James Davison Hunter in his book “To Change The World” focuses his attention on the inability of American Christianity to have an impact on modern culture due to its fragmentation. He spends the first portion of the book listing research and opinion to establish that culture is not changed on an individual basis. Cultural change happens from the top-down, instead of from the bottom-up, which is what is commonly proposed.
“I argued that the potential for world-changing is greatest when networks of elites in overlapping fields of culture and overlapping spheres of social life come together with their varied resources and act in common purpose. Is there a possibility of finding common purpose in American Christianity today?” (page 91)
He argues that American Christianity lacks the necessary solidarity to actually engage and change culture and the world.
“Different people will have different opinions on the matter. Politics has been a realm that has generated some defensive unity among some parts of the Christian community. For example, family law and edge-of-life issues have been sources of political solidarity among conservative Catholics, Evangelicals, and the Reformed. Social justice issues have been the source of political solidarity among their progressive counterparts. Yet apart from politics in these areas, fragmentation seems to be a much more prominent tendency. Clearly there are ways in which the history of Christianity can be told through the history of its divisions and this has not abated in our time. Insofar as Christianity has aspires to maintain certain continuities through time, fragmentation is as much of a challenge as it has ever been.” (page 92)
He then identifies some of the areas that American Christianity has been weakened by the prevailing culture.
“A second matter in this regard, concerns the strong indications that for all the deep belief, the genuine piety, the heroic faith, and the good intention one finds all across American Christianity today, large swaths have been captured by the spirit of the age…Consumerism, individualism, the therapeutic and managerial ideologies have gone far to undermine the authority of the Christian movement and its traditions. The problem is especially acute among the young, where, as Christian Smith observes, a ‘moralistic, therapeutic deism’ has triumphed over historical creedal faith and practice.”(page 92)
He finishes off this startling assessment with this.
One can debate the degree to which fragmentation and acculturation have some to characterize American Christianity but even the most optimistic assessment would lead one to conclude that Christianity in America is only marginalized as a culture but it is also a very weak culture. For all of the vitality and all the good intention among Christian believers, the whole(in terms of its influence in the larger political economy of cultural production) is significantly less than the sum of its parts. And thus the idea that American Christianity could influence the larger culture in ways that are healthy and humane is, for the time being, doubtful.” (page 92)
This is quite a scathing indictment on the current state of American Christianity. I am one of the often guilty members who chooses to focus on the differences present between believers. This does nothing to change the weakened status of the movement as a whole. We must do better!
While the focus of this series of quotes is on the American church only. I would be very interested to hear from readers outside the US to see if this is noticeable to you in your local church.
the archives near Emmaus 
Joshua, this looks like a MUST READ book! For it is even worse in the UK! And they had a Christian witness once also. Thanks..
@Fr. Robert: I would certainly recommend it! I am only half way through it at this point but it has already been very eye-opening. He seems to be moving the book towards the idea that Christianity must run counter to the culture instead of trying to manipulate it. I will write a post to try and summarize what Hunter thinks we should do once I finish it. Im sorry to hear that things are even worse in the UK…
I have heard a lot about this book. Several Th.M students read it and they had a discussion night. I was there, but I had not read the book, so I was a bit lost, but I did like what I heard.
It will be interesting to hear more as you move through the book. At this juncture of your review I agree that our church is weak in influence here, at least in any way that matters.
Joshua,
Indeed, it seems that Christianity at its best is always ‘Salt & Light’, but sometimes that Salt & Light must run below the culture, when the culture is really against the Christian Gospel statement itself. We should note, how the Christians (with providence) changed the Roman Empire. I am one that sees Constantine’s time as positive overall. So God can renew our time and culture too, but it must start from within the Body-Life itself, and here Christians must be willing to suffer, in that name of Christ! But I wonder if we are willing as a Body?
When we talk about renewal of culture, for what are we looking? That is something that interest me. What are we wanting to restore?
Brian,
Well since I grew-up and can remember the 50’s, and early 60’s, it was a Judeo-Christian worldview then. It would take a top down moral renewal to affect the masses. People would have to see and desire the virtue of righteousness itself. A true moral and spiritual renew! I am not sure really people are even capable of that anymore? When the culture is down at the bottom as it is. Now people are so very narcissist!
