But what will separate it from past eras will not be its particular factions or conflicts but the terrain on which they play themselves out. Battles for the national soul will be won or lost not in presidential elections or budget battles. That statement gives me tremendous hope for the future. Religious faith and values continues to offer a critique to the narcissism, rootlessness, and materialism of contemporary America. According to the author, religious institutions not only preach values, they seem to be more effective in carrying them out.
Churches get things done because they generate, in the think tank-speak of the day, social capital.
They possess the moral authority to call people to service on behalf of others. It might surprise you to know that volunteerism in this country is actually on the rise. Worship attendance, at least in the United Methodist Church, has been increasing steadily for the past seven years. There is already a task force working on such a project. We have no more excuses.