Why the Secular Age Is Good for the Church

The United States is not the well-churched nation of Christians that exists in the nostalgic post-war era. Not only are we more religiously pluralistic than ever before, but a growing number of Americans claim no religious affiliation at all. We call them “nones,” which is a term that has never (not once ever) been confused with “nuns.” This raises many questions for the faithful churchgoers (and those like me whose pension depends upon some ecclesial continuity).