@ Fr. Robert: I was not around in the 50’s and 60’s, but I read from historians and sociologist that there was much abuse and infidelity in the family (something the TV show Mad Men tries to capture in contrast to the portrayal of Leave It to Beaver). Women were treated wrongly, and even there we see sexual infidelity rising. Drug use was increasing. Our nation was at war with countries like Vietnam and North Korea. People like Nixon were in leadership. African Americans and Latinos had to fight for basic human respect (though that is still the case in this country at times). I just don’t see a United States that is as crisp and clean as some would like it to have been.
@Brian,
that’s a question I keep asking. Typically the response I get is something along the lines of Fr. Robert. This is a bit off topic from the book or the initial post, but I struggle with the characterization of the 50’s and 60’s as a “Christian America” as well. I struggle not only because I fear it is historically inaccurate, but because I fail to see how a return to moralism would be in any way a “Christian Renewal”.
I tend to oscillate back and forth in my own mind here: on the one hand, I fully desire to live in a just society that embraces beauty and protects the weak and the helpless. On the other hand, in an ontological sense, I can’t make much sense of Christians and churches who long for the good ol’ days when we all pretended to be morally upright. Perhaps I’ve conflated issues in my own thought process, but this seems to fly in the face of the gospel.
Shouldn’t a longing for Christian Renewal be synonymous with a longing for all people everywhere to experience the life-giving grace of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit? If the renewal we have in mind is to simply get people to act better, let’s call it a Moralist Renewal, not a Christian one.
@Steve: Well said! We must ask what makes a revival of a people group distinctly Christian. Moralism is not distinctly Christian and I maintain that even that era was not as “moral” as it was outwardly hypocritical.
That frames the discussion differently in my opinion. What would a distinctly Christian renewal of a people be? Can we even call it a renewal if we were never there in the first place?!
@Brian:For me I view the renewal of culture as getting our culture back to a position where it could swallow the idea that humans are in fact fallen. It is not a popular idea to discuss humankinds sinful nature or the need to respond to that sin. This is beside the fact that many people who do believe that humans may need fixing often respond to some self-made amalgamation of beliefs. I would love to see our culture embrace the idea that absolute truth can be found. That is just my 2 bits.
Brian,
I grew-up as a boy in Dublin Ireland in the 50’s and early 60’s, I remember my Irish family, love and affection, right and wrong and doing the right thing. My Irish priests showed me the right way, and lead by example. The Irish women in my life also lived exemplary lives, as my Great Aunts, Great Uncles, Uncles, etc. (And almost all of the men in my family were WW2 Vets, and also a few want to Korea) But then there was my Father, simply a great man and always the model of manhood, with great love and patience. And Mum, the salt of the earth, beautiful, kind and always loving! And they almost all lived Roman Catholic faithful lives, not quite perfection, but damn close! (As I saw it!) So yes, I saw heaven on earth almost as a boy. (Your reading from a book), but I lived a sort high side middle class Irish life. Sure, I saw reality, but I always believed good would overcome evil, and God was always good and loved me! And am I embellishing this? No, this is what I remember, and was my life then. Even later in my teens, I had very little rebellion. But, I was also a rather tough kid, always seeking to do the right thing, and prove that I was made out of the right stuff. And taught to fight if I had too, I was in what you would call the golden gloves. I was fair with my mates, and sought to be a good friend. If I had any weakness (that I could feel then), I loved the beauty of women, and chased them pretty hard. But I was never abusive, but sometimes full of it. So there ya have it!
@Josh: Even as I think of the history of American Christianity it seems that there has never been a time where it has been like that in a healthy way. Not the Puritans, not the Great Awakenings. I do want to have a positive outlook, but I think it begins by really reconsidering the depictions of our past.
@ Fr. Robert: I may read from a book but I have grandparents from that era. Both grandfathers were wicked men. They were abusive and unfaithful. One grandmother lived a very oppressed life and the other did well for herself but she sure does have some stories from the injustice of those days. Our nation has a great president assassinated and a major civil rights leader too, much corruption, and again, racial inequality as well as gender inequality. So I am thankful that you had a good upbringing, but that is not indicative of global culture. I have great memories from growing up too, but I doubt that means the 80’s and the 90’s where holy times.
I would agree there is just too much fragmentation in USAmerican Christianity for us to be of much use influencing the world around us much anymore….
@Brian: I’m not implying that there was some Christian American paradise that we lost and need to rediscover. However I don’t think it is too much of a stretch to say that as a culture we are moving farther away from Christ. I don’t think that we really have anyway to change it over than to hope and pray for God to intervene in the hearts of people.
