In the contemporary, information-age-world we have today... it's a fair statement that religious service attendance is dropping, particularly among millennials.
And maybe it should be that way.
Hear me out, first.
Historically, churches were about what everyone knows about: the town's moral center, where everyone came once or twice a week to be led and to congregate and to quickly share amongst themselves, prior to a sermon and homily. While that still goes on today, younger people tend to view church more as a "formality," a place to go when major family events happen, holidays, etc. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
But, I think it also speaks to the evolution of society -- and particularly speaks to the fact that religion and morality are not only not mutually exclusive, but one can certainly have one with, without, or in parallel to, the other.
People gravitate toward, and form communities. Church and weekly services are still certainly a community that has cause, power and meaning toward people -- but, people are also finding new, more contemporary communities to base life around; particularly in forms of service to the community. Scouting, volunteering for school systems/universities, military auxiliaries like the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Civil Air Patrol, tutoring services, etc.
Maybe the evolution of other community units with church and worship services to the status of primus inter pares is not only a natural progression of society, but also a way to show how we as a society, continue to evolve, embrace culture in its many forms. Moreover, that life is a tapestry of colors, patterns, styles and makeup.
What do you think?
Monsignor Samuel Cummings is Chancellor of the Universal Life Church of Michigan.
This was cross-posted to the ULC Online Forum