One Nation Less Under God?

An Editorial

This essay was prompted in part by the most recent American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) published in March of 2009 (see associated link). The ARIS is a highly prominent yearly survey of religious life in the United States sponsored by Trinity University, Hartford, Connecticut. The survey was administered to 54,461 individuals. ARIS investigators (Barry A. Kosmin and Ariela Keysar) made the following disturbing conclusions about the survey results:

*** "Americans are slowly becoming less Christian."

*** The coming challenge of Christianity is the growing "rejection of all forms of organized religion."

*** Currently, one out of five Americans report having NO religious identity.

*** Currently, more than one out of four Americans expect their funerals to be non-religious.

*** Currently, only 70% Americans report having a definite belief in a personal God.

Jon Meacham reacted to the ARIS findings with a Newsweek article entitled "The End of Christian America." Is our situation as bad as Meacham suggests?

Earlier this April (2009) President Obama said the following in a press conference in Turkey: "One of the great strengths of the United States is ... we have a very large Christian population -- we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values" (see: the American Thinker).

To me, the glue that binds our laws together in the United States ultimately ties into our Judeo-Christian heritage. But, perhaps that heritage is slipping. Regardless, President Obama may be correct that there are a larger set of ideals and values supported by Americans regardless of religion. But what are those ideals and values? Are they becoming godless? Are we becoming one nation less under God?

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It is EASY to blame the populous for any declines in religious social behavior. People are sinners, but “sin” is an easy word to toss around. People are also discriminating consumers. Is there a problem with religion in general? Is there a problem with those who hold religion up as a standard? To what extent are churches responsible for the growing lack of religious enthusiasm in America? Have religions in general taken off in wrong or unpopular directions that have culminated in negative consequences? These are all reasonable questions. Concerned religious leaders legitimately should ask whether self-examination is appropriate.

One possible reason for the problems mentioned above may be indeed a self-inflicted wound. Too often leaders across denominations do negative advertising. Their so-called promotions involve identifying the weaknesses of the “other guy’s” religion. It is tempting to say this tactic must stop, but I know it cannot, at least not completely. Do we really expect negative advertising to stop in politics? No. Religion is NOT likely to be any different, although we may wish that it could.

However, negative advertising can be buffered. There is a growing need for interfaith dialogue. Religious behavior (the vast majority of the time) is something to be HIGHLY respected, NOT bashed. I am speaking in the broadest possible terms: Catholicism, Protestantism, LDSism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, etc.

To be more specific, too many denominations of Christianity are at odds with one another. The growing complexities of world problems (both physically and spiritually) require a new paradigm, a new approach. Has the time arrived for diverse religious workers to band together to create a stronger whole? Can there be religious diversity and unity at the same time?

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What are the issues of common cause that might prompt an interfaith banding of cooperation?

There needs to be a growing recognition of the intellectual respectability of religious expression. This attitude needs to be pervasive on our university campuses.

There needs to be a growing recognition of the Constitutional right to be religiously different than others.

There needs to be a growing respect for the need of children to be raised in a religious culture and atmosphere.

There needs to be a growing respect for the religious behavior of others, outside of one’s particular faith. Tolerance is key.

There is a growing need to emphasize the importance of family solidarity, and the harm of excessive divorce. (In my opinion, married couples have done more harm to marriage as an institution than any other constituency).

Multiple faiths do now agree on the growing need to find ways to assist the poor, in terms of employment, food, basic clothing, paying bills, and heath care. The Latter-day Saint religion has refined this kind of practice. (See also: "Believers in God Need to Work Together, Apostle Says").

One primary issue is that religion needs to be seen by the public in a more positive light. Society needs religious values. Individuals need religious identification.

But, let’s face it, many religions need to become more relevant to the 21st century, and NOT be based entirely in the distant past. The spiritual needs of modern people have a modern context, even if there are many values that MUST be borrowed from the past.

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An interfaith dialogue can be effective only if all participants respect diversity and the overall inherent freedom to worship as one pleases. There must be respect and tolerance from all participating religions.

An interfaith dialogue can be effective only if all participants abandon any feelings of superiority. All participants need to have an equal voice. Civility must be the rule in resolving conflicts.

For this to happen, all participating denominations still will have to respect individual views; they will have to respect interfaith competition, such as proselytizing and the competition of theological ideas. Even so, there are enough common ideas and shared values that it is incumbent upon a wide number of religions to reach out to others.

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Do Latter-days Saints (the primarily topical theme of this blog) have the capacity and will to work with other religions? I believe the answer is a resounding "yes."

Here are just a couple of quotations from recognized sources:

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, "Interfaith Relationships: Christian."
The Church has never existed in isolation or insulation from other Christian faiths. Its roots and its nurture are in, and remain in, the Christian heritage. But its claim that the heavens have opened anew, that a restoration of the lost radiance and power of the full gospel of Jesus Christ is under way at divine initiative, and its rejection of many long-standing traditions have generated misunderstanding and ill will.

Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 313.
The inquiry is frequently made of me. "Wherein do you differ from others in your religious views?" In reality an essence we do not differ so far in our religious views, but that we could all drink into one principle of love. One of the grand fundamental principles of "Mormonism" is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may.

The fact is that Latter-day Saints have much to learn from Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims, and others. Actually, I suspect most LDS members would believe that. But, the opposite is also true. That is, Latter-day Saints have much to offer the religious world, if we could be heard without prejudice. The LDS have ideas and perspectives (especially in welfare) that could benefit outside religious practices.

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Do the citizens of this American nation need to repent of their ways? From a Latter-day Saint perspective the answer is "yes." Religious affiliation in this country needs to be strengthened, not weakened.

But, I am also convinced that part of the "cure" for America must involve a renewed commitment by the religious institutions themselves to treat each other using the same principles they have taught to their own congregations.

If the doors to the church and synagogue are to be successfully opened, then those doors need to become especially attractive.

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Copyright 2009 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.




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