I was brought up by an Episcopalian father and Presbyterian mother in nondenominational Army chapels all over the world and never really had much religious experience.
Newspapers don't write enough about serious religious issues.
Funny you mention my dinner parties when I have just suggested that inviting close friends over to share a meal with candlelight and wine at your table could be a form of religious experience for some people. To me its a form of sacrament.
The Europeans have fallen away from religion and the church while the rest of the world is seemingly more religious. I don't know how to explain it.
I now consider myself quite religious and spiritual although that sounds like a terrible cliche.
Everyone seems to be searching and yearning for answers whatever they may be. And that ends up being some kind of spiritual or religious belief.
I do think that many religious people have enormous doubts.
One of the reasons the Europeans don't like the Muslims is because they are religious. Americans like the fact that they are religious. They just don't like the form it takes.
Those who are religious or who have any beliefs have so much to choose from.
I just had a thought that perhaps religion is so vibrant here is because of the melting pot aspect to our society. WE have so many cultures here in the US and they all bring something new to their religious experiences.