Derek Thompson, a staff writer at The Atlantic who identifies as agnostic recently wrote an article titled "The True Cost of the Churchgoing Bust." In the article, he suggests that it took decades for Americans to lose their religious beliefs, and it might take decades to fully understand the impact of this loss. Initially, he thought about the decline of faith in America in positive terms, but recently, he came to look at religion as a retaining wall against “the destabilizing pressure of American hyper-individualism.” In the past 25 years, there has been a sudden surge in the ranks of non-believers, which not only affects the relationship with the divine but also shifts the understanding of a historical narrative of identity - a set of rituals to organize the week and the year, and the community of families. Thompson sees a correlation between the decline in church attendance and the decline in meaningful social and civic engagements, a decline in marriages, and an increase in social isolation. In his article, Thompson also discusses the findings of Jonathan Haidt and his latest book The Anxious Generation, which I wrote about a few weeks ago on this platform. As American churches depopulated, Americans developed a new relationship with technology and digital life, which is disembodied, asynchronous, shallow, and solitary- the exact opposite of the religious experience, which is embodied, synchronous, deep, and collective. Thompson concludes his article by wondering if by forgoing organized religion we are discarding proven ways of finding meaning. 

I agree with most of Thompson's points in his article. As a priest in the Armenian church for the past twenty years, I have also personally witnessed the decline in church attendance and the general apathy of our congregants. In my pastoral relationships, I have rarely encountered people who have decided to stop attending church due to ideological reasons. The fact that our church buildings feel too small to accommodate the large number of congregants who attend on major holidays is a testament to the strong connection that exists between the church and the faithful.

I also understand that people live very stressful lives and sometimes the stress can be overwhelming. As a result, many people think that staying at home on Sundays is a better option than attending church. However, we fail to see that attending church is a proven method of spiritual and emotional regeneration. Through the rituals and in the midst of the community, we can connect with the divine and find a sense of peace that can help us deal with the stresses of daily life.

The Armenian Church serves as a protector of our valuable Armenian cultural heritage. Our ancestors went through so many atrocities and Genocides but always protected their heritage. The Armenian Church plays a vital role in providing opportunities for nurturing our Armenian national identity through cultural events and programs. This aspect of our church is particularly crucial in light of the existential challenges currently facing the Republic of Armenia.

Most importantly, the Church preaches the Word of God, which is our moral compass, the source of hope and redemption, and the way to eternal life. We live in a world that is broken and in need of healing. Jesus's earthly ministry was focused on healing the sick. In my younger days, I saw Jesus's healing miracles as a demonstration of how perfect eternal life would be, but now I understand that Christ can heal our brokenness. The process of healing may not always be straightforward, but it is a journey that helps us discover and embrace our true identity as children of God, who are so loved that we have been redeemed through the precious blood of Christ.

Let’s embark on that journey together in the Armenian Church. Let us become disciples of Christ here at St. Sarkis Church. 
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The Word of God
The Gospel reading for this Sunday is from the Gospel of John (9:39-10:10). This Sunday, we will hear Jesus say, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see and those who do see may become blind.”(John 9:39). According to the Orthodox Study Bible, “Our Lord's coming brought judgment to the world, not because He came to judge (12:47, 48), but because of man's accountability to Him. Those who see and hear Him but do not believe are judged by their own faithlessness. (Orthodox Study Bible Copyright © 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology).

And Finally,

I will be seeing most of you on Saturday evening at the 100th Anniversary celebration of AYF Hyortik Chapter. However, attending this event alone does not fulfill your duty of feeling connected to your Armenian identity. Therefore, I highly encourage you to join me on Sunday at St. Sarkis Church.

Prayerfully,
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