Interesting topic and conversation here (for the most part).
I grew up in mainline churches as a church staff member's kid, sang in choirs all my life, etc. I'm really struggling with faith right now for a variety of reasons, most notably what Christianity has become for vast swaths of people - mainly, a cudgel to enforce dogma, cruelty, etc. For a long time, I was able to mostly push that aside because of my own experience: we belong to a midsize progressive church that does a lot to serve the community, welcome LGBTQ members without judgment, etc.
Being mostly away from the church for a year or so due to Covid - and seeing what it did to the congregation (and many others) in terms of engagement/attendance/you name it - has really impacted me. We're still active in terms of attendance/participation, but it just doesn't feel like home in the same way anymore.
Having said all that, two takeaways for me:
- I am rediscovering ancient ritual/liturgy as a (hopeful) way back. Evensong and compline services are quiet, contemplative, sensory, and don't require participation to still feel present (and feel some connection with the divine, however faint). Several Episcopal churches here in town offer them, among others, and I'm trying to find ways to make that part of a routine amid the craziness of family life.
- I echo the comments above about truly hoping the Asbury revival (or whatever it is) is a sign of some longing for simpler Christianity - a connection with God without the dogma, intwined politics and desire to profit off of it. I am also skeptical, and I'm trying really hard to tamp that down inside me and be hopeful, even for just a moment.