We'll be Sorry When It's Gone

Rabbi Michael Gotlieb of Santa Monica laments the decline in church attendance ("less than half of millennials identify as Christian"):

Jews and Christians break bread in Santa Monica

I pray this trend reverses and Christianity begins to thrive again. The adage “a rising tide lifts all boats” isn’t limited to economics. Historically Judaism gave form to Christianity. A revitalized Christianity can help invigorate contemporary Judaism. When devoted Christians go back to, and advocate for, their tradition, asking and struggling with timeless questions, so too will Jews return to theirs. Judaism never has grown out of a vacuum.

Only religion can provide answers to life’s most vexing and critical questions. Chief among them is whether God exists. This is foundational to issues that wrestle with ultimate meaning, afterlife, morality, human nature, holiness and compassion. When religious institutions lose sight of these timeless questions, they run the risk of becoming outdated and irrelevant.

Modern life is full of distracting pleasures. We don't want to "wrestle with ultimate meaning, afterlife," etc. It's tiring and boring when so many shiny objects abound.

Boomers are lucky; when life crises arise that we can't buy or talk our way out of, there are still enough churches, synagogues, and priests around to help guide us through our struggles. When succeeding generations cry out, perhaps only robots and unblinking screens will answer.