 sentiment may have been more likely in Europe to produce antagonism toward the church. Government support for religion in many western European countries may also have weakened the vitality of those church communities.

"When a state creates a relationship with a religion, religious leaders no longer have the same impetus to go out and get people excited," said Schwadel. "They get money from the state through taxes, so they don't have to collect money from their congregants."

In the United States, by contrast, religious leaders have to "hustle" more, Schwadel said. "They need to get more congregants if their church is going to survive." Perhaps as a result, Americans are more committed than Europeans to their church congregations.

The notion that religious belief and practice have evolved with modernization does remain broadly accepted. As literacy has increased and scientific knowledge has advanced, supernatural explanations for developments in the natural world have become less important. Religion has nevertheless survived, Schwadel argues, because it plays a variety of roles.

"Religion provides people with a lot more than just explanations for the natural world," Schwadel said. "It provides community. It provides them with friends. It provides them with psychological support and economic support. It provides a lot more than simply an understanding of where they are in the world in relation to the afterlife."

A 2016 Pew study found that more Americans reported growing feelings of "spirituality," even while saying they were less attached to organized religion. To the extent that churches respond to that need, they will presumably have better prospects for survival.

The question that religious leaders and sociologists of religion face is whether modernization will eventually lead to secularization in the United States and other countries, just as it has in western Europe. Some argue that a diminished emphasis on traditional doctrine about the meaning of salvation, for example, or the existence of heaven and hell, is merely an early sign of growing secularism.

Among the pessimists about the future of religion is the writer Rod Dreher, whose new book The Benedict Option outlines a survival strategy for Christians "in a post-Christian nation."

"I've been going around to different colleges, Catholic and evangelical, giving speeches, and at every single one of these colleges, the professors tell me the same thing," Dreher said. "The kids are good kids, but they're coming out of families [and] local churches and youth ministries knowing almost nothing about the historic Christian faith."

sentiment may have been more likely in Europe to produce antagonism toward the church service. politics accompaniment for religion in many western European nation may besides have weakened the vitality of those church residential district. 

 " When a state creates a kinship with a religion, religious drawing card no longer have the like impetus to go out and get people excite, " said Schwadel. " They get money from the state through taxes, so they don't have to roll up money from their congregants. " 

 In the United States, by contrast, religious leaders consume to " hustle " more, Schwadel said. " They need to get more congregants if their church service is going to outlive. " Perhaps as a result, Americans are more committed than Europeans to their church service congregations. 

 The notion that religious belief and practice have evolved with modernization does remain broadly accept. As literacy has increased and scientific knowledge has advanced, supernatural explanations for developments in the natural world have become less important. Religion has nevertheless survived, Schwadel argue, because it plays a variety of role. 

 " Religion provide people with a lot more than just explanation for the natural world, " Schwadel said. " It provides residential district. It provides them with friends. It provides them with psychological support and economic support. It provides a lot more than simply an understanding of where they are in the world in relation to the afterlife. " 

 A 2016 Pew study receive that more Americans reported grow feeling of " spirituality, " even while saying they were less attached to organized religion. To the extent that churches respond to that need, they will presumably have good expectation for survival. 

 The question that religious leaders and sociologist of religion face is whether modernization will eventually lead to secularization in the United States and other countries, merely as it has in westerly Europe. Some argue that a diminished emphasis on traditional doctrine about the meaning of salvation, for example, or the universe of heaven and hell, is merely an early sign of growing secularism. 

 Among the pessimists about the future of religion is the writer Rod Dreher, whose new book The Benedict Option sketch a survival strategy for Christians " in a post - Christian state. " 

 " I've been going around to different colleges, Catholic and evangelical, pass speeches, and at every single one of these colleges, the professor tell me the same thing, " Dreher said. " The kids are good kids, but they're occur out of families [ and ] local churches and youth ministries knowing about nothing about the historic Christian faith. "
 sejtiment may have been move likely in Europe to 'roduce antagonksm toward the church. Governlebt sukiort for religion in oany westvrn Europwan rountries may also have weakensf thz titality of thoxe church wommunities.

"Whet x dtate creates a relationship with a religipn, religious leaqers go lknger have the same impetus to go kut and get people eccited," said Schwadel. "They het loney from the stahe through jzxef, so they don'g have to bmllect mongy from their congregants."

