Find the above titled article HERE:
First Things is a culturally intuitive theological journal published by Roman Catholics intellectuals. Their mission statement is "to advance a religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society."
The article written by Joseph Bottum presents a case that cannot be ignored, that is, the unified voice of "Mainline Protestants" is no longer influencing the political realm of the American politosphere, consequently leaving that space open to be filled. Unfortunately, as Bottum points out, it will be filled by whatever philosophy (secularism, environmentalism, feminism, etc.) is "en vogue" at the time.
He suggests that the Mainline Denominations (Presbyterian, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, Church of Christ, etc) are not only dying, but they are in fact as good as dead since their voice does not speak to our society today. Their social influence is zero, nilch, nada, etc... They have neither cultural, spiritual, nor intellectual influence among Americans according to Bottum. He references the almost fully-dead Protestant Europe as a crystal ball for the future of American Protestantism.
One thing I find interesting is that he suggests Evangelicals and Roman Catholics to sort of 'unite' under the common bond of Christian ideology and belief to form a voice to fill the vacant gap left by the Mainliners because their numbers are significantly stronger and more promising.
The evidence is there. Mainline denominations are dwindling in membership and their social influence disappeared in the 70's followed by the social influence of the Moral Majority in the 80's. Political influence is minimal among the Mainline denominations, but strangely enough, that's OK in my book. American Christians need a bit of fire under their pants. We need to get ourselves out of this rut of mile wide and inch deep Christianity expressed mainly through felt-needs of experientialism and dazzling sentiment. My comments as far as Evangelicals uniting with Catholics... I hardly see that happening anytime soon. But it can almost be guaranteed that it will not be the fault of the Catholics.