The Most Popular Religion in America
What do you think is the number one most popular religion in America?
I’ll give you a hint: its not Christianity.
Its also not Islam, Judiasm, Buddhism, Taoism, or the Home Shopping Network.
According to Christian Smith, a sociologist at Notre Dame, the primary expression of faith in our day–at least for young adults–is what he calls “Moral Therapeutic Deism.”
This religion is characterized by five beliefs:
–There is a God who created earth and watches over it
–God wants people to be nice, fair and good (as it taught in the Bible and most other religions)
–The central goal of life is to be happy and feel good about yourself
–God doesn’t need to be involved in your life except when there’s a problem that needs Celestial Performance Enhancement
–Good people go to heaven when they die.
This is a religion that is far more about comfort, individualism and conformity that it is about meaning, calling, and sacrifice. What makes it particularly challenging is that it is not offered through a new MTD movement or denomination. It is actually catching on and being practiced in churches where we leaders think of ourselves as historically Christian.
It cannot sustain a life.
It cannot build a community.
It cannot call people to take up a cross.
We want something more.
One other piece of bad news has to do with where young adults learn MTD.
I’ll give you a hint. Its mostly from older adults. These are themes that have captured our culture in such deep ways that we’re hardly aware of them.
The good news is that God is much bigger than Moral Therapeutic Deism. He has a way of showing us what we idolize.
–when someone goes through a crisis or pain;
–when someone is inspired to devote their life to a cause greater than themselves;
–when someone is called to sacrifice their own comfort or success for a hurting world;
–when someone engages in the intense study of the God revealed by the writers of the Scriptures;
–when someone grows bored with a faith that is nice and comfortable and distant–
then God is once more breaking through.
MTD is just one more on a long list of idols.
But, somewhere deep down, the human heart keeps hungering for the real deal.
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- - 28. Apr, 2010
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[...] The Most Popular Religion in America 5 05 2010 John Ortberg has a good article on the most popular religion in America. It isn’t what you may think. It’s Moral Therapeutic Deism. [...]



I came across this idea several years ago when Smith’s book was first published (I think that was 2005), and it has revolutionized the way I preach and write.
You say young adults learn this mostly from older adults. I fear they actually learn it from preachers and Sunday School teachers!
Like Dallas Willard says, “Your system is perfectly designed to produce the results you are getting.”
Present company excluded…of course.
I cannot say what causes me more concern, the moral relativist “feel good theism” you describe in your excellent post or the continued anti-Christian sentiment that exists not only in so many countries around the globe, but that continues to flourish right here at home.
Looking forward to your next post…
I’ve never heard it called MTD, However, it does seem to permeate throughout our society. As a renewed Christian of 4 years & through God’s grace, I’ve been able to re-build my relationship with God. Unfortunately, I brought up my family without God and I deal with those consequences as my wife & kids in there late 20’s think I’ve found a crutch for life, when it’s really an incredible relationship.. However, of the five MTD belief that are mention, only one prevails in my families thoughts, and that’s –The central goal of life is to be happy and feel good about yourself.
The belief is, if you can do this, you will be good and return incarnated as “something” as God only exist in the mind.
Only the Lord can change us and I pray for my family (and let them know it)that they fine him sooner than latter.
Moral Therapeutic Deism sounds like a description of the “lukewarm” Christian described in chapter 3 of Revelations.
This really shouldn’t surprise anyone.
The politics of religion has pushed every one who claims to be even slightly rational or marginally involved in science and technology completely out of most churches.
Many of those remaining left due to boredom and the absolute evaporation of purpose after the purpose driven life of the health and wealth gospel completely evaporated.
This was followed by the collapse of the right wing political gospel leaving a lot of ministers and church leaders feeling cantankerous and acting ugly.
After the price of gas got too high for anyone to afford to go to church anyway, the attraction of the mega church vanished.
Then someone realized they could watch the service on their own broadband easier than driving forty miles to sit for an hour watching a service on a low quality screen in a breakout room, mostly by themselves.
In the past couple of years someone started a lets change meeting times shell game which has progressed to the point that no one knows or cares when services are anymore.
