Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about It (New and Revised) by David Zahl Summary
Overview of Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about It (New and Revised)
In "Seculosity," David Zahl reveals how career, parenting, and politics have become our new religions, driving exhausting performancism. What if our obsessive quest for "enoughness" is actually spiritual hunger? Episcopal leaders praise this counterintuitive exploration of grace in our achievement-obsessed culture.
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Key takeaways
The Replacement Religion We Never Admit To
"I'll give you one clue," Sherry said with a knowing smile. "It's a place where no one's religious but everyone is super religious." This paradox captures our modern condition perfectly. While traditional religious participation declines, our religious impulses haven't disappeared-they've simply migrated. We may skip Sunday services, but we've never been more pious, with the marketplace in replacement religion booming. Our anxiety levels prove it: we're seldom not in church. Religion isn't just about robes and rituals-it's about what we lean on to tell us we're okay, what justifies our existence. It's what we rely on for enoughness. Listen carefully and you'll hear that word everywhere-people scrambling to be successful enough, happy enough, thin enough, wealthy enough, influential enough, good enough. Yet no matter how close we get or how much we achieve, we never quite arrive. The threshold doesn't exist for fallible humans. Still, we chase the mirage, often harming ourselves and others in the process. Why? Because an "obsession with righteousness is the normal human condition." The longing for righteousness lives in our DNA, driving our self-justification-the energy we expend to feel worthy. This religious impulse hasn't disappeared; it's simply found new altars at which to worship.
The Treadmill of Busyness: Our Sacred Duty
The Religion of Romance: Seeking Salvation in Relationships
Parenting as Performance: The Cult of Child Achievement
Digital Devotion: How Technology Became Our Master
Finding Grace Beyond the Treadmill
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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