [This group] makes up about 1 in 5 Americans, according to the 2018 Cooperative Congressional Election Study, a survey that is based at Harvard and has been conducted biannually since 2006. Its true advantage is sheer sample size — 60,000 respondents in 2018.

 

Burge has warned of the serious consequences of this demographic shift:

 

·       Political, civic and religious leaders need to become aware of this growing group of Americans because if current trends keep up they could have a significant impact on the United States, likely by creating a smaller and smaller pool of volunteers who have to carry the burdens of civilized society. For instance, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Southern Baptist Convention trained more relief volunteers than the Red Cross to aid in the recovery.

 

·       No matter how one feels about religion, it’s undeniable that religious traditions have spent decades building networks that operate behind the scenes to support those who are most vulnerable in our society. As the number of socially detached people grows, the ability of faith groups to fill in the gaps will be diminished, and once these ministries disappear, it seems highly unlikely that they can be quickly or easily replaced.

 

Why then the celebration of the declining Christian influence? Despite its tangible contributions, the hatred directed towards Christianity is palpable. We are called “bigots,” “homophobes,” and are routinely condemned for “hate speech.” When we speak against the dangers of sexual lifestyles outside of committed monogamous heterosexual marriage, our speech is called “offensive.” There seems to be little willingness to engage in discussions about the costs of non-traditional sexual lifestyles. Instead, the tactics of the “cancel culture” reigns, even in places where it shouldn’t – in our media, schools, and universities.

 

Why? Almost everyone is engaged in some form of aberrant sexuality once we include pornography. Let’s face it - masturbating in front of your computer doesn’t build self-esteem but rather guilt and shame. We can either blame our behaviors for these feelings, or we can find another culprit. Our “Puritanical Christian values” prove a convenient candidate. However, there is always an uncanny price we pay for our denial the truth and our unwillingness to take responsibility.