In today's Post, Michelle Boorstein examines the phenomenon of January 6 protesters who are guided by an extremely individualized version of Christianity. Here's an excerpt:
Some scholars see this era as a spiritually fertile period, like the ones that produced Pentecostalism or Mormonism. Others worry about religious illiteracy and the lack of supervision over everything from theological pronouncements to financial practices.
Even before Jan. 6, some sociologists said the fastest-growing group of American Christians are those associated with independent “prophets” who largely operate outside denominationalism. Less than half of Americans told Gallup in March that they belonged to a congregation, the first time that has happened since Gallup started asking in the 1930s.
Boorstein's article highlights the way that America's emphasis on individual expression, combined with the principles of Protestantism (and perhaps a dose of postmodernism?), have led to a situation where people develop their own unique theology, rather than looking to a congregation or other institutional mechanism for guidance.
638. Are other religions becoming as diverse (down to the individual-believer level) as Christianity? Hinduism seems to emphasize individual paths to the divine, but is the general trend in Hinduism towards unity or towards diversity? What about Islam and Judaism?
639. Is it possible to gain as much strength, wisdom and inner peace through a highly individual conception of religion? Or are fellowship and community key reasons that religion helps many people to live a fuller, more meaningful life?
