Reorganized Religion

Paperback, 256 pages

Published Aug. 29, 2023 by Worthy Books.

ISBN:: 978-1-5460-0162-1

(2 reviews)

Uncover the ways the Christian church has changed in recent years—from the decline of the mainline denominations to the mega-churchification of American culture—and a hopeful reimagining of what the church might look like going forward.

The United States is in the middle of an unprecedented spiritual, technological, demographic, political and social transformation—moving from an older, mostly white, mostly Protestant, religion-friendly society to a younger diverse, multiethnic, pluralistic culture, where no one faith group will have the advantage. At the same time, millions of Americans are abandoning organized religion altogether in favor of disorganized disbelief.

Reorganized Religion is an in-depth and critical look at why people are leaving American churches and what we lose as a society as it continues. But it also accepts the dismantling of what has come before and try to help readers reinvent the path forward. This book looks at the future of organized religion in America …

Uncover the ways the Christian church has changed in recent years—from the decline of the mainline denominations to the mega-churchification of American culture—and a hopeful reimagining of what the church might look like going forward.

The United States is in the middle of an unprecedented spiritual, technological, demographic, political and social transformation—moving from an older, mostly white, mostly Protestant, religion-friendly society to a younger diverse, multiethnic, pluralistic culture, where no one faith group will have the advantage. At the same time, millions of Americans are abandoning organized religion altogether in favor of disorganized disbelief.

Reorganized Religion is an in-depth and critical look at why people are leaving American churches and what we lose as a society as it continues. But it also accepts the dismantling of what has come before and try to help readers reinvent the path forward. This book looks at the future of organized religion in America and outline the options facing churches and other faith groups. Will they retreat? Will they become irrelevant? Or will they find a new path forward?

Written by veteran religion reporter Bob Smietana, Reorganized Religion is a journalistic look at the state of the American church and its future. It draws on polling data, interviews with experts, and reporting on how faith communities old and new are coping with the changing religious landscape, along with personal stories about how faith is lived in everyday life. It also profiles faith communities and leaders who are finding interesting ways to reimagine what church might look like in the future and discuss various ways we can reinvent this organization so it survives and thrives. The book also reflects the hope that perhaps people of faith can learn to become, if not friends with the larger culture, then at least better neighbors.

“A superb examination of the future of Christian institutions…. A must-read for anyone invested in the fate of the American church.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

3 editions

punkassbookjockey reviewed Reorganized Religion by Bob Smietana

A believer's solid criticisms of an increasingly secular world

5 stars

I'm an atheist who was raised in a religious household. Despite leaving the church well over half my life ago, I'm still interested in trends in religion and understanding religion as a major social-political force in American culture. Despite not being a believer like Smietana, I found his reporting even-handed and compelling. His criticisms of secular culture, "nones," and the problems inherent with being "spiritual but not religious" were valid, well-argued, and respectful to people he's talking about.

My one issue with Smietana's reporting is a focus on churches and pastors who are focused on social justice issues and community outreach... supporting Black Lives Matter, supporting immigrants, helping rebuild after tornadoes, and maintaining food banks. There are certainly Christians involved in helping the hungry, the stranger, and the prisoner like Jesus commands, and they should be praised for it. But this social outreach seems (from the outside looking in) like …

I'm an atheist who was raised in a religious household. Despite leaving the church well over half my life ago, I'm still interested in trends in religion and understanding religion as a major social-political force in American culture. Despite not being a believer like Smietana, I found his reporting even-handed and compelling. His criticisms of secular culture, "nones," and the problems inherent with being "spiritual but not religious" were valid, well-argued, and respectful to people he's talking about.

My one issue with Smietana's reporting is a focus on churches and pastors who are focused on social justice issues and community outreach... supporting Black Lives Matter, supporting immigrants, helping rebuild after tornadoes, and maintaining food banks. There are certainly Christians involved in helping the hungry, the stranger, and the prisoner like Jesus commands, and they should be praised for it. But this social outreach seems (from the outside looking in) like a very small part of Christian identity and practice today, and certainly not the reason why people are leaving the church. Smietana offers this as "a hopeful reimagining of what the church might look like going forward," but it feels more like wishful thinking.

Joseph Quigley

rated it

Aug. 30, 2022