While some rituals are necessary for structure and continuity, isn't replacing trust in the person of Christ with liturgy or a "faith" (set of beliefs and funded rituals) what is causing many to disengage from Christian church fellowship? Isn't it just a little repulsive that the Evangelical Hymn has become "Money makes the world go around!"? Add to that the new-found Evangelical trust in Republicanism, excessive political engagement of Evangelical institutions, and Evangelical rejection of social responsibility in favor of unrestricted Capitalism as exemplified by prosperity gospelleers, and you end up with a reprehensible mixture of "the opium of the people", a "cultural mandate" and an "every man for himself" religious tyranny. In all this, the missing factor is Christ, the person. Evangelicals have committed the sins of the fathers by divorcing themselves from Christ and committing themselves to "Culture". Jesus made it clear to Nicodemus that to enter into the Kingdom of God we must be transformed in mind and disposition. But that is not the work of culture; it is the work of Christ. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Evangelical church returned to Christ; the Christ that died to eradicate evil from all creation? Instead the idolatrous and apostate focus is on wealth, prosperity, cultural development, power, and evangelical techniques to populate our churches. Where in the world is Jesus?

You made a lot of good points, but, at ' Jesus was a good Jewish boy' you lost me completely. Don't you have a little bit of fear and humility? It is the Son of God you are talking about, and he never stopped being the son of god.

Religion is not "business". The greatest sin of our nation now is its service and idolatry (through 'business'), of profit and 'money'. God is a reality (actually not a reality, but Reality) that is infinite (without limited form) and timeless, beyond human intellectual comprehension, poured out through creation. Religion (through its finite, concrete, time bound forms and practices) should serve the purpose of pointing to that reality. But instead of pointing to an incomprehensible mystery, we are prone to the idolatry of wanting something concrete to serve and worship, grasp and understand. Religion itself and religious practices then become the end, rather than a means- the source, rather than the conduit. Then religion and religious forms and practices which are humanly necessary become themselves a problem. As humans grow in understanding, so must religion and religious forms, also change and grow.

Obviously an organization who benefits from tax-free income would say to enbrace the church or "her" as you said. Jesus may have brought in new rituals but he just as easily did away with formalities by preaching on hills instead of temples, by interacting and speaking to people instead of just preaching from an isolated podium. Maybe an "organic" jesus is what we need. Even as a young person its evident that the established system that is currently in use isn't as effective as it should be. Say what you want but I think its difficult for someone who isn't young to attempt to be an expert on what's reaching the youth.

the video to me was needed.....it points out many of Christianity's problems and brings light to bear on them....there will always be the backlash of "no tolerance and self righteous attitude". The truth is presented like a stinging medicine to a stubborn infection...not welcome but needed....