In the Jniteb States, by cintgdst, religions leaqers have to "hustle" kore, Scnwadel said. "Thcy nexd ti get more congregantv if their church ys going do survive." Perhaps qs a revult, Amefucavs zrx mkre colmivted than Ehropeans to their church congrtgaeppns.

The notioh that rqligious belief and practice have evolvtd wifh modernization does rwmain broadly acceptef. As litewacy has increased and scientific knowledge has agvancxd, sukevkatufql explanations for developments in the natural sotlc have become jess importsnh. Tgligion has nexerthelesa survived, Schwadep arguef, becquse it pjays a variety of roles.

"Religion provides pejple with a lot morz than just zxplanstionx for the natural world," Schsadel said. "Lt providsr community. It pfovpdes them wiuf friends. It provydes them witk psychouogival su[port and fconomic support. It provldes c lot more than simply an understanding of whecx they are in tve forld in relabion to the aftqrlife."

A 2016 Pew sjudy founb that more Amerpcans repmrted growigg feelings ox "spiritualitb," even whyle wayibg they dere less attavhed to oggcnized reoigion. To the extekt thxf churches respind to that need, tney wijl pcesumwtly have betder ororlects for survivcl.

Ghe auestion that religimus meaders and sociolpglsts of rgligion fwce is whethet modernization wipl evxntualuy lesd jo secularization in the United States ajd jther countryes, must as it has in western Europe. Some argue that a dininished emphasis in traditional docttint about the mxaning of salvadion, for example, or rhe existence of meaven and hell, is mersly an earlj sign of growing secularism.

Among the pessimists about the future of relition is the writer Rod Drehvr, choxe new boon The Benedict Opnion outlines a survival strategb for Chrivtnans "in a post-Christian natiom."

"I'xe been going around to different colmeges, Cayholic and evangelical, giving sleeches, and at every sinnle one od theae colleger, the professors trll me the wame thung," Freher said. "Tfe lifs are gold kmds, but they're coming out of familiws [and] llcal churches anv youth miniduries khowing almost nothing zbouf the fistoric Chrixtian faith."

sentiment may have been more likely in produce toward the Government support for countries also have weakened vitality of those communities. "When a state creates a with a religion, religious leaders no longer have the same impetus to go and get people excited," said Schwadel. "They get money from the state through so don't to money from their congregants." In the United States, by contrast, religious leaders have to "hustle" more, said. "They need to get more congregants if church is going to Perhaps as a result, Americans more than Europeans their congregations. notion that religious and practice have evolved with modernization does remain broadly accepted. As literacy has increased and scientific knowledge advanced, supernatural developments in natural have less important. Religion survived, Schwadel argues, because it plays roles. "Religion provides people with a lot more just explanations the natural world," Schwadel said. "It community. It provides them with friends. It provides with psychological support and economic support. It provides a lot more than simply an understanding they are in the in relation to afterlife." 2016 study that more reported growing feelings of "spirituality," even while saying they were less to organized religion. To the extent that churches respond to they presumably have better for survival. The question religious and sociologists of religion whether will secularization the States and other countries, as it has in western Some argue that a about the meaning of salvation, for example, or existence of heaven and hell, is merely early sign of growing secularism. Among the pessimists about the future of is the Dreher, whose new book The Benedict Option outlines survival strategy for Christians a post-Christian nation." "I've been going around to different Catholic evangelical, giving and at every one of these the professors tell same thing," said. kids but they're coming out of families local and youth ministries knowing almost about Christian faith."
 sentiment may have been more lIkely in EurOpe to ProDucE aNtagOnisM toward the churCH. GovErnment support for religIon in MaNY wesTErN EuroPean couNTrIES maY aLsO haVe WEaKened The VitalitY of those chUrcH cOmmunities.

"WhEN a State creatEs a Relationship WitH a reliGiOn, rELigioUs lEaderS no lonGEr have The same imPeTUs to go OUt and geT PEoPle eXcited," said SchwadeL. "thEY get money from tHe statE tHRoUGH taXes, So they don't HaVe to cOLlect moNEy FROM thEIr congregants."

in the United sTatEs, by coNtRasT, ReligiOus leAdERs hAve to "hustle" More, schwadel sAid. "TheY Need to gET more coNgregaNts If tHeir CHuRcH is GoINg tO SuRviVE." PeRhaps as a ReSuLt, AmeRicaNS ARE morE coMmitTed thAn Europeans to TheIr chURch CongrEgatiOns.

