Christianity in America is dying on its own vine.
Research in 2019 indicates that the number of Americans declaring themselves to be Christian was down 12% with the biggest swings away in Millennials, Democratic affiliation, and geographically from the Northeast. Although there are negative swings in all generations, political leanings and geographies.
The article and research is interesting and there’s lots to pull out. Mormonism numbers are stable for one example, and the numbers of white Christians describing themselves as “born again/evangelical” is rising for another.
https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/
As a Christian myself I have a few theories on this. Generalisations of course, broad brush strokes for sure…
Christianity as a platform for spirituality, morality, kindness, goodness and love….has become less appealing. This is driven by hardline immovable dogmas such as the ones I’m always on about on this forum:
- Eternal suffering
- The literal interpretations of the Bible
- The dogmas of death emanating from such thinking
- The invisibility of Jesus Christ, his spirit, his values and his teachings
- Polarisation of political ideologies and the right wing adoption of religious political righteousness
Christianity as a religion in America is just not attractive.
Thoughts ?
@divegeester saidAs for why numbers may be shrinking, I'd point to the internet, blogs, websites, social media, message boards, personal emboldening in cyberspace, echo chambers, and so on, maybe.
Christianity in America is dying on its own vine.
Research in 2019 indicates that the number of Americans declaring themselves to be Christian was down 12% with the biggest swings away in Millennials, Democratic affiliation, and geographically from the Northeast. Although there are negative swings in all generations, political leanings and geographies.
The article ...[text shortened]... itical righteousness
Christianity as a religion in America is just not attractive.
Thoughts ?
I think all this huge amount of communication and opinions and testimonies and identity-politics type personal realities, all stashed in silos and compartments, often seemingly hermetically sealed, has empowered ~ and made more assertive and even prickly ~ many people who in the past would have kept their non-religious character locked away and would have described themselves as "Christian".
Meanwhile, all these modern facilities also enable Christians to consolidate and commune and maybe become besieged and therefore more prickly too.
I think there has been a similar dichotomy happening in Indonesia in the 30 years I have been an observer. There are maybe 180,000,000 internet users here. Theism and atheism are talked about in ways that were simply non-existent 20-30 years ago.
@divegeester saidtl;dr version
Christianity in America is dying on its own vine.
Thoughts?
There is too much information now, and too many opportunities to bond with like-minded people virtually, for the old social adhesive and assumptions to work like they used to. People are looking for new or different or more personal adhesives.
@sonship saidDo you know what, sonship, it would be really interesting to hear your thoughts on this topic rather than see you resume your bickering with the person who posted the OP.
@divegeester
If it were "attractive" would you want to turn your whole heart over to Jesus ?
For example, is your Local Churches one template for how Christianity's reversal in the U.S. could be rectified or restored? As a devout Christian, how do you explain the decline in your country?
- Joined
- 25 Nov 21
- Moves
- 1990
@divegeester saidThis is an interesting OP.
Christianity in America is dying on its own vine.
Research in 2019 indicates that the number of Americans declaring themselves to be Christian was down 12% with the biggest swings away in Millennials, Democratic affiliation, and geographically from the Northeast. Although there are negative swings in all generations, political leanings and geographies.
The article ...[text shortened]... itical righteousness
Christianity as a religion in America is just not attractive.
Thoughts ?
I know one church in England saw a dramatic *increase* in attendance and membership by offering free pints of ale before, during and after services.
They eventually needed to limit the number of pints to 12 per person after one bloke drunkenly boasted that he earned big bucks leading a team to deliver a big project for a client and begged the other church goers to declare how much they loved him.
It was quite a spectacle.
@divegeester saidHonestly, a really good topic for discussion divegeester. I sincerely hope it doesn't go awry. I'm going to have to give it more thought before I reply though, and at the moment I must attend to some urgent responsibilities. Back in a few hours.
Christianity in America is dying on its own vine.
Research in 2019 indicates that the number of Americans declaring themselves to be Christian was down 12% with the biggest swings away in Millennials, Democratic affiliation, and geographically from the Northeast. Although there are negative swings in all generations, political leanings and geographies.
The article ...[text shortened]... itical righteousness
Christianity as a religion in America is just not attractive.
Thoughts ?
@divegeester saidMaybe, it is church Christianity that is dying. Less people going to church could be the end result of the behavior and conduct of church leaders who in the last few decades have been found to be crooked, greedy, sexually and mortally corrupt.
Christianity in America is dying on its own vine.
Research in 2019 indicates that the number of Americans declaring themselves to be Christian was down 12% with the biggest swings away in Millennials, Democratic affiliation, and geographically from the Northeast. Although there are negative swings in all generations, political leanings and geographies.
The article ...[text shortened]... itical righteousness
Christianity as a religion in America is just not attractive.
Thoughts ?
People are realizing that they do not need to church, neither do they need to be part of a corrupt organization to live morally uplifting lives.
06 Mar 22
@divegeester saidMatthew 24:11-13
Christianity in America is dying on its own vine.
Research in 2019 indicates that the number of Americans declaring themselves to be Christian was down 12% with the biggest swings away in Millennials, Democratic affiliation, and geographically from the Northeast. Although there are negative swings in all generations, political leanings and geographies.
The article ...[text shortened]... itical righteousness
Christianity as a religion in America is just not attractive.
Thoughts ?
English Standard Version
And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
We are entering into the last days; this is one of the things predicted. Christianity isn't going to die because it doesn't depend on Christians, but Christ, many will fall away and stop pretending to be something they are not. That doesn't mean Christianity is dying, only revealing those who know the Lord from those that don't.
06 Mar 22
@divegeester saidThe message doesn’t reach people any more. In a land where success is measured dollars and material comfort, not in spiritual advancement, a call to personal sacrifice and privation falls on deaf ears.
Christianity in America is dying on its own vine.
Research in 2019 indicates that the number of Americans declaring themselves to be Christian was down 12% with the biggest swings away in Millennials, Democratic affiliation, and geographically from the Northeast. Although there are negative swings in all generations, political leanings and geographies.
The article ...[text shortened]... itical righteousness
Christianity as a religion in America is just not attractive.
Thoughts ?
06 Mar 22
@fmf saidLess than a couple of hundred but this just my thoughts on it all. The love many growing cold is just one of the things Jesus spoke of. I have to acknowledge that pretty much every generation had in it those who thought what I just said was true too during their time. We will see I guess.
What do you give it? Another thousand more years? Two thousand?
@kellyjay saidJust a heavy dose of subjective pessimism and misanthropy from you then.
Less than a couple of hundred but this just my thoughts on it all. The love many growing cold is just one of the things Jesus spoke of. I have to acknowledge that pretty much every generation had in it those who thought what I just said was true too during their time. We will see I guess.