So we have progressed from several collections of people grossly over magnifying our differences to a loose collection of people united by a few common strands of the faith they have left.
So now we are all on a journey to a place where the legitimate differences are minimized out of existence.
And who is the most surprised, most confused, and most responsible for this fine mess? As a church leader primping in front of the fogged up mirror, you get three guesses. The first two don’t count.
If only more than 10 people would read about this..
I came across this idea several years ago when Smith’s book was first published (I think that was 2005), and it has revolutionized the way I preach and write.
You say young adults learn this mostly from older adults. I fear they actually learn it from preachers and Sunday School teachers!
Like Dallas Willard says, “Your system is perfectly designed to produce the results you are getting.”
Present company excluded…of course.
Really interesting writing. Honest..
Very awesome article. Truely.
johnortberg.com’s done it once more. Superb post!
Really interesting writing. Honest..
Very good post!
true.
Many churches gave up preaching sin, repentance and the living presence of God through the lordship of Christ over a 100 years ago here in the UK. The most popular religion over here now appears to do with getting drunk at the weekend.
How did we get to that? We switched to morality, respectibilty and being nice to the neighbours, which meant people liked us more and stopped believing. My Grandfather’s generation would have believed something like the MTD, and my Father’s generation rejected it as powerless. Just avoid the preaching of the Apostles in favour of ‘popular’ or ‘respectable’ topics and you’ll the same result we have over here, an anemic church unable to reproduce their faith because we have no intimacy with God. Thank God, there are exceptions, but it would be a gross exaggeration to say that the majority even hold to MTD over here any more, more a materialistic hedenism combined with a bemused hope that there might just be something more, or someone more, out there…
The truth is never palatable, in my experience. People will thus tend to reject the truth in favour of a more pleasant alternative. Christianity has all the nice compassion and love and morality, but the place where you really see that sort of thing is in the ugliest of circumstances. And Christianity doesn’t really give an easy explanation for those ugly circumstances, so it gets rejected in favour of MTD, as you call it. In Canada, we just call it joining the United Church.
I read the article in question on MTD, and while I agree that it is happening, I cannot for the life of me understand why it is considered so bad. I think that MTD is a positive phenomenon, and a very healthy belief system for a person to have in the modern world.
Wouldn’t it also be fair to say that “It doesn’t cause endless slaughter for the sake of itself”?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a Christian and proudly declare and stand up for my faith. I will not, like so many other belief systems, demand that you see things my way “or else”. I don’t see why people can’t just live and let live. So many “Christians” are self righteous; “You have to be Christian, or you’ll go to hell”. I don’t believe that it is my position to condemn others, I’m pretty sure that’s God’s job.
If you want to believe you’re a Christian, then stop telling other people what they need to believe.
I find that your theory is rather interesting and indeed does have some merit, the current view of God and religion as it relates to Him is that we don’t need religion in a formal sense. I disagree, however, with your claim that the views of those who reject the religion in favor of Faith in God don’t have as close a relationship with Him as those who do go to a building they call church. A single building being called church is good for some, but being that God is infinite and absolute it seems foolish and prideful to put limits and restrictions on how one worships Him. I worship with every breath I take because I live out my worship, I am not the only person who is tired of the large oppressive church organization and who wishes to seek out the path to God best suited for me, I don’t claim to know the right way for you, I don’t even claim to know the right way for me, but I’m willing to let others decide for themselves. Have a nice day and may you find peace, love, and epic stories on your journey through life.
I find this to be generally true. Most Christians I know fall into this group- and still think of themselves as Christians.
However, I would like to add that I don’t find this to be a bad thing. Indeed, what I would change- rather than have these people become ‘real’ Christians- would be their affiliation. Let them believe as they do, and stop calling it Christianity. Because the truth of the matter is that Christianity is irrevocably flawed, it would be terrible for the world if it were true, and so it is a great relief to me that it isn’t.
this Moral Relative Deism, by contrast, is merely wishful thinking- which is not nearly so harmful as legitimate Christianity. Let these masses of wishful thinkers cut ties with your stone age garbled nonsense and we’ll all be better off.
