Many Americans are moving away from congregations, but not necessarily from religion – movies, plays, art and social media fill the gap
To understand what religion looks like in 21st-century America, researchers may need to ask different questions.
In the United States, many individuals are distancing themselves from traditional religious congregations, yet their engagement with religion persists in other forms. This shift is evident in the growing number of "nones" – those who are not affiliated with any religious group. However, the nature of their religious involvement is evolving, moving away from institutional participation and towards leisure activities such as movies, plays, art, and social media.
To grasp the current state of religion in 21st-century America, researchers may need to adopt different questions and methods of inquiry. By examining the leisure time activities that people engage in to learn about religion, scholars can uncover a vibrant ecosystem of individuals exploring Jewish history, religious practices, and representations of Jewish communities.
For example, a young Jewish woman in her 20s, named Emma, did not belong to a synagogue or have a Jewish partner. She did not observe Jewish rituals regularly, yet she still demonstrated a strong interest in Judaism. She frequently visited Jewish websites, listened to Jewish music, read books on Jewish topics, and attended a retreat for young Jewish adults focused on learning Torah while doing yoga.
Emma's experience demonstrates that individuals can maintain a meaningful connection to their religious identity through non-traditional means.
Similarly, Joan, a middle-aged woman from Connecticut, felt that traditional Jewish institutions were not welcoming to single people without families. Instead, she turned to Jewish-themed TV shows and movies on Netflix, as well as social media communities, to connect with others who shared her interests. This exemplifies how individuals can find a sense of belonging and community through cultural experiences that extend beyond traditional religious settings.
The research conducted by scholars of Judaism and education sheds light on the diverse ways in which people learn about religion. Through theater, concerts, social media, and other leisure activities, individuals engage with Jewish history, religious practices, and representations of Jewish communities. These cultural experiences serve as central avenues for learning and community-building, rather than peripheral activities.
However, the challenge for religion researchers is to develop more nuanced ways of understanding how people explore religious themes and practices beyond traditional institutions. By doing so, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of how contemporary Americans live their religious lives, capturing the complexity and diversity of modern religious engagement.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
