Evolution Of Religion In 1970's America

Before beginning my religious studies, I held this notion that religion was steadfast and consistent—the religion that exists today has always existed in that form. However, once I began looking at the history of religion and the ways in which it ebbs and flows through different cultures, I quickly learned that religion is ever-shifting. Theology is inherently tied to culture. Therefore, as American culture has changed, so too has the way it views and interacts with religion. Since the 1970’s America has seen an ever-growing increase in those who describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated. In the book American Mainline Religion, Wade Clark Roof’s and William McKinney’s sources show a 350% increase in those who cite their religious affiliation …show more content…
For an in-depth explanation, we can look to the work of Wade Clark Roof, whose books A Generation of Seekers and Spiritual Marketplace offer detailed explanations for why and how he believes baby-boomers caused such upheaval. First and foremost, Roof points to the 1960’s and the political climate of the time as a major factor. Roof’s source for this information is personal interviews he conducted with hundreds of baby-boomers, all of who recalled the turbulence of the 1960’s with an almost traumatic reverence. This was the generation who grew up after World War II, a war which seemed to make the entire world feel a little smaller and more connected than it ever had before. With technology like television and airplanes becoming more widely available for everyone in America, it became harder for groups to feel isolated and exclusionary. During this booming time following the war, a series of earth-shattering events occurred that were made even more anxious in the climate of the rising Cold War. The first important event for us in this traumatic decade was the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He was a new President who was young, charismatic, and full of potential. “Many children wondered how the nation would get along without its leader,” writes Roof. “The feeling of loss seemed to persist longer for children... Kennedy had been a symbol of youthful leadership, someone who had a vision of an American future, and who had a caring and personal touch.” All of this was destroyed, piece by piece, as the video of his assassination became a mainstay on national nightly news. “After Kennedy’s death, optimism faded, as more and more people became disillusioned with the prospects for both peace and a plentiful life for all Americans.” This disillusionment of peace was corroded further by the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. King’s assassination was seen by many young