Seculosity : How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do About It

At the heart of our current moment lies a universal yearning, writes David Zahl, not to be happy or respected so much as enough--what religions call "righteous." To fill the void left by religion, we look to all sorts of everyday activities--from eating and parenting to dating and voting--for the identity, purpose, and meaning once provided on Sunday morning. In our striving, we are chasing a sense of enoughness. But it remains ever out of reach, and the effort and anxiety are burning us out. Seculosity takes a thoughtful yet entertaining tour of American "performancism" and its cousins, highlighting both their ingenuity and mercilessness, all while challenging the conventional narrative of religious decline. Zahl unmasks the competing pieties around which so much of our lives revolve, and he does so in a way that's at points playful, personal, and incisive. Ultimately he brings us to a fresh appreciation for the grace of God in all its countercultural wonder. Being enough is a universal longing. Seculosity makes the case that being religious is alive and well in modern society. While American organized religion may be declining, the desire to fill the void with everyday life pursuits is another form of worship. David Zahl describes his life as having one foot in the religious and secular worlds, a claim his biography justifies and states "the marketplace in replacement religion is booming." At the heart of our society lies a universal yearning not to be happy so much as to be enough. To fill the emptiness left by religion, humans look to all sorts of activities -- food, family, relationships, social media, elections, social justice movements -- for identity, purpose, and meaning once provided by organized religion. In our striving, we chase a sense of enoughness. But it remains out of reach. Human effort and striving is causing burn out, depression, and anxiety. Even our leisure activities, such as dating and movie watching, become to-do list items and once accomplished we’ll hope to feel contentment with ourselves. Seculosity takes a thoughtful yet light-hearted tour of "performancism" and its cousins. Performancism is "one of the hallmarks of seculosity," affecting how we approach everyday life. It cripples us with anxiety (Am I enough?), shame (Do they think I'm enough?), and guilt (Have I done enough?). Performance-based living while admirable will only leave us worn out because when is enough, enough? Zahl challenges the conventional narrative of religious decline claiming society has become religious about busyness and accomplishments. Zahl unmasks the competing loyalties our lives revolve around in a way that is approachable, personal, and accurate. Eventually, Zahl brings readers to a fresh appreciation for grace -- the grace of God in all its countercultural wonder. At the heart of our current moment lies a universal yearning, writes David Zahl, not to be happy or respected so much as enough —what religions call "righteous." To fill the void left by religion, we look to all sorts of everyday activities—from eating and parenting to dating and voting—for the identity, purpose, and meaning once provided on Sunday morning. In our striving, we are chasing a sense of enoughness. But it remains ever out of reach, and the effort and anxiety are burning us out. Seculosity takes a thoughtful yet entertaining tour of American "performancism" and its cousins, highlighting both their ingenuity and mercilessness, all while challenging the conventional narrative of religious decline. Zahl unmasks the competing pieties around which so much of our lives revolve, and he does so in a way that's at points playful, personal, and incisive. Ultimately he brings us to a fresh appreciation for the grace of God in all its... The religious impulse is easier to rebrand than to extinguish. Declining levels of church attendance causes us to believe more and more people are abandoning faith. What these polls fail to report is that the marketplace in replacement religion is booming. Religious observance has migrated-- everyday activities are filling in for church attendance. Zahl brings us to a fresh appreciation for the grace of God in all its counter cultural wonder. -- adapted from jacket flap and back cover We have a universal yearning, writes David Zahl, not to be happy or respected so much as enough--what religions call "righteous." Today, we look to all sorts of everyday activities--from eating and parenting to dating and voting--for the meaning once provided on Sunday morning. Seculosity takes a thoughtful yet entertaining tour of American "performancism." Ultimately, Zahl brings us to a fresh appreciation for the grace of God in all its counter-cultural wonder Introduction -- The seculosity of busyness -- The seculosity of romance -- The seculosity of parenting -- The seculosity of technology -- The seculosity of work -- The seculosity of leisure -- The seculosity of food -- The seculosity of politics -- The seculosity of Jesusland -- Conclusion: What to "Do" about It