Where Americans Find Meaning in Life Has Changed

by

A United Methodist Insight Column

Welcome to a post-holiday column that aims both to catch up on the news and look forward as the new Christian year commences with Advent. This liturgical season is given to serious contemplation about God's intention to redeem all of creation through the coming of Jesus, the Christ. Set against the American social landscape, Advent gives Christians the spiritual opportunity for some deep thinking amid the holiday hustle.

For starters, Pew Research Center reports that Americans' views on life's meaning have changed over the past four years following the COVID-19 pandemic, political turmoil, extreme weather events and more crises with which to cope than our brains can process. Some notes from the survey:

  • "Americans have become more likely to mention society as a source of meaning in life, but much of this emphasis is negative."
  • "Americans – especially Republicans – have become more likely to mention freedom and independence as a source of meaning in life." United Methodists can appreciate this perspective in the wave of disaffiliations across the U.S. church, but why are so many congregations casting off their UMC ties only to join the more restrictive Global Methodist Church?
  • "Most Americans are no more likely to mention difficulties or challenges than they were four years ago, although older adults are an exception." As an official geezer, I understand this perspective every time I make another typographical error or drop something.

Contrast the Pew Research findings with this article by Bryce Ward from The Washington Post: Americans are choosing to be alone. Here’s why we should reverse that.

Economist Ward writes: " Our social lives were withering dramatically before COVID-19. Between 2014 and 2019, time spent with friends went down (and time spent alone went up) by more than it did during the pandemic." He concludes: "It is too soon to know the long-term consequences of this shift, but it seems safe to assume that the decline of our social lives is a worrisome development."

What are our congregations doing to reverse this "go-it-alone" trend? Especially during the holiday season when so many of us are vulnerable to "holiday blues?"

What 'New Age' spirituality?

Speaking of social connections, Public Religion Research Institute, which likes to go by the acronym PRRI, reports: "Most Americans Endorse at Least Some Aspects of the New-Age Spiritual Movement." Here's PRRI's take on it:

"Taylor Orth for YouGov America reports that mystical thinking has taken on new forms, as Americans have moved away from organized religion in recent years, noting that this movement is embedded in the belief systems of many Americans. Nearly nine in 10 Americans (87%) say they believe in at least one of 20 new-age spiritual beliefs, and almost half (45%) say they believe in at least five. The largest share of Americans said they believe in karma of all other beliefs. When asked about the core principles of new-age spiritualism, which overlaps with other religious and cultural worldviews, including Christianity, the largest share of people agreed that 'everything is interconnected' and that 'everything happens for a reason' (69% and 68%, respectively). Finally, when asked about their views on the relationship between spirituality and science, more say that the two do not contradict one another (47%) than say they do (23%)."

As a professional spiritual director, I have a problem with the framework of this assessment, mainly because many of the so-called "New Age" spiritual practices are actually "old-agey" in Christianity and other faith traditions. Giving lip-service to this profound reality with a throwaway line about "overlaps with other religious and cultural worldviews" gives short shrift to the depth of these spiritual practices that have sustained disciples for thousands of years.

This latest survey reinforces the understanding that American spirituality is "a mile wide but an inch deep," as the saying goes. I counsel going deeper into one's own tradition – especially the riches of Christianity – to understand and appreciate fully the place where all spiritual quests intersect. In that way, we can be true to our own beliefs while respecting and appreciating those of others. End of rant.

Climate crisis wrap-ups

I've been trying to write this column since before Thanksgiving, but the press of United Methodist news and a short holiday schedule kept pushing this task to the back burner. Fortunately, dear readers, you weren't deprived of news from the U.N. climate change summit COP27, thanks to on-the-scene videos from UMC agency representatives and follow-up articles by activists such as the Rev. Sharon Delgado (see her article here).

Since then, however, details about the climate crisis that we journalists call "evergreen" – a truly ironic designation give climate change's nature – are still relevant.

All four seasons are warming

Climate Central reports that "As our climate warms, all four seasons are warming too—but at different rates across the U.S." See the helpful graphic above.

  • Winter was the fastest warming season for 74% of the 246 U.S. locations analyzed by Climate Central.
  • Locations with the fastest winter warming since 1970 were found from coast to coast, but were clustered in the Northeast and the Great Lakes region—disrupting snowfall patterns.
  • Fall and spring were the fastest warming seasons for many western U.S. locations, raising risks of longer pest and allergy seasons as well as earlier snowmelt stretching water supplies thin. 
  • Some locations in Washington, Oregon, Texas, and Florida saw summers warm most quickly, increasing the risks associated with wildfire, heat extremes, and poor air quality.

If you don't know Climate Central yet, get acquainted. It's doing a terrific job of tracking climate change and reporting it in ways that are easily understandable for faith-based activists.

Have a sustainable Christmas

Here's an "EcoTip" from the Desert Southwest Annual Conference:

"This Christmas, try out permanent gift wrapping. The options are varied: kitchen towels/napkins, fashion scarves, wine bags, small curtains, tote bags, and boxes/baskets of all types, in seasonal colors of course. If this is your first year for a non-disposable wrap, include a note: “Use, reuse, or donate, as you wish!”  Kick up your eco-cred a notch by sourcing your materials from charity thrift stores. You’ll find it adds joy and creativity to your gift-wrapping sessions, Christmas, and every gifting occasion!" Thanks to Kate Kosse, a member of the DSC Earth Care Task Force, for this helpful info.

Migrant help needed in Chicago

The Northern Illinois Conference reports:

Continued Help Needed for Migrants

"Thousands of immigrants have arrived in Chicago on buses from Texas over the past few months. We have received information from World Relief about more community help needed. One way they are looking for help in the community is to find affordable housing leads by connecting with landlords willing to rent to these families and individuals who generally do not have a job or a credit history. Another way to consider providing more extended-term support for asylum seekers in our community is through World Relief's Asylum Project. They provide legal services, case management, and housing support/community connections to asylum seekers who arrive in Chicago in many ways beyond the group of people who have come recently on the buses. A specific way churches can help a family is through the H.O.M.E. program, which invites churches to provide six months of housing assistance and form a volunteer team to connect with the family relationally.

"If you would like to help, visit umcnic.org/Chicagomigrants for updates from NIC's Refugee Coordinator."

A Christian's Guide to Planet Earth

Our friends at the ecumenical ministry Creation Justice will sponsor a talk with author Betsy Painter about her book, "A Christian's Guide to Planet Earth," at 6 pm EST on Thursday, Dec. 8.

The announcement describes Ms. Painter's book: "Drawing on science and Scripture, the book A Christian's Guide to Planet Earth: Why It Matters and How to Care for It offers a hope-filled, reader-friendly guide to help navigate questions about caring for God's world." Participants can purchase a copy of the book when registering. Register

Media Mentions as of Nov. 30, 2022

Colorado Springs reckons with past after gay club shooting - KTAR News

Focus on the Family in Colorado vandalized with graffiti days after Club Q tragedy - WFIN

WATCH: 'More than just to feed bellies' - Hot Springs Sentinel Record

Guest Opinion: Two sides of UMC schism can still share common ground – Bay to Bay News

Letter to the Editor: Is this what Christian love looks like? – Amarillo (TX) Globe-News

Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. This content may be reproduced elsewhere with credit to Insight.