In his landmark study Habits of the Heart Bellah says that what makes Americans distinct comes down to one thing, a view of freedom. Yet when we look more closely, we see a one-sided view of freedom. Americans want freedom from rather than freedom for, an attitude of “I want to do what I want to do when I want to do it. No one better tell me otherwise.” Bellah concludes that this quality is not the stuff on which to build enduring relationships (such as marriage) or deep community. To the extent that the church is reduced to an aggregate of individuals who shop like consumers to meet their
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