The pietism of America

It looks as if the general consensus is that America, and more broadly, the West, is now a post-Christian culture. Perhaps even a post-religious (in the traditional sense of the word) society. You hear the stories of public prayer being banned in high schools while the same institutions provide rooms for Muslims to practice salat. Fox News cries out in uproar as the Ten Commandments are removed from buildings of state. And while mysticism abounds in pop culture, there is no room for the supernatural in respectable academia.

While I tend to agree with the assessment, I would like to add my own observation. As secular as we seem to be, we are just as religious as we ever were.

In fact, the level of devotion I see around me would make any itinerant evangelist of yore weep for joy. Consistent, undistracted, faithful alliegance to what is held most dearly; fiery opposition when it is threatened.

What am I talking about? All we need to do is watch the calendar.

We westerners remain steadfast to our Judeo-Christian heritage: We worship on the weekend.

The thing that consumes our thoughts, that gets us through the workweek, that brings us the most happiness is the thing we instinctively turn to as soon as we have a spare moment.

Sleep
Friends
Family
Good food
Bad food
Hobbies
Sports
Entertainment
Culture
Pleasure in all of its various forms

Tradition

Christ?