Blessed Are the Neighborly: Connect with the Folks Next Door

Eric Metaxas/BreakPoint : Mar 13, 2017
Christian Headlines

How well do you know (and care about) YOUR neighbors?

[Christian Headlines] Over two decades ago, Robert Putnam's ground-breaking book "Bowling Alone" warned us of the alarming trend of Americans becoming isolated from one another, and how time-honored social institutions in our communities, such as the PTA, political parties, and even the Church, have been devastated. Chuck Colson said this trend was "in part a result of our relentless pursuit of what political scientist Michael Sandel calls 'the unencumbered self.'" Mind you, this was even before we all retreated to our cell phones and computer screens. (Photo: Facebook/ via Christian Headlines)

So how are we doing today? The latest statistics say: not so hot. According to the General Social Survey, only about 20% of Americans spend time regularly with their neighbors, while a third say they've never interacted with them. Just four decades ago, however, one-third of Americans hung out with neighbors at least two times a week. Only a fourth reported having no interaction. The Pew Research Center in 2010, meanwhile, found that while 43% of Americans know most or all of their neighbors, nearly a third say they know none of them by name...

Continue reading here.