Our Foundations are the Future
The talk “Our Foundations Are the Future” emphasizes that the values and spiritual foundations we build today shape the culture of tomorrow. Historically, movements rooted in deep moral conviction have shifted societies. Today, research shows that participation in religious communities is linked to better flourishing outcomes: weekly attendance correlates with 20–30% lower rates of depression and 3–6 times lower rates of suicide, plus stronger social ties and greater life meaning. These outcomes underscore that grounding the next generation in robust spiritual and virtuous foundations isn’t nostalgic—it’s forward‑looking, fostering resilience, purpose, and human flourishing across communities.
In a moment when everything feels shaky—institutions, culture, even our own sense of identity—many of us instinctively look for the next new thing that promises stability. But what if the future isn’t found in innovation alone… but in returning to what has always been true?
In Our Foundations Are the Future, Phillipa Stroud offers a refreshing, needed perspective: transformational power comes through the resurrection. Drawing from Scripture, history, and the lived realities of spiritual formation, she shows how ancient Christian practices provide the clarity, grounding, and resilience we desperately need today. Rather than chasing cultural momentum, she invites us to rediscover the practices and historical pillars of gentleness, kindness, truth, and self control.
This talk is both comforting and challenging. Comforting because she reminds us we’re part of a much larger and older story, yet challenging as she calls for us to arise, rebuild, and reconstruct with a renewed vision of the future.