@Brian: Oh and I do agree that we need to be realistic about our past. I am skeptical of the great Christian America as well.
First things first – I think you should do a give-away for this book. And give it to me. I’ll send you my address.
That said, I agree with all points here. There are a couple of points I’d like to make:
1 – I’ve been wrestling lately with the idea of Christians creating culture. Brian, I know you’re not a fan, but the person to influence me the most on this line of thought is Mark Driscoll – he’s big on that. Coming from a culturally conservative organization (and an incredibly overprotective mother), I have been brought up with an isolationist approach to culture. Hearing the case be made for Christians to engage, create, and participate in culture (rather than have an internal, isolated contra-culture) has been encouraging, invigorating, and challenging. It’s changed how I approach scripture completely.
2 – People who bemoan the current state of America (and plead for a return to 1950’s American idealism) seem to forget that The Church abused Scripture to justify racial & gender inequality. Before that, we had “Christians” who abused Old Testament passages to support slavery.
3 – I agree with Brian; the era wasn’t more or less “moral” than modern times; people were just far more hypocritical about it.
Christians SHOULD be engaging culture, creating art and literature and music and movies … we should be participating in politics, but not to argue for higher taxes or lower taxes, but to defend the oppressed and the widow and the fatherless … and in everything, we should glorify God, our Father.
Do our political positions glorify God? Does our art glorify God? Do we create literature that glorifies God? Do we create a culture that glorifies God? That should be the measure. That’s what we should be doing.
The Search For Christian America by Noll, Hatch and Marsden provides a good realistic picture of our past (esp. in re. to America’s “Christian” origins).
Bobby,
I guess the English and British Christian history and tradition speaks for itself! We have been around just a bit longer than the American. Though America’s short Christian history is profound certainly! So no slight at all.
Btw, have you Alister McGrath’s book on Torrance? T.F. Torrance, An Intellectual Biography. It is very good I think!
@Joshua: I didn’t think you did. I am just weary of any rhetoric that seems to leave that door open. I think there are segments of our society moving away from Christ and segments moving toward Christ. What I would say is that those who aren’t actually serving Christ are less influenced by the church. That may be a bad thing.
@Brad:: I agree with cultural engagement as you presented it here. I think we must think of ourselves as engaging culture to create beauty, to defend the oppressed, and to challenge the powers. Too often we create consumerism, side with the oppressor, and sell ourselves to the powers!
@Bobby: That is a great book!
@Brian: good! I was hoping I didn’t come off thy way. 🙂
Brian,
Btw, I was not presenting my time, or myself in any perfection. That was just the way I “saw” it then, and even feel it inside, at least for myself now. If that makes sense? Remember I am 61, and have seen a bit of time! 🙂
Fr. Robert: I understand. I am sure there will be areas of society that I will see as having digressed over my time. I am just saying that it is helpful to be self-critical and realize there were injustices then. Again, like Brad mentioned, racial and gender inequality was much worse then in this country than it is now.
Brian,
Well you know what has come out about Catholic Ireland now, though as a boy I sure did not see it. But, I was just an Irish lad then, and lived and moved in my wee world. But it sure seemed like paradise to me! I was just blessed with love and family!
Robert; though you saw good examples in Ireland.. I am sure you heard of many gross examples of injustice between the IRA and England and injustice between protestant and catholic… I am interested in hearing of your families response of your crossing the Tiber…away from Rome…
When we consider the foundation of America… the puritans betraying the Indians in a communion meal… the war against the civil rights movement etc… I don’t think one can truly say that America has ever been a truly Christian nation.
I believe no matter the fragmentation of the church; Christ himself is not fragmented and is still in charge. As long as there is someone who is willing to sit with another and listen to them; to pray with, to care for another, to roll up their sleeves and work alongside another as well as to share the words of scripture with another… then the church is still active and alive.
Craig,
Most of my Irish family is before the Lord, both Mother & Father. And I did not get into the political much in them days. But note I did pay a price becoming a Royal Marine! I do have some family left, but I hardly see and hear from them these days, since I have been in America. My oldest is in college however in the UK.
I did have a Aunt who was a Nun, Mother Superior in fact, and she did write to me many times. She was open however to the Anglo-Catholic position. But she is with the Lord now. And not so long ago…RIP!