Take me to church
This is the second edition of my Sunday missive, where instead of sending you a job that I think you’ll like, I send you something I wrote and a few things I think are worth reading. Hate it? Love it? Completely indifferent? Drop me a line and let me know. And don’t worry, it’s back to the job postings bright and early Monday morning.
What I’m thinking about
If you're looking for Americans, don't look at a church pew. Church membership has declined in the U.S., with weekly attendance (including mosques, synagogues, etc.) diving from 49% in the 1950s to the mid-30% in recent years.
There are a bunch of cultural and demographic reasons for this change, in addition to specific schisms and crises in various faiths. What's interesting is what some people are using to fill the gap. Talk to a hardcore Soulcycle or Barry's fan and they'll speak about their 3x weekly habit with many of the same words that people used to talk about churchgoing. They'll follow their favorite instructors (pastors) everywhere and complain loudly about subs (guest preachers). Maybe Peloton instructors are the new Joel Osteens - preaching the prosperity gospel of fitness to believers who don't even have to set foot outside their well-appointed living rooms.
Some of what makes these services appealing is the great workout, sure. But Equinox and newly-launched The Well are trying to tap into that potent mix of ritual, community, and guilt that draws adherents to religious institutions and social clubs back every week to congregate, listen, and tithe.
One funny thing about most of these new communities, though, is their singular focus: they all seem to be about fitness. Now, don't get me wrong - I love a good workout as much as the next person - the rush of endorphins, the feeling of camaraderie with others in the room, and the good night's sleep that comes afterward (btw, I signed up for a trial of the Peloton Digital subscription this week on advice from one of you and it's great so far). And I certainly am not advocating for our society to become more religious. But while good health is a worthy goal, and community can provide many important things, one big thing that's missing from these modern churches is purpose.
Many people used to sit in a church pew and use at least some of that time to contemplate the meaning of life - the big questions that everybody returns to at some point: how to make the most of your three-score-and-ten, how to best celebrate joys and grieve losses, how to treat other people. And to be sure, there have been serious failings in the hierarchical, male-dominated institutions dishing out wisdom from on high. But when more people cast aside those institutions, where are people asking themselves these questions? Is it only on Naval's podcast? It's certainly not happening during a hill sprint at Barry's.
If we keep training our bodies but neglecting our purpose, we won’t be happy and we certainly won’t become the best versions of ourselves. We may need some modern churches to help us with that.
What I’m reading
An Elite Athlete’s Real Life Training Plan by Katie Arnold - a good reminder that while many of us are out here measuring and optimizing every inch of our lives, scrappier, more adaptable approaches can land you in (literally) rarified air.
Apollo 11 As They Shot It - Words from the astronauts interspersed with pictures they took in real time. The thing that stuck out most (to me) was the nonchalance.
NYC Subway story by Captain Awkward - beauty in the heat. It doesn’t matter if it’s true.
Don’t Put All Your (Frozen) Eggs in One Basket by Ruthie Ackerman - more on the difficulties, indignities, and cost of modern fertility treatments.
The Pan American Highway - maps are good. Maps of 30,000-mile-long roads are great.
The Vienna Circle thread by Jasmine Wang - what would it look like if you systematically tracked the conversational positions taken by you and your friends?
(book) The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America’s Banana King by Rich Cohen - the real life embodiment of the saying ‘there’s always money in the banana stand’ and a great story, as well.
What I’d like your help with
I'm interested in finding the 'modern churches' that are trying to address this gap left by the decline in religiosity. Those looking to create compelling rituals and communities and - ideally - combining that somehow with an exploration of life's meaning. Are you part of one? Do you know anybody starting one? Let me know - I'd love to hear about them.