Fr. Chris talks with Rod Dreher of the Dallas Morning News about changing religion. Americans are more on the move in terms of religion than ever. A new study suggests that 44% of Americans have changed from the faith in which they were raised. What are the implications of this ongoing social transformation?
From our standpoint - this is sometimes a great thing! written by gchancy,
September 05, 2008
I think the subtext of this article highlights the opportunity for Orthodoxy in this country. Because Americans as so flexible in their religious identities, we have the opportunity to make the case for Orthodoxy to a partially receptive audience.
At the same time, if raised properly, I tend to consider cradle Orthodox to be practically cemented to the Church. My home schooled kids start each morning with Orthodox prayers and patristic readings, and end each day with prayers with prayers at all meals. They also go to Vespers on Wednesday and Saturday, feast day liturgies, and Sunday (of course).
Leaving Orthodoxy for them as adults would be a complete change in lifestyle. Their holiday customs (Pascha is way different than Western Easter), their identity, their prayer lives, their friendships - all of that would be trashed by leaving the faith. This is not the case when one abandons the Assemblies of God, for example.
I think we are way more attractive to the Evangelicals around us than they are to our offspring, which is why I like our odds longterm of totally transforming American society.
Fr. Chris talks with Rod Dreher of the Dallas Morning News about changing religion. Americans are more on the move in terms of religion than ever. A new study suggests that 44% of Americans have changed from the faith in which they were raised. What are the implications of this ongoing social transformation?
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At the same time, if raised properly, I tend to consider cradle Orthodox to be practically cemented to the Church. My home schooled kids start each morning with Orthodox prayers and patristic readings, and end each day with prayers with prayers at all meals. They also go to Vespers on Wednesday and Saturday, feast day liturgies, and Sunday (of course).
Leaving Orthodoxy for them as adults would be a complete change in lifestyle. Their holiday customs (Pascha is way different than Western Easter), their identity, their prayer lives, their friendships - all of that would be trashed by leaving the faith. This is not the case when one abandons the Assemblies of God, for example.
I think we are way more attractive to the Evangelicals around us than they are to our offspring, which is why I like our odds longterm of totally transforming American society.