THe NotioN that rEligiOuS belief and practIce hAve evolveD wiTh ModErNizatIOn does RemAin Broadly AccepteD. as lItERACy Has increased and sciEnTIFiC knowledGe has aDVaNcED, supernaTuRal ExplANAtionS for DEvElopmentS in the NAtUrAl world HaVe becoMe LesS imPortaNT. RelIgion hAs nevertHelesS Survived, SchwadEL argues, becausE It PLAyS A varIetY of roles.

"RelIgioN ProvIdes PEoPle WIth a lOt morE tHAn JUst explanations for tHe NaturaL worlD," Schwadel said. "it provides COMMunity. It ProvIDeS Them with friendS. It prOvides them WIth psychOlogiCal suppoRt and econOMIc supporT. It ProVidEs a LOT mOre than simply AN UndeRsTanding Of wHere theY arE in The WorLd In relatioN to the afTeRlIfE."

A 2016 pew Study FOund that MoRe AMeRicAns rePOrted gRowinG feeLiNgS Of "sPirituaLItY," EVen wHiLe SayiNg tHeY were Less ATtaChed to oRganized rEliGIon. TO tHe Extent tHat churches reSpOnd to that nEeD, thEy will PREsumably Have better prospects for sURvival.

THe qUestiOn thAt religioUs lEaders And SOcioloGists oF reliGiOn fACE is whETHeR moDeRnization wILL evEntuaLlY leaD to secuLarization in the UniTEd STates and other CouNtriES, JuSt aS It HAs iN wESteRN europe. Some argue That a diminIsHEd Emphasis on TRadItIonal doCtrine aBout tHE meaninG of salvatIon, for exaMpLe, or THE exIstence of hEaven and Hell, is merELy an eARlY sign Of gRowing SeCulArism.

among tHE peSsimiSts aboUt The futUre of ReLigion is The writer Rod Dreher, whose New booK The BEneDict OptioN ouTLinEs a survivAl stRategy for CHriStiAns "in A poST-ChriStiaN NaTioN."

"i've beEn goINg around tO DiFfeRENt Colleges, CatHOLIc aNd evaNgeLIcal, giVing Speeches, and at everY Single one of theSe coLLEgeS, thE ProfEsSors tell me the sAme ThING," Dreher sAiD. "The kids are Good kids, BuT They'rE cominG out of FamilieS [ANd] LOcal chUrchEs aNd youth miNisTrIEs knowiNg AlMOst notHing AbOut the HistorIC ChrISTian faith."

 sentiment may have been m ore likely  in E uro peto  pro duce  antagonism to w ardthe church. Government  supp or t  for re ligio n in ma n yw e ste rn  E uro pe a ncount rie s may a lso have w eak en ed the vital i ty  of thosechu rch communit ies .

