Mike your essay is an accurate summary of our times—well, perhaps our End Times. On the issue of Christian religion there are exceptions to the nativist downward slide but those voices are easily overwhelmed by the spectacle of bombastic Bible thumpers. The circus is naturally more thrilling than nine-to-five. We must be entertained to break the boredom of mundane life; and thus, our media gravitate to highlight the squeaks in life both dark and bright. Which, in itself, would not be a fatal flaw of human hubris but we also wallow in overconsumption until something breaks. But who imagined we could actually break the biosphere that gives us life. Oh well, oops!