"The consistent theme of my journey is disillusionment," Rod Dreher says. Photo for The Washington Post by Max Becherer

Rod Dreher, a best-selling author and a senior editor of The American Conservative, is slated to speak about his latest book “The Benedict Option” in Tyler.

The public event is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Tyler Woman’s Building at 911 S. Broadway Ave. There is no charge for entry, but space is limited. RSVP online at https://b3ministries.org/ with password BENEDICT to attend.

A native of southern Louisiana, Dreher has written and edited for the New York Post, the Dallas Morning News, National Review and the Washington Times, among other publications. He is the author of four books, the most recent being “The Benedict Option.”

In that book, Dreher urges Christians to be awakened to the belief that modern-day society has become a toxic environment that will ultimately lead to the abolition of their religion. Dreher believes that the Christian faith has become heavily emotional and devoid of Biblical content and spiritual discipline, and this leaves its practitioners vulnerable to becoming lost in a secular culture.

“We live in a culture that no longer understands itself by the Biblical story,” Dreher said. “The statistics on the numbers of people — especially young people — falling away from the church are unprecedented. And of those who stay, their understanding of historical Christian orthodoxy is largely nonexistent. We Christians today are like the people of Noah’s day, who saw the rain coming, but figured it would eventually stop.”

Dreher’s proposed solution to reverse the impending downfall of Christianity is to follow the path of Benedict of Nursia — a Christian who was born in the fourth century after the fall of Rome. He escaped the city to shield himself from depravity and eventually formed a monastic order where he could serve Christ in community. Dreher believes that following a similar way of life is the only way Christianity will survive in the current age.

“I’ve been writing about Christianity and popular culture for decades now, and I have never been more concerned by reading the signs of the times,” Dreher said. “An old monk in the Italian mountains told me a truth that I took deep in my heart: that Christians who don’t read the signs of the times and come together to live the faith in a more intentional, disciplined way are not going to make it through the trials ahead.”

Seeing a need to start this conversation in Tyler, B3 Ministries, under the direction of Matt Magill, is hosting the event on Oct. 26. Magill was stirred to action after reading “The Benedict Option” because he saw parallels between Dreher’s call to submerge oneself in a Christian community that fosters and grows their faith and the type of community that exists in Tyler. Magill sees that community as a double-edged sword.

“The same reasons that we are so grateful to live in East Texas make us susceptible to a dangerous complacency,” Magill said.

WHAT: An Evening with Rod Dreher

WHEN: 7 p.m. Oct. 26

WHERE: Tyler Woman’s Building, 911 S. Broadway Ave.

INFO: https://b3ministries.org