There's a book called "An Anxious Age" by Joseph Bottum that talks about exactly this.
In their rejection of Protestantism, they maintain the same attitudes but possess a new religion he calls, "post-Protestantism". But these people that are every bit as religious as their parents, just without the religion
In their view, the social forces of bigotry, power, corruption, mass opinion, militarism, and oppression are the constant themes of history. These horrors have a palpable, almost metaphysical presence in the world. And the post-Protestants believe the best way to know themselves as moral is to define themselves in opposition to such bigotry and oppression -- understanding good and evil not primarily in terms of personal behavior but as states of mind about the social condition. Sin, in other words, appears as a social fact, and the redeemed personality becomes confident of its own salvation by being aware of that fact.
book is kind of hard to read though, it's filled with so many references to other books and authors that you forget what he's trying to say
that's the point he makes in the book, believers in this "social gospel" -- though they wouldn't call themselves believers -- believe salvation comes from knowing you're not a bigot, corrupt, or following the herd, etc.
but they are every bit as religious about it as overtly religious people -- they just choose to believe they're not religious
There's a book called "An Anxious Age" by Joseph Bottum that talks about exactly this.
In their rejection of Protestantism, they maintain the same attitudes but possess a new religion he calls, "post-Protestantism". But these people that are every bit as religious as their parents, just without the religion
book is kind of hard to read though, it's filled with so many references to other books and authors that you forget what he's trying to say
That feels nothing like Christianity, which is about Christ and redemption and salvation
that's the point he makes in the book, believers in this "social gospel" -- though they wouldn't call themselves believers -- believe salvation comes from knowing you're not a bigot, corrupt, or following the herd, etc.
but they are every bit as religious about it as overtly religious people -- they just choose to believe they're not religious