Dwight A. Moody
One thousand and more people gathered in the Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas, two weeks ago to hear the debate on the question, “Does the West need a Religious Revival?” Ross Douthat and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, both Christians, spoke for the affirmative and Adam Carolla and Michael Shermer, both atheists, spoke for the negative.
When the debate began, host Bari Weiss of The Free Press took a poll of the audience: 73% of responders said, “Yes, we need a revival,” and 27% said “No, we don’t.” Each of the four presenters was given five minutes to make a presentation, and this was followed by a moderated discussion. Then the end-of-debate vote: 61% said “Yes, we need a revival of religion.” But 39% said NO.
Which means that 12% of the people changed their minds. Therefore, the moderator declared that the negative debaters had won the debate.
I watched the video recording of the debate (after paying $8), and here is my take. First, I am pleased that such an event happened and that it was so well managed, recorded, and archived. Second, I was not impressed with the four presenters; I have heard better, more informed positions while sitting in classrooms, in a sanctuary, and on TikTok videos. Third, the two affirmative speakers were more serious and better prepared, while the two negative speakers were less prepared, more casual, and even humorous—perhaps, more likeable (which may be the reason they “won” the debate).
The overarching impact of the event has been to make me think more deeply about this question and the other questions that flow from it: What would a revival of religion look like? Might some religious revivals be good for us and some be bad? Is there a religious revival already underway in the West, or at least in the United States? How might we act so as to cultivate this religious revival or hinder this revival?
I ask my readers:
- Do you see evidence of a revival of religion?
- Do you see or feel a need for a religious revival?
- What can a religious revival do that would be good for us?
- How might a religious revival do harm?
I encourage readers to respond to this email newsletter or post on the Facebook comments.
As signs of revival, some people post videos of mass Christian meetings, like the 2025 Passion Conference recently in Atlanta, or mass baptisms of students at the Ohio State University (led by their world class athletes). Others draw attention to the role that Christians had in electing Donald Trump. Still others write about recent data that shows an end (perhaps) to the decline in church affiliation and attendance.
I have written about a Red Letter Revival, by which I mean a resurgence in attention to the words and deeds of Jesus. What words and what deeds, you might ask; and my response is the famous story recorded in the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew: feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, welcome the stranger, clothed the naked, heal the sick, and give water to the thirsty. This answer to the question is not unique to me; many of us take up this story as representative of Jesus.
I do not know of a single text or story where Jesus urged us to “go to church” or “attend worship.” He was baptized and urged his followers to baptize others. There is no creed, no confession of faith, no dogmatic summary that he endorsed for his disciples.
So, what would a revival look like?
Is it possible that a “religious revival” might make us more judgmental, more narrow, more divided, more mean-spirited than we are now? Is it possible that a “religious revival” might drive more people from the church and create a more marginalized Christian community?
On the other hand, is the rise of Christian Nationalism itself a form of revival? Is the prominence of Christian leaders in the halls of state and federal power also a sign of religious revival? Will a revival result in more Bibles in public school classrooms, more prayers from public school teachers, and more Christian clubs everywhere? Or will such religious endeavors be banished as a form of DEI?
Who knows? But what do you think? What do you want? To what end are you working and praying? Take a minute to give your thoughts. I will summarize these responses on my SUNDAY IN THE HOUSE broadcast this coming Sunday. Join me at 9 am EST on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/dwight.moody)
Dwight A. Moody
One thousand and more people gathered in the Paramount Theater in Austin, Texas, two weeks ago to hear the debate on the question, “Does the West need a Religious Revival?” Ross Douthat and Ayaan Hirsi Ali, both Christians, spoke for the affirmative and Adam Carolla and Michael Shermer, both atheists, spoke for the negative.
When the debate began, host Bari Weiss of The Free Press took a poll of the audience: 73% of responders said, “Yes, we need a revival,” and 27% said “No, we don’t.” Each of the four presenters was given five minutes to make a presentation, and this was followed by a moderated discussion. Then the end-of-debate vote: 61% said “Yes, we need a revival of religion.” But 39% said NO.
Which means that 12% of the people changed their minds. Therefore, the moderator declared that the negative debaters had won the debate.
I watched the video recording of the debate (after paying $8), and here is my take. First, I am pleased that such an event happened and that it was so well managed, recorded, and archived. Second, I was not impressed with the four presenters; I have heard better, more informed positions while sitting in classrooms, in a sanctuary, and on TikTok videos. Third, the two affirmative speakers were more serious and better prepared, while the two negative speakers were less prepared, more casual, and even humorous—perhaps, more likeable (which may be the reason they “won” the debate).
The overarching impact of the event has been to make me think more deeply about this question and the other questions that flow from it: What would a revival of religion look like? Might some religious revivals be good for us and some be bad? Is there a religious revival already underway in the West, or at least in the United States? How might we act so as to cultivate this religious revival or hinder this revival?
I ask my readers:
I encourage readers to respond to this email newsletter or post on the Facebook comments.
As signs of revival, some people post videos of mass Christian meetings, like the 2025 Passion Conference recently in Atlanta, or mass baptisms of students at the Ohio State University (led by their world class athletes). Others draw attention to the role that Christians had in electing Donald Trump. Still others write about recent data that shows an end (perhaps) to the decline in church affiliation and attendance.
I have written about a Red Letter Revival, by which I mean a resurgence in attention to the words and deeds of Jesus. What words and what deeds, you might ask; and my response is the famous story recorded in the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew: feed the hungry, visit the prisoner, welcome the stranger, clothed the naked, heal the sick, and give water to the thirsty. This answer to the question is not unique to me; many of us take up this story as representative of Jesus.
I do not know of a single text or story where Jesus urged us to “go to church” or “attend worship.” He was baptized and urged his followers to baptize others. There is no creed, no confession of faith, no dogmatic summary that he endorsed for his disciples.
So, what would a revival look like?
Is it possible that a “religious revival” might make us more judgmental, more narrow, more divided, more mean-spirited than we are now? Is it possible that a “religious revival” might drive more people from the church and create a more marginalized Christian community?
On the other hand, is the rise of Christian Nationalism itself a form of revival? Is the prominence of Christian leaders in the halls of state and federal power also a sign of religious revival? Will a revival result in more Bibles in public school classrooms, more prayers from public school teachers, and more Christian clubs everywhere? Or will such religious endeavors be banished as a form of DEI?
Who knows? But what do you think? What do you want? To what end are you working and praying? Take a minute to give your thoughts. I will summarize these responses on my SUNDAY IN THE HOUSE broadcast this coming Sunday. Join me at 9 am EST on my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/dwight.moody)
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