Will Christianity Die?

[Sand Dancer]

It's kind of interesting to see how Christianity is falling in this day and age in the USA. When you search up the topic on youtube, every pastor that covers the issue has a completely different message. Every pastor gives a different reason for why they think this is happening. What that tells me is that most Christians in this country aren't sure exactly why their pews are getting emptier and emptier every year

Moreover, if you search up atheism on youtube, most videos by religious channels cover stories of atheists who find god and become Christians. I'm sure those stories are uplifting for Christians to see, but they also tell a very skewed story. In reality, only 1% of religious nones that consider themselves atheists join a church within a 4 year period. This is according to Ryan Burge who is a professor in Political Science (and also a Baptist pastor). Skip to 9:00 on this video to hear what he says on the issue

I feel like most US Christians are out of touch when it comes to this topic in general

Too much cognitive dissonance for honesty to happen.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I don't think it will entirely die out

I believe its cycle of decline will eventually level off

And it will just shrink to a much smaller size rather than die out

Unless of course some kind of revival happens

I think if Jesus comes back, he will smite the so-called Christians because they should know better. They choose not to follow his teachings.

 

[Eddi]

I think if Jesus comes back, he will smite the so-called Christians because they should know better. They choose not to follow his teachings.

I don't think he'd smite them

I think he would rebuke many of them

And that many Christians would be shocked and suprised

 

[nPeace]

I suppose that that question is of interest to Christians, but all I want from Christianity is for it to lose its influence in the lives of non-Christians, not disappear from the earth. Christianity isn't a problem when all it does is protest abortion clinics, but when it starts killing abortion providers and making abortion illegal, it needs to be stricken down. But do that and the same in the other areas where it pokes its unwanted into the business of non-Christians, and why would unbelievers even think about Christianity? How often do you think about Sikhism or Jainism? Probably about as often as they interfere with your life - never. Atheists don't seem to care that such religions exist, because their existence is irrelevant to anybody but their adherents.

I have not found this to be true.
What I have found is that atheist, who are human - yes, they are not like beast - animals that depend purely on instinct, they have the same desires as humans, which is to see genuine love being shown to others, and to see people getting along in peace, people being honest in their daily living, etc. etc.

So when atheist see people being influenced by their religion, to practice such things, they appreciate that.
This is the reason many, many, MANY atheist, commend those who belong to the faith, that noticeably practice such a faith, AND, THEY JOIN THEM - becoming a part of religion - true Christianity - themselves.

So, maybe It Aint Necessarily So is speaking for It Aint Necessarily So himself, rather than for atheists at large.
In fact, evidently, that is the case.

 

[Kenny]

I'm sure dozens of religions the world over, all throughout human history, said the exact same thing. Yes, Christianity will die. I believe we're watching it die right now. Because it has become indolent, self-serving, and hypocritical. It no longer lives up to it's message, and has not for a very long time. People - actual people, not politicians and propagandists - are sick of it, to the point that even active Christians want nothing to do with Christianity. It is rotten from the inside out, and the infection has gone too deep; it will die, and maybe when enough time has passed there will be something new born again from it.

No... this sounds more like a personal issue than the norm. Christianity remains one of the most helpful faiths in the US... maybe even in the world.

As the post suggested and, likewise, my life impacted, Christianity will live. We believe Jesus is coming back too.

The hypocrites, those who say Lord but Jesus wasn't their Lord, will have their day before the judgment seat as per my signature.

 

[nPeace]

It's kind of interesting to see how Christianity is falling in this day and age in the USA. When you search up the topic on youtube, every pastor that covers the issue has a completely different message. Every pastor gives a different reason for why they think this is happening. What that tells me is that most Christians in this country aren't sure exactly why their pews are getting emptier and emptier every year

Too much cognitive dissonance for honesty to happen.

It's simply because they don't understand the book they claim to use. Neither do they live by it.

We just have to look at history, and pay close attention to it, and what the scriptures actually say.

Would they do this, if they understood, or lived by the teachings of Christ? Nope.

