More naming the problem from Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, quoting Robert Bellah:
The extreme of this view [post-denominationalism], however, is that ultimately everyone’s faith is under their own hat. Could we have millions of faiths, each with only one member? The sociologist Robert Bellah described this phenomenon in the person “Sheila” “whose faith was so private and personal she called it ‘Sheilaism.’ In terms of our [Bellah et al.] categories of basic American values, she was an example of expressive individualism.”
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I think that “Sheilaism” started long ago in the Garden of Eden. Even today, the snake continues to deceive and in our “reason” we determine for ourselves what is right and wrong and follow it. Then, when we are called to account for our choices, we blame someone else.
The difference is that now the “Sheilaism” of sinful human nature is considered by many Christians’ to comprise the nature of the church. Skye Jethani names it iChurch.
And, by the way…Happy Exelauno Day to all!
This is nothing new, and I am not referring to Eden. There have been for a very long time people who said things like “I believe in God I just don’t like established religion” and there are denomination hoppers, there are people who consider themselves a particular denomination but do not believe all of its tenets. To suddenly call this “Sheilaism” just seems rude, to both Sheila and to other religious loners.
Yes, the bible refers to groups of believers, calls us to walk together, etc. But when you cannot bring yourself to accept what is there, how do you find what you BELIEVE in a church? What is there is no such church? All of a sudden you are a wacko? I find it odd that such a person is looked more askance than an atheist.
Personally, I sympathize. I have yet to find a church or denomination that espouses everything I believe. I make do mainly with how I was raised and wonder about having the courage to worship alone and if it would be better. Either that or starting a Messianic Jewish congregation in northern Mississippi, of which there are few/none.
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