America's competitive religious landscape still leads the way
By Thomas P.M. Barnett
OPINION: "God Still Isn't Dead," by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge, Wall Street Journal, 7 April 2009.
Neat piece by a favorite pair who have a new book out on the subject entitled, God is Back. The subject and thrust here fit exactly with my treatment of religion on a global scale in Great Powers. Good bits:
>>> In other words, the forces that made America such a uniquely religious country, competition and choice, are working as powerfully as ever. In the American model, modernity goes with pluralism. <<<
Some predictable stuff on "pastorprenuers" like Rick Warren (almost tagged similarly in my book). Likewise:
>>> The real strength of religious America lies in its diversity. There are more than 200 religious traditions in America, with 20 different sorts of Baptists alone. Religious America is remarkably good at segmenting its customer base: There are services for bikers, gays and dropouts (the Scum of the Earth Church in Denver); Bibles for cowboys, brides, soldiers, and rap artists ("Even though I walk through/The hood of death/I don't back down/for You have my back"); and even theme parks for every faith. <<<
With China cited as the newest and most vibrant "convert," the parallel coverage and analysis is complete. Overall, it seems like a very cool book. I give it one of my highest compliments: I wish I wrote it. Wouldn't have been exactly the same, but same general thrust. |
