Rather than the church berating itself, or going head-long into evangelizing, Philip Towne insists on a completely different approach to the rise in religious non- affiliation. In this valuable ethnographic study, Towne immerses himself into an arts colony -- one that has mostly non-religious members but views their work as spiritual -- to see where God is working. He suggests that more of these non-ecclesial spiritual communities are on the rise, so the church must listen, observe, and find incarnational ways to break barriers between church and culture, engaging in these spaces seriously and appreciatively.

Linda Mercadante, Methodist Theological School in Ohio

Towne makes an important contribution to Digital Religion studies demonstrating digital media is integral to the formation and maintenance of spiritual communities emerging outside traditional religious institutions. This book shows digital engagement offers non religious seekers spiritual agency. The book also challenges churches to see themselves as missional communities called to engage culture in new ways, rather than assuming their continued centrality within emerging spiritual culture. It offers important insights into what American Christianity might look like as it transitions into a post church context.

Heidi A Campbell, Texas A&M University