
Shall We Gather at the River
Setup
In the U.S., there are twice as many Buddhists as Episcopalians and an equal number of Muslims as Lutherans — and the median age of Muslims and Buddhists is 20 years younger than their Christian counterparts. Meanwhile, the group known as the religious nones now makes up one-third of the population. What will this new religious diversity mean for our country, from classrooms to Congress? Will it lead to further division or deeper connection? Should we still consider ourselves a Judeo-Christian nation? This session explores how we solve the messiness around religion and considers offering a new model, one that’s more inclusive of the actual communities present in the nation. In our increasingly secular culture, what is the role of religion in making us feel connected to one another?
- 2022 Festival
- Society
Explore More
Society















Jump in by watching our ten most popular talks of all time. From black holes to jazz and civil rights to psychology hacks, we've collected the talks that remain audience favor...





From the Supreme Court's ruling on abortion rights to public health's role in addressing gun violence to the devastating human toll of the war in Ukraine, this year's Aspen Id...



The nature of beauty, and whether it’s objective or subjective, is the subject of timeless philosophical debate. Do perceptions of beauty vary culturally and generationally, o...

Psychologist Marisa Franco explains the biggest misconceptions that are hurting our friendships, how relationships shape our personalities and sense of self, and why friendshi...



Today's kids are coming of age against a backdrop of political, social, technological, and economic upheaval. While these circumstances are shaping a precocious generation tha...

For people with post-traumatic stress disorder, therapy assisted by the drug MDMA may provide lasting relief, with a new way of seeing their trauma and themselves. Rachel Yehu...

The highest court often seems distanced from our day-to-day lives, but the rulings that come out of the Supreme Court are woven into the fabric of the nation. Though it aims t...

Gen-Z for Change's Aidan Kohn-Murphy on youth-led movements, his advice for young activists, and why it's impossible to lose hope.

