
“Religion
in the United States is a brilliantly colored kaleidoscope
ever
taking on configurations of blended hues.”
— WADE
CLARK ROOF, PROFESSOR OF RELIGION AND SOCIETY
UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA

That’s what Professor Roof calls his study of Boomer
religions. It’s also the title of his book: Spiritual
Marketplace, Baby Boomers and the Remaking of American Religion. (Wade
Clark Roof, Princeton University Press, 2001, ISBN: 0-691-08996-5)
Roof references a "quest culture" created by
the Baby Boomers — one growing out of “their yearning for a wholeness of body,
mind, and spirit; the impact of the media; and globalization. Although some of
these individuals have returned to churches and synagogues, most remain
unaffiliated with religious institutions. A broad and eclectic group of
suppliers has arisen to serve their needs and interests: self-help groups,
retreat centers, spiritual seminars, New Age workshops, meditation cassettes
and videos, and an unending stream of books about spirituality and the world's
religions.”
Indeed. Just visit a large chain bookstore and/or the
internet. The once ‘booming’ (pun intended) “religion” section appears to be dwarfing
as more “spiritual” topics emerge in popularity — angels, meditation, spiritual
journey, prophecy, the sacred, esoterica (to name a few). This splintering of
the religious perspective seems to indicate that our society has become more
interested in spiritual concerns than in religion (there is a difference, you know).
Or perhaps we’re just caught up in the latest trend (typical Baby Boomer,
huh?).
If you are one of the “seekers” that Roof references —
and if you’re especially looking for a sensible spirituality —you’ll likely be intrigued
with some of the mind-bending theories presented in How
Did God Do It?
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