How about this? Nope.

This? Nope.
...and we can go on, making this list quite long.

 

[Kenny]

I suppose that that question is of interest to Christians, but all I want from Christianity is for it to lose its influence in the lives of non-Christians, not disappear from the earth. Christianity isn't a problem when all it does is protest abortion clinics, but when it starts killing abortion providers and making abortion illegal, it needs to be stricken down. But do that and the same in the other areas where it pokes its unwanted into the business of non-Christians, and why would unbelievers even think about Christianity? How often do you think about Sikhism or Jainism? Probably about as often as they interfere with your life - never. Atheists don't seem to care that such religions exist, because their existence is irrelevant to anybody but their adherents.

I understand what you are trying to say but I am not quite sure if it really pans out.

Any law influences people who don't believe in that law. Non-Christians try to influence laws that affect Christian and visa versa. I would say whether Sikhism, Jainism or even atheism, all want laws drawn from their worldview and, in many cases, affect everyone else.

To say that atheism don't care that religions exists is simply squeezing their eyes shut about reality.

Freedom From Religion Foundation - Freedom From Religion Foundation

Their very effort is anti-God believing people

 

[King Phenomenon]

Billions of years from now? I doubt it will last that long.

Within 50

 

[Sand Dancer]

Within 50

Gee, I hope not. What makes you say that?

 

[Kenny]

There a couple different discussions here. First the story in the article sounds like any AA story of recovery and following a spiritually based program. In AA, it's the higher power, or "God as we understand Him", without any specific doctrinal or theological idea of God one must adopt to be part of the group.

It's an open-ended spiritual recovery program, and this gentleman's story fits right in with countless others in AA, or any 12 step program for recovery. So is it really about Christianity or "Jesus" as a religion, or about spirituality in general? I'd say it is the latter.

I don't think I ever said there aren't other methods. Even therapists can be of help too. God, in our book, is more interested in getting people well than just knowing Him.

But the above doesn't eradicate my position.

Now, as far as will Christianity as a religion die? I'd say it appears that Christianity, like that guy in the story, is putting a gun to its own head in selling it's spiritual birthright in getting into bed with right wing political extremists and calling that God. Prostituting themselves, or "whoring after other gods" in Biblical language. Spiritually minded people recognize something is afoul and are jumping ship left and right these days.

Yes, if you make Christianity a religion, it will die (probably why so many churches are closing). But, equally, those which are alive in Him and make it a relationship (as with the post) will continue to make it alive and well.

Being a Christian means doing what Jesus taught, action in the world of love and compassion, understanding and forgiveness. It does not mean all this bull**** from the pulpits of right wing political conservatives.

Don't know what all pulpits are saying. Why is "conservatism" defined as "absent of love and compassion?

I'm a conservative and we are very loving and compassionate.

Certainly put an "AMEN!" to what I highlighted! Glad we agree.

 

[King Phenomenon]

Gee, I hope not. What makes you say that?

When a certain man dies existence ends and rises again with his re birth

 

[F1fan]

It is apparent that good people are realizing they don't need a religion like Christianity to tell them they are good (or saved despite being worthless rags). Christianity is growing among the more conservative and extreme, and I suspect they are exploiting the ideas in Christianity (like salvation) as a way to offset negative personality triats and immoral views. Evanglical Christianity is very divisive, and almost acts like an abusive spouse. It beats down the believer, and then offers a way to be lifted up, thus creating a sort of emotional dependency. Threads like this one illustrates how insecure some believers feel about their religion's influence in a society that is moving away from the need to believe. This thread offers a question, then a sales pitch. Who is the sale aimed at, is my question. Obviously the post has only attracted reasons why Christianity is well past its Use By date. And it also opened the door to the harm evangelical Christianity is doing to the USA.

 

[Kenny]

The word of God, is alive, and exerts power, and is sharper than any two edged sword, and is pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints from the marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart - Hebrews 4:12

This is why it will never die. His word doesn't return void but prospers wherein it was sent. Heaven and earth can pass away, but His word will never pass away and as long as there are hearts receptive, it will never die.

