Western culture is experiencing a period of instability punctuated by forms of cultural and practical decline. This is causing our governments, economies, and social institutions to become increasingly dysfunctional, which, in turn, accelerates the cultural decline.

A crisis of meaning underlies the pervasive instability. The phrase refers to a general sense of disillusionment, alienation, and existential angst that many individuals in Western societies experience.

The West is witnessing the exhaustion of its previously dominant myths, narratives, and values. Western culture has lost its way, its meaning. Without a unifying story, we lack a common purpose.

As a result, chaos is seeping out along the social margins. This crisis manifests itself in various ways, from rising rates of mental illness to social unrest to institutional decay.

At its core, the crisis of meaning stems from the erosion of traditional sources of meaning and purpose. Previously, religion, community, and shared cultural narratives gave individuals a sense of belonging and direction. For over a thousand years, Christianity provided the West with its foundational and core narratives, which informed its self-understanding.

However, Christianity is currently experiencing an upheaval. It is losing its cultural significance and influence in the Western world. Related turmoil includes institutional-denominational decline and theological confusion.

Yes, many of the current forms, institutions, and expressions of Christianity should fade away—they’re flawed, outdated, corrupt, and even abusive. Yet the Christian tradition has a core wisdom that merits our retention and re-engagement. Much of what is best, most humane, and most dignified about the West originates in aspects of this tradition.

We must understand the current cultural dynamics, both practically and intellectually. Our forms of Christianity and church practices no longer work. The time for wishful thinking is over.

A post-Christian culture is one where Christianity is no longer the dominant cultural force, and its values and beliefs no longer hold sway over the majority of people.

In its many forms, Christianity significantly shaped the West in ways most people today don’t realize. It primarily shaped a more humane, compassionate culture. We swim in cultural waters colored by Christian residue—the leftover moral, social, and anthropological influences that remain but continue to fade.

As Christianity wanes, the risk is a return to previous forms of harshness, indifference, and a culture that degrades human dignity rather than affirms it.

Socially, moral relativism is rising, eroding any sense of communal mores and leading to moral nihilism. Genuine prioritization of social cooperation, compassion, and active concern for the poor, oppressed, and marginalized is slackening.

Churches are losing members, and entire denominations are in massive decline. Many forms of Christian community are culturally co-opted and theologically shallow and impotent.

Christian holidays and symbols may still be present culturally, but they are often celebrated in a secularized way, detached from their religious significance.

Overall, increasing numbers no longer identify with the Gospel’s narratives.

While often presented as a neutral and objective worldview, secularism is built upon a foundation of interconnected subnarratives. While not always explicitly stated, these subnarratives are crucial to understanding secularism's underlying assumptions and values.

Secularism’s subnarratives include individualism, progress and technism, scientific reductionism, and materialism. While freedom, including religious freedom, progress, and science, are good things, they alone cannot sustain a unified culture with shared meanings.

A society solely focused on individual rights, material progress, and technological solutions struggles to provide a sense of community, meaning, and shared purpose – essential elements for a unified and sustainable culture.

As a result, some scholars argue that Western culture has entered a "post-secular" phase.

The post-secular phase does not necessarily imply a return to traditional forms of Christianity. However, cultural dynamics resist a religious vacuum.

If we want Christianity to have future influence, we must reformulate our theological foundations and transform how we do community.

The decline of Christianity in the West is a complex phenomenon with multiple contributing factors. Unfortunately, much of the decline is Christianity’s fault.

The Enlightenment, which emphasized reason and empirical evidence, significantly challenged traditional Christian beliefs. Naturalism, which asserts that the natural world is all that exists, undermines Christianity's supernatural claims.

Evidential reasoning, which demands proof and logical justification, questions the validity of faith-based claims. Christian theology often struggles to reconcile its doctrines with scientific discoveries and philosophical critiques, leaving many dissatisfied with its answers.

Many forms of Christianity are often perceived as judgmental and exclusionary, particularly towards women, marginalized groups, and those who hold different beliefs. Its adherence to what some see as outdated "Iron Age" mores on issues like social justice, sexuality, and politics alienates many who view these stances as discriminatory and intolerant.

This perception is exacerbated when churches and Christian communities fail to live up to their ideals of love and compassion, further damaging Christianity's moral credibility. The numerous scandals involving clergy misconduct, financial impropriety, and political entanglement have eroded public trust in Christian institutions and contributed to the perception of Christianity as irrelevant and out of touch.

Much of contemporary Christianity is criticized for its shallow theology, banal ritual practice, and reliance on magical thinking. Instead of grappling with complex theological questions, many churches offer simplistic answers and feel-good messages that fail to address the deep existential concerns of modern individuals.

Further, the prevalence of prosperity gospel and "name it and claim it" theology promotes a shallow, consumerist approach to faith that focuses on material gain rather than spiritual growth. If the culture at your local church is the same as the popular culture, there is a deep problem.

These factors, combined with broader social and cultural changes, have contributed to the decline of Christianity in the West.

Christianity faces a critical juncture in the West, but within this challenge lies an opportunity for renewal and revitalization. Here's how Christianity can once again become a positive influence on culture:

I. Theological Revisioning: A crucial step forward involves a courageous re-examination of Christian theology. This doesn't mean abandoning core beliefs but rather engaging in a rigorous intellectual exploration that integrates the best of human knowledge. A renewed theology would embrace:

• Philosophical soundness: Addressing the challenges of modern philosophy and scientific advancements, engaging with critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning.

• Mythopoetic language: Recognizing the power of metaphor and narrative to convey profound truths while acknowledging their symbolic nature.

• Integration of knowledge: Embracing scientific understanding, historical insights, and contemporary perspectives to enrich and deepen theological understanding.

II. Inclusive Communities of Integrity and Care: Christianity's historical success was primarily due to its ability to create strong, supportive communities. Theology didn’t win over the West, nor did miracles. To regain cultural relevance, it must foster:

• Radical inclusivity: Embracing people of goodwill of all backgrounds and circumstances, fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance.

• Integrity and authenticity: Living out Christian values with honesty and transparency, ensuring that actions align with words and beliefs.

• Mutual support and care: We should provide genuine care and compassion for one another, creating a network of support that helps individuals navigate life's challenges.

• Countercultural ethics: Promoting values like compassion, mercy, forgiveness, and service, offering an alternative to the individualism and materialism of secular culture.

III. Humility and Invitation: A revitalized Christianity must abandon any pretense of superiority or triumphalism. Instead, it should approach the world with:

• Humility and openness: Recognizing that Christianity doesn't have all the answers and being willing to learn from others.

• An invitational approach: Offering the Christian message as an invitation to be considered, not a set of fantasies or rules to be imposed.

• Eradication of self-righteousness: Acknowledging human fallibility and avoiding judgmental attitudes towards those with different beliefs.

By embracing these principles, Christianity can shed its outdated baggage and emerge as a force for positive change. It can offer a compelling vision of human flourishing that integrates intellectual rigor, ethical living, and spiritual depth, providing meaning and purpose in a rapidly changing world.

Be warned. Achieving the above will be challenging and discomforting. The pushback from those wedded to old ways now decaying will be fierce.