Religion in the American Story

All around us are signs of anomie, loneliness and pessimism, driven by economic, technological, cultural and political realities. America went through a similar period of upheaval and discontentment in the early 19th century, and that period gave rise to the Second Great Awakening, a massive upsurge of new ecstatic, emotional and personal religious movements, which in turn gave rise to the temperance and abolition movements. Are we entering an analogous phase of spiritual exploration? The statistics remain unclear, but news outlets like the NYT, CNN and Fox News are all reporting a surprising uptick of religiosity and spirituality among younger Americans. This development, if genuine, accords with Charles Taylor’s argument that our secular age portends not the death of religion but rather an expanding constellation of spiritual and religious practices.

To explore these dynamics of our moment, the Public Culture Project is hosting a conversation with Governor Spencer Cox of Utah, whose own Mormon tradition was a central product of the Second Great Awakening, and Michelle Sanchez, Professor of Theology at Harvard Divinity School. The conversation will be conducted according to Chatham House Rules, and moderated by Harvard Professor of Literary Criticism James Wood, who will frame the conversation with reflections on American culture and religion. 

Event image is "Great Awakening" by Herbert Gustave Schmalz via Wikiart.