Dan,
Among those watching the movie and yearning for more were a representative number of Christians ( and Jews, Hindu's, Muslims, etc)
There are people of all religions who are very happy with the meaning and depth that a particular religion has brought to their lives. It is not just limited to any particular faith or belief system.
There is also many people who are turning away from organized religion and finding meaning in non-traditional belief systems.
People longing for meaning in American culture does not mean that any particular religion is the answer. Those "answers" have always been available, and have not provided the relief that many have been looking for. The truth is that organized religion on a net basis is losing more people who are engaged ina search for the truth than they are gaining.
For whatever reason, there is an awful lot of people who need more than what traditional religion has to offer.
That alone does not make organized religion any better or worse than non traditional spirituality. Because a large group of people need something else, that doesn't make religion any more or less relevant to those who follow it.
What it does say, is that many people do not think it is the answer, and they are willing to search for something that may be the answer.
In the meantime, although people may not agree or even like the choices made by other people, we should all hopefully learn to be a little more tolerant, a little more helpful, and a whole lot more loving towards those we do and those we don't agree with.
Mark |
