Evangelicalism, Pop Culture and "The Search for the Sacred"

Another excerpt from Michael Horton's "Christless Christianity."

“Citing examples from television, pop music, and best-selling books, an article in Entertainment Weekly noted,

‘Pop culture is going gaga for spirituality…. [However,] seekers of the day are apt to peel away the tough theological stuff and pluck out the most dulcet [sweet/pleasing] elements of the faith, coming up with a soothing sampler of Judeo-Christian imagery…, Eastern meditation, self-help lingo, a vaguely conservative craving for “virture,” and a loopy New Age pursuit of “peace.” This happy free-for-all, appealing to Baptists and stargazers alike, comes off more like Forrest Gump’s ubiquitous “boxa choclits” than like any real system of belief. You never know what you’re gonna get.’

“The search for the sacred has become a recurring cover story for national news magazines for some time now. Although this search is often identified as an encouraging sign of interest in God, it may be more dangerous than atheism.

“At least atheism makes arguments and shows an interest in a world external to the feelings of the inner self. Furthermore, after each round of this quest for the holy grail, evangelicalism itself looks more and more indistinguishable from the ooze of pop spirituality more generally.” (pp.159-160)