It's a spiritual depth modern Americans seem to want. Ninety percent say they believe in God, but a recent study at Duke University indicates 42 percent have dropped out of organized religion permanently. Attempting to reach them, a recent concert at Saint Stephen featured folk music played by The Lost Tribe, a popular Celtic band. It included lively jigs, storytelling, and songs, but nothing religious. People who might be afraid to come in, who might never have any chance to come in, or any reason to come in, find out that we don't bite.
Food is another type of outreach.
Devotees of Krishna run a bustling vegetarian restaurant inside their temple in east Dallas. It's a commercial enterprise, and a serious business. It s not so much to grow their faith, as to share it. We're offering them presadem, which is a Sanskrit word, which means the Lord's mercy. And Holy Mercy takes many forms.