I must say that I too have fallen “victim” to this idealistic way of thinking, but I called it “Convenient Christianity”. The act of summarizing all religions and extracting what I found necessary to be “a good person”. I believe Jesus was everything he said he was so I must be a Christian. “Do I really need to be the hands and feet? Will God really notice if don’t follow the directions he has laid out? I mean there are close to 7 billion people on the planet, he has to be overwhelmed with that kind of workload, right?”.
I have watched my daughter lie in a hospital bed for the last 33 days, her inability to comprehend “Why” (my daughter is 10, cognitively she falls between 6 and 9 months). Being her father and advocate I ask for her. “Why my child? Why her, she is perfectly sinless?”. Then the realization of how I have been living hit me, it is not enough just to be a good person and be happy and feel good about yourself. There is more. There is sacrifice. There is reality.
Jesus said “Follow Me” not “be a good guy and make friends along the way”. He was specific. “Follow Me”. I feel the path Jesus traveled is a little grown over, the path least taken by his “followers”. Just imagine if we all asked the question so often seen on those trendy little rubber band bracelets “What Would Jesus Do?”. Then imagine if we lived that question. “Follow Me!”
It is of my simple opinion that the MTD flies in the opposite direction of such truth found in much of Bible, loss and sacrifice is inevitable and it hurts.
MTD seems to be based on the fear of teaching what life is. We grow and become older, a simple statement full of meaning, relationships, and seasons of change.
Could it be said that much of MTD is based on a lack of education? Would a person who was exposed to more loss have an understanding that therapy is not about being “nice” at all nor is it about a God being “nice”?
Might it be that MTD is based much on a consumeristic way of living? With so many resources readily available, humanity (or maybe those with the means) believe that God is to be nice and provide all they need, when it is appropriate.
Much of the world is suffering. Really. Everything from war to economics. No person is untouchable. That’s really hard to except, especially when Democracy has done so much to promise us we would be untouchable, or at least wealth has tried to.
The hope found in Hebrews: we have the promise of the High Priest who welcomes us into His rest, in all things and all seasons of life.
Thanks for letting me rant.
Wow! The some of the comments here are just as revealing as the subject piece itself.
Ooops! Please edit my last comment : )
Interesting phenomenon. I see this to be the future of religious thought in the western world, and in my opinion that’s a good thing. People who feel the need to believe in a god can believe in this mostly harmless one instead of the one who advocates genocide and intolerance.
Oh I read about that in a book somewhere…Moral Therapeutic Deism…or was it at Renovare? Can’t remember…but I totally agree. I think I even have to constantly evaluate my faith for tendencies of MTD in my own life that I don’t always see. Thanks for the reminder…
This article sums up exactly why Christianity is seen with the stigma of close-minded moronic sheep. MTD is a step in the right direction for most people, because they are acknowledging a deity. How can you knock that? Just because it may or may not be God as we as Christians know Him. I’m consistently amazed by the old guard mind-set of Christianity that, if you’re not miserable, you’re not doing it right. I know who my Lord and Savior is, and He died to set me free, not to enslave me to a life of ritual and repentance. I am washed clean by His blood and that is the end. To sin is human, and as long as you are willing to look your savior in the face and admit to those sins, then nothing else matters. Pious Christians are destroying the faith they claim to have. We all say, I would have loved to have been able to hang out with the savior, but the question we should be asking ourselves is would Jesus want to hang out with us. He never judged people who didn’t believe in Him, he didn’t claim to be superior to ANYONE. So I think it’s time Christians took an honest look at themselves and pondered the very simple question. “Would Christ have wanted to know me as the person I am?”…or more exactly, “What would Christ say about this article?”. My Christ would ask you, “Why do you hate those that have not come to know me yet?”
Could I see a source for the Christian Smith study please?
I thank John for this post. This is a “better” description of the emergent church and any other “sloppy” Christian movement out there.
The person who helped lead me to faith in Christ, also disliked going to church because he wanted to “feel good.” It’s not that feeling good is a bad thing, it’s more a question of what are we doing with our relationship with God?
Are we engaging the culture around us in a way that fully communicates God’s Truth and forces them to examine the Bible for themselves? God Himself must contend with the individual. We only serve to point others to Him.
