In the 1950s affiliation with a church community was at an all time high in the U.S.  So much so that atheism as a movement was considered dead by at least one observer, and we mandated that "under God" must be added to our pledge of allegiance and "In God We Trust" to our currency.  Now people who claim "None" as their religious affiliation are trending, and religious communities are left scratching their heads.  But is it really any wonder?

We live in an information age fueled by data and technology.  We have instant access now to libraries and news media around the globe.  We search for reliable data that is current.  Success often depends on making good decisions based on trustworthy information. Even yesterday's news may be too old, let alone news from a couple millennia ago.

It is sad to lose a beloved community.  As an atheist I miss that in my life.  The need for community is still there, maybe even greater now than before, but the focus must change to remain relevant.