Excellent and hopeful book on the future of Christianity. Thoroughly and thoughtfully researched by a veteran religion journalist, this book both points out the problems facing churches in the current environment and also points to possible paths to renewal.

For my Tennessee friends, a number of "scenes" chronicled by this author are set in East and Middle Tennessee. The last few pages are set in Tennessee and are beautifully written.

A fascinating overview of the current shifting sands of the religious landscape in the United States. Veteran religion reporter Bob Smietana combines demographic data, survey results, and numerous interviews with churchgoers and clergy to tell a story of what's going on in American churches these days, how and why the demographics are changing and people are leaving churches, and why the decline in organized religion will negatively impact our country's social fabric.

Anyone who's attended or stopped attending church in the last decades will probably nod in recognition at the stories of shrinking elderly congregations that have become inwardly focused and lose interest in outreach to their communities; exploding megachurches siphoning membership from smaller congregations; church communities becoming strongholds of cultural and political "mega-identity;" fights over Covid policies and racial justice movements; the loss of willing volunteers and erosion of social cohesion within congregations; conflicts over church culture and practice. If Smietana's research is any indication, it's not just your church. These same conflicts and shifts are happening all over.

One limitation is that this work largely focuses on the usual suspects in mainstream US religion reporting: white Protestant evangelicalism - mostly of the Baptist, Pentecostal, and nondenominational variety. Smietana includes a few interviews with mainline Protestants and mentions a rise in multiethnic congregations, but there's little to no mention of Catholicism, non-white denominations, or other church groups that tend to fall under the radar. That said, I found a lot of the themes here resonated within my own church tradition (Lutheran), even though we don't fall within the general scope of this book, so there is probably enough here to spark reflection and discussion within any faith tradition.

Perhaps most alarming is the warning of what happens as secularism takes over and "disorganized disbelief and isolated spirituality are on the rise." Smietana paints a bleak picture of a culture of individual practitioners whose spirituality does not lead to community, and who fill that social void with political action. Such loose institutional connections and preference for government solutions to social ills, he argues, cannot replace the current massive network of faith-based social programs, ranging from hospitals and disaster relief teams to food banks and refugee welcome programs.

Overall, an insightful book with lots to chew on. Highly recommend to believers and "nones" alike.

Mostly Solid Examination - If From A Single Worldview. This is one of those examinations of an issue where the examination seems mostly solid, but is also clear that it is from a particular worldview - and the reader's own feelings about that worldview will likely determine how much the reader enjoys or agrees with the author's reasonings and recommendations. Specifically, Smeitana's ultimate point is that older white churches are out, and younger multi-ethnic churches are in. Mostly using a more case study approach with a few more general facts thrown in (and with a scant bibliography of just about 12% of the text, rather than the 25-33% or so that is more typical of more scholarly based examinations in my experience), this book tells the tale of where the American Church finds itself now, what Smietana thinks got it here, and how he believes it can adapt into the future. And again, all of this seems objectively pretty reasonable, and how you view his particular slant will likely determine whether you agree more or less with it.

Ultimately the two stars deducted here - while I considered a third star deduction for the scant bibliography, I ultimately leaned against it due to the power of the case studies and clear direct investigations - were for proof texting and for large discussions of COVID. The proof texting was a complete brain fart, as he really only does it twice (vs other "Christian Living" books doing it *far* more often), but it is an automatic star deduction *every* time I see it, in my own personal war against the practice. The discussions of COVID largely couldn't be avoided for anyone writing a book about where the American Church is in 2022, with the COVID disruptions of the past couple of years shifting the landscape in this arena at least as much as within any other, and objectively I can acknowledge this. However, *I DO NOT WANT TO READ ABOUT COVID*. Period. And therefore I wage a one man war against any and every book that mentions it as well.

Ultimately this is a book that I think it is important for anyone interesting in American Christianity and where it is and can go to consider, as there really are a lot of interesting and compelling discussions within it and points to consider, no matter your own religious or political persuasions. For this reason, it is very much recommended.

Over the past decades, millions of Americans have left their churches, disappointed. While most Americans still believe in God, fewer and fewer are participating in organized Christianity. (170/3490) Smietana knows the world without organized religion would not be a better place. His book is one that suggests organized religion can continue to exist, though in a reorganized manner.

Smietana has divided his book into three informative sections. First, he looks at where organized religion is today, its decline. Next, he takes a deep look into why people are leaving, often relating personal stories. Finally, he relates stories of churches who have adapted to the changing religious landscape. Business as usual for the organized church will no longer work. White churches will need to be more diverse to be sustainable in the future, for example. (1920/3490) Some churches may need to merge.

Smietana concludes his book by reminding church leaders of decisions that will need to be made. Will a church seek serving the community or will it seek power in that community, for example. Things cannot continue the way they are. Churches will need to seriously think about survival and the work it will take to accomplish it.

I highly recommend this book. I think every pastor and church leader serious about the survival of their church would do well to read it.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.