After all, it’s not about us, it IS all about GOD.
You know what annoys me? I sent this post to 5 people, all Christians, and every single one of them thought that John was endorsing and condoning MTD. And told me I was wrong when I pointed out that he wasn’t.
@TOV :
http://www.scribd.com/doc/7699752/Moralistic-Therapudic-Deism-by-Christian-Smith
yeah, Christianity has not laid out the details of living life being a follower of Jesus(outside of a church). It seems like as Christians we are constantly caught up in the endless cycle of Sinning, acceptance of Sin and repentance. Actually Christianity promises salvation, meaning all our sins are forgiven once when Jesus laid down his life on the cross. But what it fails to address is how do we then live life, knowing this, since we still deal with sin everyday at some level and we have to repent for it.
The MTD or whatever it is termed, seems to me like a natural reaction by lot of Christians to get out of that mental struggle you have to deal, within in the cycle of Sin and Repentance.
We completely agree that many people in society today live their lives that only honors God with a lukewarm heart and lifestyle. Their faith is only limited to the things that are comfortable and easy. Even many Christian church goers have adopted this non-committed attitude towards their own faith. We believe that all followers of God should live a passionate lifestyle that craves for the voice of God in our lives. If we continue to follow God’s command passionately, we can change the current statistic by challenging and inspiring people to live a dedicated life to God.
Excellent! We’ve done biblical counseling for 20 years. I’m always astonished to see the newest “spin” that people bring into the office. Because of the beliefs held in your post, we have too many Christians that are essentially dating God… they want all of the benefits of being married without the commitment… mostly because they don’t understand the truth of the scriptures… and that comes down from the top… not God, from the Pastors. The good news is that we have had an increasing number of pastors asking us to train them and their staff. Great post!
Some people would like to fit in their lives in their relationship with God and not God into their lives…
the Bible is the literal Truth and it should be the “compass” on how to live our lives
As a Muslim, I beleive that you nailed this one perfectly on the head. Contrary to what what we hear in th Mosques, is that ” Islam is the fastest growing Religion” we all use God or Allah, when it suits our needs the best. When things are going well, we often forget God. But when times are tough, we turn to him.
I beleive that only now, collective conscience has surfaced on a mass scale, in forms of social media, metworking on Facebook, etc… the barriers that we have created by labelling one another are desigened to keep us apart, which is not in our human nature.
Perhaps the Religion of the future will be Moral Therapeutic Deism, saq we realize that mankind is far more similar, than different.
The diversity of replies here says more than the article itself, and not surprising to me.
First, understand that My God/Your God made us each as different as snowflakes, and rejoices in our praise as individuals-in our uniqueness, as any parent would in all of their children’s different gifts or forms of good recognition. I am a Christian, not a follower of religion, many of which do tend to be legalistic. and in defense of the Bible, from one poster’s comment actually does through-out tell one how to conduct their daily lives, and in joy. But I, being a Christian(follower of Christ), focus on the life and example of Him, and in gaining anything worthwhile, there is always some sacrifice and unpleasantness involved, which always causes growth, if done right. Unfortunately, especially with some declining attendance, some churches and movements are pandering to the masses, to suite their own needs and purposes, making it more comfortable for members to belong. It IS time to stop judging others, and praise your God, first using the heart that he gave you, accepting others and politely sharing you beliefs and testimonies, and become an oasis in a tide of inhumanity. In doing this, you will attract the life-changing energy and others to you, and capture the attention and blessings God wants to shower on you. Knowing in your heart what is right to do isn’t hard, but sometimes doing it is, if we are to live a selfless and meaningful life, and God, having given us a free-will(the biggest part of His image) made that completely up to us as individuals. It is time to stop worrying about the splinter in our brother’s eye, and remove that plank from ours, so we can see others better, and help them more effectively. I think as proven by these responses, the road to God IS varied, not wrong because it is not YOUR way, and may account for these two sayings…We must each (pick-up our own cross,) and (Follow our own path.) May all of us, as we come upon our brothers and sisters, and God’s sons and daughters along our path, learn to lead by examples of God’s Love, instead of our own judgements. That is something any God can work with.
Sincerely,
Rick