21st century morality

We're still answering the question, "how did we get here?"

She would've been remiss not to mention Roe v. Wade or Terri Schiavo as an excellent example of the litmus test for morality in the 21st century. Although she gives little commentary on it. She moves quickly from morality into technological advances. Let's just make a list.

Ecumenism and Interfaith dialogue
Vatican I and II
Medical advances and the new role of the clergy
the Walkman/ ipod and its effect on participatory worship
nanotechnology and potential artificial intelligence
Cash replacing blood as power
Television and internet "communities" of faith replaces standard church life - expanding the concept of the priesthood of all believers

But the last portion of this chapter is dedicated to the change in the family unit. She begins (thankfully in a place earlier than my memory) in 1941 with the birth of "Rosie" our nickname for the wife of "Johnny" who was fighting in WWII. Although memoirs from Rosie indicate no feminism per se, this era formed a generation of children who watched their moms go to work each day.


Rosie's happily returned to home at the end of the war. And then technology changed our home life with things like washers and dryers. Rosie had to find other things to do. Tickle makes a case for this being the rise in church life... Rosie couldn't get enough of church programs. We all like to feel useful.

The next generation of women (and men) will be confronted with true equality however with the birth of the birth control pill. With freedom, women and men began to live with the luxury of two incomes, both being filled psychologically by places outside of the home.

Tickle once again turns to the disintegration of the family common meal, with scripture conversation. No one has energy for God - we've spent it elsewhere. Enter the scripturally illiterate generation. (she suggests a book that's long been on my list: Religious Literacy: what every American needs to know.)