Capitalism is synonymous with creative destruction, which is the very negation of conservatism, because it promises endless change and perpetual insecurity. Nevertheless, Ross Douthat argued in Sunday’s NYT column that the American historical record shows that the neoliberal embrace of a fairly raw version of capitalism can’t be the reason for the decline of Christianity in this country. Is he right?
He makes a strong case. I would say that the history of American Christianity reflects a pattern of periodic booms and busts, with the line generally trending down over the last two centuries. The loss of ground over the last 20 years is too obvious to be ignored, however, with unfortunate implications for our political system. What is causing it, if not the dollar store version of capitalism?
I would say two things. First, the impacts of cable TV and the internet, which have resulted in the replacement of a genuine sense of community with an ersatz social media version based on shared loathing of the enemy; and second, the increasing identification of Christianity with the right wing of the GOP. Why would millennials flock to a religion whose members offer anger, hatred, bigotry, insurrection, and science denial instead of hope, redemption, and love for your neighbor? What reasonable person sees Rush Limbaugh and Donald Trump as modern day prophets?