Is the quality of life in Australia so high that SBNR people are not feeling the existential void, and so they're not looking for a religion as it's a solution to a problem they don't perceive they have?
I would phrase it slightly differently. In poorer societies, collective welfare is important - and communities like churches provide that. If you have a reasonably rich society with a welfare state then there is no material compulsion to join such a community. It becomes a "lifestyle choice". I do wonder if the USA's unusual level of religiosity (for a developed nation) is related to its dysfunctional welfare state. I think we assume (because of our protestant heritage) that belief drives community. But I suspect it is more the case that community drives belief.
I suspect that SBNR people *do* feel some kind of "existential void" but there are many ways of filling that void apart from orthodox Christianity. And then there are people who don't feel that existential void (who are neither spiritual nor religious).
I do this but I drastically up the ratio of veggies to meat (and I go wild with the red wine and tomatoes) and I embrace the unacceptable variants of smoked pancetta, garlic, rosemary, and parsley. I do occasionally add anchovies.
As Tupac, Mark Morrison, and Master P state: Only God Can Judge Me.
A newsletter reader replied to me: "I'd love to see the relationship between decrease in religion and uptick in belief in astrology / numerology / MBTI. Feels like there's a bit of a gap in community / ritual / socially approved disdain of the other that is being filled by them."
I would say that a fair but of SBNR energy has gone into these places. Wellness has been a big recipient of this. And some of the weirder political / conspiracy movements too.
Is the quality of life in Australia so high that SBNR people are not feeling the existential void, and so they're not looking for a religion as it's a solution to a problem they don't perceive they have?
I would phrase it slightly differently. In poorer societies, collective welfare is important - and communities like churches provide that. If you have a reasonably rich society with a welfare state then there is no material compulsion to join such a community. It becomes a "lifestyle choice". I do wonder if the USA's unusual level of religiosity (for a developed nation) is related to its dysfunctional welfare state. I think we assume (because of our protestant heritage) that belief drives community. But I suspect it is more the case that community drives belief.
I suspect that SBNR people *do* feel some kind of "existential void" but there are many ways of filling that void apart from orthodox Christianity. And then there are people who don't feel that existential void (who are neither spiritual nor religious).
"It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so"
'what you know for sure that just ain't so"
Which is deceptively hard to identify.
So now I want to know - what’s the most fun way of making meat ragu?
Also, are you saying you use more than one onion for the 400-odd g of meat? Madness.
I am saying that I typically deploy 1 kg of onions to 1 kg of meat.
I am not ashamed of my heresy.
Nor was Joan of Arc
This is the official Ragu Alla Bolognese recipe: https://www.accademiaitalianadellacucina.it/sites/default/files/Rag%C3%B9%20alla%20bolognese%20-%20updated%20recipe_20%20April%202023.pdf
I do this but I drastically up the ratio of veggies to meat (and I go wild with the red wine and tomatoes) and I embrace the unacceptable variants of smoked pancetta, garlic, rosemary, and parsley. I do occasionally add anchovies.
As Tupac, Mark Morrison, and Master P state: Only God Can Judge Me.
You are seriously out of control. Those ingredients are deemed UNACCEPTABLE!
A newsletter reader replied to me: "I'd love to see the relationship between decrease in religion and uptick in belief in astrology / numerology / MBTI. Feels like there's a bit of a gap in community / ritual / socially approved disdain of the other that is being filled by them."
I would say that a fair but of SBNR energy has gone into these places. Wellness has been a big recipient of this. And some of the weirder political / conspiracy movements too.