Something not examined in this article still fascinates me. There was a time when liberal religion was a vital force, taking a leading role in progressive movements from civil rights to the antiwar crusade. Over the past half century, however, liberal denominations have fared poorly and the term ʻreligiousʻ has almost become a synonym for ʻevangelicalʻ or ʻfundamentalist,’ not only in the U.S., but across the planet. Why has liberal theology failed to compete effectively in the marketplace of ideas? Was it so open that ultimately it became meaningless? After all, a word (e.g., ʻgodʻ) that can mean anything eventually means nothing. In any event, the decline in faith is not just the story of conservative religion being co-opted by rightwing politicians, but also the story of liberal religionʻs inability to win the hearts and minds of spiritual seekers.