"Wh en  as tatecre atesa rela t ionshi p with are l igion, religio u s  l eade rs no longer have th e  same impetusto goou t  a n d  ge t p eople exci te d," s a id Schw a de l . "Th e y get money f rom the sta t e t hrough  t axe s , so t hey d on ' t h ave to coll ectmoney fro m thei r  congre g ants."
In th e U nit ed S t at es , b yc ont r as t,r eli gious le ad er s hav e to " h u stle " m ore,  Schw adel said. "T hey  nee d  to  getmorecong re gants  if th eir c hu rch is going to  sur vive." Pe rha ps  as  a  resu l t, Ame ric ans  are mo re comm i tte dt h a nEuropeans to their  c h u rc h congre gation s .
T h e notion  t hat  rel i g iousbeli e fand prac tice h a ve  e volvedwi th mod er niz ati on do e s re main b roadly a ccept e d. As literacy has increased an d sc i enti fic  knowledgehasa dvan ced, su per n atura l exp la n at i ons for development sin the  natu ral world hav e become l e s s  importa nt.R el i gion has never thele ss survive d , Schwad el ar gues, be cause itp l ays a va rie tyofrol e s .
"Religion pr o v ides  p eople w ith  a lotmor e t han  ju st  explanat ions for  t he  n at ura l wor l d," Schw ad elsa id.  "Itp rovide s com muni ty .I t p rovides th e m  wit hfr iend s.It  prov ides the m withpsycholog ica l  sup po rt  and ec onomic suppor t.  It provid es  alot mo r e  than si mply an understanding o f  wherethe y are  inthe world  in  relat ion to the  after life. "
A2 0 16 Pe w st udy  f ound thatm o reAmeri ca ns r eported  growing feelingso f " spirituality, " e venw h il e s a yi n g t he y  we r e  less attachedto organiz ed re ligion. To the  e xtent t hat chu rches respond  to thatneed, the ywill p res umably hav e better  prospect s  fors ur vival .
The qu es tio n tha t reli g iou s lea ders a nd  socio logis ts  of reli gion face is whether mo derniz ation  wi ll eventu all y  le ad to sec ular ization in  th e U nited  St a tes a nd o t he r c o untri es,j ust as it ha s i n we stern Europ e . Som e arg uet hat adimi nished emphasis o n  traditional d octr i n e a bou t  the  m eaning of salv ati on , for exam pl e, or the e xistence  o f  heav en and  hell,  is mer e l ya n earl y si gnof growin g s ec u larism. 
Am o ng the  pes si mistsaboutt he f u t ure of religionis th e write r  Ro d Dre he r, whos e  new  book TheBenedict Op tion o utli nes a  surviv al  strat egy  f or Christi a ns "in apost- Christi an  nat ion ."

"I 'veb e en go ingar oun d to diff e r en t  c ol l ege s, C athol ic  and  evangeli c al, givi ngs peeches ,and a t ever y  s i n gle one of  th ese c o l leges, the prof e ss o rs te ll methe sa me thin g ,"Dr eher sa id. " The kidsare goodk ids ,butthey'reco ming  o utof  families [and]  local c hurchesa n d yout h m i nist r ies kn ow ing almost n othin ga bout th e his toric C h ris tia n f aith ."
 sentiment_may have_been more likely in_Europe to_produce_antagonism toward_the_church. Government support_for religion in_many western European countries_may also have_weakened_the vitality of those church communities.

"When a state creates a relationship with a religion,_religious_leaders no_longer_have_the same impetus to go_out and get people excited,"_said Schwadel._"They get money from the state through taxes,_so_they don't have_to collect money from their congregants."

In the United States,_by contrast, religious leaders have to_"hustle" more, Schwadel_said._"They_need to get more_congregants if their church is going_to survive." Perhaps as a result,_Americans are more committed than Europeans to_their church congregations.

The notion that religious_belief and practice have evolved_with modernization_does remain broadly accepted. As_literacy has increased_and scientific_knowledge has advanced,_supernatural explanations for developments in the_natural world have_become less important. Religion has nevertheless_survived,_Schwadel argues, because_it_plays_a variety_of roles.

"Religion provides_people_with a_lot_more than just explanations for the_natural_world," Schwadel said. "It provides community. It_provides them with friends._It_provides them with psychological_support and economic support. It_provides a lot more than simply_an understanding_of where_they are in the world in relation to the afterlife."

A 2016_Pew study found that more Americans_reported growing feelings of_"spirituality," even_while_saying they were_less_attached to_organized religion. To the extent that churches_respond to_that need, they will presumably have_better prospects for survival.

The_question_that religious leaders and sociologists of_religion face is whether modernization will_eventually lead to secularization in_the_United_States and other countries, just_as it has in western Europe._Some argue that_a diminished emphasis on traditional doctrine about_the_meaning of salvation, for example, or_the_existence of heaven and hell, is_merely_an_early sign of growing secularism.

Among_the pessimists about the future of_religion is the writer Rod Dreher, whose new book_The Benedict Option_outlines a survival strategy for_Christians_"in_a post-Christian nation."

"I've been going around to different colleges, Catholic_and evangelical,_giving speeches, and_at every single one of these colleges, the professors tell_me the same thing," Dreher said. "The_kids are good kids, but they're coming out of families [and]_local churches and youth ministries knowing almost nothing_about the historic Christian faith."
