We’ve heard a lot over the last few years about how fertility rates are higher among traditionally religious folks than among secularists. The implication is that secularization weakens the family. But what if things work in reverse? What if the decline of the family actually powers growing secularism?
That’s the question Mary Eberstadt explores in her fascinating new piece, “How the West Really Lost God.” Eberstadt is onto something of real importance. I don’t doubt that family-fertility decline and religious decline are mutually reinforcing, but the causal connection running from weaker families to weakened faith hasn’t been well explored–until now. This is certainly worth a read.