Reorganized Religion

holy men of God.

A few data points: In 1960, about 89 percent of Americans—or about 158 million people—were white. Just over 10 percent (about 18 million people)

“faith unbundled.”

“mega-identities,”1 where their religious, political, social, regional, and cultural identities are all stacked one on top of the other—

they are not alone, no matter what they face, and a sense of mission to rally around, which is devoted to helping their neighbors in their hour of need.

The school taught both Advanced Placement courses on science and Young Earth creationism—confusing messages for students like Stroop.

“The average American doesn’t realize all the things that churches do to make society less awful,” he told me.15 “It’s one of those things where you don’t know what you had till it is gone.”

One of the most striking findings of the Hartford Institute’s study was this: volunteer engagement at congregations dropped dramatically during the pandemic. In 2019, 40 percent of congregation members also served as volunteers. By the fall of 2021, that number was down to 15 percent.

“They don’t love us anymore.”