Future Christian

Why did religion decline in America—and was it really driven by hostility toward faith?

In this episode, Loren talks with sociologist Christian Smith about his book Why Religion Went Obsolete and the cultural, technological, and institutional changes that reshaped American religion over the last several decades. Smith, well known for coining the term “moralistic therapeutic deism,” argues that religion did not simply decline or get pushed out by secularism—it became culturally obsolete.

The conversation explores Smith’s argument that the early 1990s marked a major cultural turning point, driven by technological shifts, generational change, and evolving social expectations. Rather than abandoning spirituality altogether, many Americans sought meaning, identity, and transcendence elsewhere—in politics, digital communities, sports, and forms of what Smith calls “re-enchantment culture.”

They also discuss the continuing influence of moralistic therapeutic deism, the role of scandal and self-inflicted wounds within religious institutions, and why Christianity’s challenges may be more internal and cultural than simply ideological or political.

Together they explore:

• The lasting influence of moralistic therapeutic deism
• Why 1991 marked a cultural tipping point
• “Re-enchantment” and the rise of alternative spiritualities
• Religious scandal and Christianity’s self-inflicted wounds
• Why authenticity matters for younger generations
• Politics, polarization, and religion’s public witness
• What churches can learn from cultural change and loneliness

Christian Smith is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology Emeritus and Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Society at the University of Notre Dame. Smith is well known for his research focused on religion, adolescents and emerging adults, and social theory. Smith received his MA and PhD from Harvard University in 1990 and his BA from Gordon College in 1983. He was a Professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for 12 years before his move to Notre Dame.

Mentioned Resources:

📖 His book: Why Religion Went Obsolete 

🌐 Notre Dame Website: https://christiansmith.nd.edu/

🎧 Episodes Referenced: Ryan Burge

 

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Future Christian Team:

Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer

Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host

Dennis Sanders – Producer

 

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