The Conservative Turn
American Religious History
Explosion of Pentecostalism
•
Popular
music, praise music, “Christian rock”
•
Growing
Hispanic presence
•
Influences
other churches: looser style, less liturgy
Catholic Conservative Turn
•
Pope
Paul VI
•
Humanae Vitae, 1968: no artificial birth control
•
Affirms celibate priesthood
•
Pope
John Paul II (1978-2005), celebrity pope
•
Experience under Nazis and Communists
•
Conservative on personal & sexual morality: Abortion issue
•
Strengthened papal control of bishops & theology (continued by
Benedict XVI, 2005-13)
•
Problems
in the priesthood: shortages and child sex abuse scandals
•
The
Hispanic challenge
Recent Trends
•
Reform
Judaism rediscovers tradition
•
Mainline
denominations riven by controversies
•
Ordination of women
•
Anything having to do with homosexuals (lifestyle, ordination,
marriage)
•
Loss of young people, shrinking numbers
•
Rising
secularism? Disillusionment with overpoliticized churches?
•
Recent poll: 20% “no religion”