One of the first books I read in University was John Porter’s "The Vertical Mosaic". I might even have the book somewhere in my library. Porter’s work, if you ever read it, was one of the first studies of the elites in Canada and the effect of immigration on our society and who has power.

Porter concluded that there are elites in Canada who hold power, who continue to hold power and who generally don’t give up power. And those elites don’t change, no matter what, even today.

But there have been changes in our world. Big changes. But it’s hard to get a handle on them.

In the last few weeks I have been reflecting on the meaning of the recent statistics from the 2011 National Household Survey and their ominous indications for religion. But those numbers are simply a pointer to much larger changes happening is our society and our world.

Recently a colleague pointed out an article in the New York Times by David Brooks, which gives some really helpful clues about the changes which have occurred in society over the last five hundred years.

The source of the information is Google. The data is 5.2 million books published between 1500 and 2008.

What the data tells us is that certain words increase and decrease in use over the centuries. Brooks says that the word "cocaine" was common in the Victorian era, went into decline and then skyrocketed in the 1970's.

One academic study on types of words is even more revealing. It suggests, using the same data, that individualistic words overshadowed communal words. Another study of the same data suggested that "general moral terms like "virtue," "decency" and "conscience" were used less frequently over the course of the 20th century. Words associated with moral excellence, like "honesty," "patience" and "compassion" were used much less frequently."

While it would be wrong to suggest that society is becoming more individualistic or less moral, it is reasonable to suggest we are talking about being more individually aware and more aware of morality. Robin Lakoff, professor of Linguistics at UC-Berkeley, suggests that while the use of the word "racism" has increased, society is not more racist. Increasing use of the word may mean that we are more aware of racism and so are able to name it and change the behaviour.

Where this touches people of faith is that religion, at least in the great monotheistic traditions, is seen as not only and individual activity but as a community activity. While individuals may follow a particular set of beliefs, part of that belief system is based on community gathering and community action. We are not just fish, but communities of fish. And it works best when we work together.

If David Brooks is right, then the increasing use of individualism, or awareness of individualism, is a sign of the changes ocurring within the community at large and the church as a community. If people feel that they can be all they can be and have all they want themselves, then there is no need for gathering together in community, and the church is moribund, if not dead.

If people feel that they can find out all the world’s knowledge and experience themselves, through Google (yes, I see the irony here), then there really is no need for churches, community organizations, service clubs or any form of community gathering. We can all do it ourselves. On our own. In isolation.

Right?

Rev. David Shearman is the minister of Central Westside United Church, Owen Sound and host of Faithworks on Rogers TV - Grey County