When the church itself needs saving / Michelle Boorstein

"When the church is inward-looking, it's dying," Long said. "In the developing world, where it's outward-looking, it's exploding."

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Walking away from church / Robert D. Putnam and David E. Campbell

Robert D. Putnam, a professor of public policy at Harvard University, and David E. Campbell, a professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame, are the authors of "American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us."

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Loving Christ, leaving church / Ronnie McBrayer

"There is recognition, however, by many leavers of institutional religion that the church is not a sponge. It is a rock. Drop it in the bucket, and it cannot soak up and squeeze out the love of God. That love rolls over the surface and cannot penetrate. Therefore it cannot be transferred to others. When the people of God do not display the love of God, then for the sake of God, leaving is the only option for some."