At a recent ecumenical gathering on the West Coast, I gave two keynote addresses — one on the challenges of Christian leadership in the twenty-first century; the other on the changing religious and cultural landscape in North America. The common theme between the two talks was managing change.

One of the metaphors employed during these addresses was what we commonly describe as natural disasters — floods, fires, storms, and earthquakes. I say "commonly describe"; because in a larger, systemic view, floods, earthquakes, and such are not disasters, but important processes in renewal and revitalization of the planet. Because they inconvenience human civilization, we label them "bad." Generally, anything that disrupts, discomforts, or disquiets us is viewed as "bad." Since change often accounts for a great deal of disruption and discomfort, we often view change as "bad."

We experience change in (at least) three broad ways:

• earthquake change — sudden and dramatic, tearing down the familiar, throwing up strikingly different contours and vistas. We are unprepared for this change; and all we can do is hold on, react, and pick up the pieces when everything stops shaking.
• flood change — surging, relentless change that builds and spreads, having an impact on everything in its path, soaking and saturating, and often leaving a fertile silt in its wake. We can brace ourselves for this change, but often battening down our hold on the familiar is as devastating as letting go and being swept along.
• glacier change — slow, constant, insidious transformation that completely alters reality, one inch at a time. We hardly notice this change as it happens, but we wake up to its dramatic impact in retrospect.

America once described itself in simple, monotheistic (monoChristological) terms as a "Christian nation." This title existed unchallenged for decades, and was widespread throughout the 1950’s. Some still hold this perception; however, far more people are realizing that we are something more.

There are currently more Muslims than Episcopalians, Presbyterians, or Jews in America. The most diverse center for Buddhism on the planet is Los Angeles, with more than three hundred temples. One of the fastest growing Hindu temples in the world is located in Nashville, Tennessee. Even within Christianity, we are experiencing a proliferation of new choices, approaches, and theologies. Names like "The Post-Apocalyptic Children of the Spiritual Israel," "New Hope Church of the Perpetual Baptism," and the "Feel It, Live It Gospel Temple," are appearing. New Age spiritualities and alternative belief systems burst forth, propelled by the media and the Internet. Dianetics, The Celestine Prophecy, The Seat of the Soul, and other best sellers promote mix-and-match, do-it-yourself faith formulas. The quakes, floods, and glaciers of our time are radically changing our spiritual landscape.

Leaders in our mainline churches and interested spiritual seekers are looking for resources to help them make sense of the new reality, guidebooks to help detail the new maps and charts for exploring this ever-evolving terrain. I would like to recommend four books that are incredibly valuable in describing, defining, interpreting, and understanding our shifting religious reality.

A New Religious America: How a "Christian Country" Has Become the World’s Most Religiously Diverse Nation by Diana L. Eck. (Harper San Francisco, 2001)

Those familiar with Diana Eck know how thorough, balanced, and insightful she is. Her survey of religion in American culture is informative, fascinating, challenging, and humbling. She shows how "glacial" many of the changes have been, so much so that a majority of people in our country are completely unaware of just how much things have actually changed. Refraining from a bias of "what ought to be," Eck offers some stunning information about "what is." This is a deeply engaging and provocative book.

The New American Spirituality (also The Seeker’s Guide in paperback) by Elizabeth Lesser. (Random House, 1999)

This is the smorgasbord of spiritual options. Woven throughout with Lesser’s own experience and spiritual journey, this is a compendium of "what’s out there." If you have ever wondered what seekers are seeking, read Lesser’s book. She covers an enormous amount of territory in fairly short order. An important aspect of the book is that it illustrates a common concern about our spiritual current reality: enormous breadth, little depth. As with most smorgasbords, you can only sample a little if you want to taste a lot. This book will open your eyes to the vastness of our spiritual landscape.

Bobos in Paradise: The New Upper Class and How They Got There by David Brooks. (Simon & Schuster, 2000)

Not a book on religion, per se, this book nonetheless beautifully describes a significant segment of our cultural worldview, explaining how it came to be, and alluding to how it is evolving. The last sixty pages are specifically about spirituality and community, and they offer insightful analysis as to the good, the bad, and the ugly of the way many people approach faith and religion. Take the book in small doses — the cynicism rolls off the page and can be oppressive at times — but the book is incisive in its depiction of American cultural values as we enter the new millennium.

Religion in American Public Life: Living with Our Deepest Differences by Azizah al-Hibri, Jean Bethke Elshtain, and Charles C. Haynes. (Norton, 2001)

In the face of such pluralism and diversity, how can we get along? How can we make our diversity an asset, our pluralism a source of pride? How do we live up to the highest ideals and aspirations of our respective faith traditions in the ways we treat one another? How can we disagree and still become united; remain different, yet honor and respect one another? How can religious leaders model ways of disagreeing honorably as we engage not only one another, but also the leaders in education, politics, the media, and social service organizations? This book challenges readers to ask themselves if there isn’t something more important than being right.

If you are aware of other helpful resources that deal with our shifting cultural and spiritual reality, please share your recommendations by e-mail, ddick@gbod.org. If you have suggestions for articles or reviews, we encourage you to share those as well.

Dan R. Dick is a former staff member of the General Board of Discipleship.

Posted 6-21-01