Robert Samuelson writes about reasons for a slow economic recovery:
To these daunting uncertainties must be added at least one other that, though less recognized, is perhaps more powerful. It is an intellectual breakdown. There is a loss of faith in economic ideas — and government policies based on them — driven by most economists’ failure to anticipate the financial crisis and many subsequent events.
Substitute ‘religious ideas’ for ‘economic ideas’, and ‘church’ for ‘government’, and you have a basic problem affecting institutional religion too.
Rachel Held Evans writes about the Chick-fil-A controversy:
There are better causes than “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” around which Christians can rally. (Feeding the hungry perhaps?) There is no need to cause unnecessary offense to folks who have already been so ostracized by the Church, no need to wave a red and white banner through yet another culture war.
She has words for both sides in that debate.
…Rachels comment was very impressive…so level headed and gracefully understanding of both points of view…someday she will probably make a great statesman or diplomat..
..i think Samuelsons observation seems to be refering to the middle class in this country as having recently lost faith in capitalism and the American dream.. lower class folks like me are evidently ahead of the curve,We had lost it years ago…
…As for your comment Chris,I can only imagine how you and your counterparts in formal institutional religion must be feeling at this juncture..i would suppose it must be very depressing…A paradigm shift always produces collateral damage in its wake…its time to adopt a vibrant mystical spirituality and jettison the dry rote religious program,a deeply felt personal spirituality is the New Frontier and thats where Chrisendom is migratinging to…imo.
I so agree with your comment about a vibrant mystical spirituality. True
Peace to you