Jesus is coming back for an alive Church, not a dying church.

But you know that.

 

[Kenny]

Like all ancient religions Christianity will not likely die, but it is becoming increasingly not relevant beyond the ancient culture and time it originated.

Your testimony and claims of healing by faith are common from the perspective of many different and diverse religious beliefs. It is simply a part of the nature to be human.

Thank you.

But, as the post relates, is it really not relevant? When a 16 year old comes to our church married to drug addict/pusher who had a moment with a gun that still had two bullets and said, "If this is life, I will kill my child and myself (being pregnant)" and now is remarried to a Christian, being sent all over the US by Harris Corp., do you think it was because the message and its power wasn't relevant?

 

[Secret Chief]

The numbers are projected to rise over the next few decades.

- World population by religion 2010-2050 | Statista

 

[sun rise]

Everything dies eventually.

Yes, everything that was born will sooner or later die. Institutions, religions and nations, are no exception.

Divinity is eternal and the fundamental message of divinity is likewise eternal though the structures (religions) containing the message are not and the focus/emphasis of the message varies depending on the characteristics of the people of the time.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

maybe It Aint Necessarily So is speaking for It Aint Necessarily So himself, rather than for atheists at large.

Yes, I only speak for myself here. I'm sure that many would agree with me, but there are also atheists who consider Christianity a force for good without which the world would be less well of, and some that prefer Christianity cease to exist. I'm neither of those.

What I have found is that atheist, who are human - yes, they are not like beast - animals that depend purely on instinct, they have the same desires as humans, which is to see genuine love being shown to others, and to see people getting along in peace, people being honest in their daily living, etc. etc.

I consider Christianity an impediment to right thinking and right behavior. It's not making the world a better place nor making its adherents better people. They tend to be less well-educated, more tribalistic, less tolerant with its bigotries. I see love and cooperation in humanists. Religion is not necessary, and in my opinion, interferes with intellectual, spiritual, and moral development. Christianity teaches that the world is a bad place and that people are fundamentally sick at birth and need some kind of cleansing without which they deserve eternal gratuitous torture.

So when atheist see people being influenced by their religion, to practice such things, they appreciate that.

As I said, I think people do that better without religion. Of course, I don't expect the theists to notice how constructive the humanists around them are. One of the bigotries many have accepted uncritically is that atheists are immoral. At one time, atheists couldn't teach, coach, adopt, or serve on juries for that reason. Yet humanism appears to be the gold standard and the height of human intellectual and moral development to date which Christians can equal but not exceed. I call such people theistic humanists.

Any law influences people who don't believe in that law.

How does legal abortion influence your life?

Non-Christians try to influence laws that affect Christian and visa versa.

Humanists don't try to impose their ways on anybody except perhaps taxpayers. Humanism is about enabling people, not controlling them.

Freedom From Religion Foundation - Freedom From Religion Foundation Their very effort is anti-God believing people

My freedom from religion doesn't hurt you, but it does help me. I support their effort, which is NOT directed at any believer. If the FFRF called the shots, you could be a Christian and I an atheist. If your church called the shots, well, just look at the Ten Commandments and recent theocratic advances in America. Here are some indications of what the people who Christians admire have in mind for America if they get their way

• "There is a value in spiritual violence," Hagee declared, "and it is time that you considered the role that you are playing or not playing and whether or not it's time for you to become more aggressive in your beliefs" - Matthew Hagee

• "I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over you. Yes, hate is good . . . our goal is a Christian nation. We have the biblical duty, we are called on by God to conquer this country. We don't want equal time. We don't want pluralism" - Randall Terry, Director of Operation Rescue

• "The long term goal of Christians in politics should be to gain exclusive control over the franchise. Those who refuse to submit publicly to the eternal sanctions of God by submitting to his Church's public marks of the covenant-baptism and holy communion-must be denied citizenship, just as they were in ancient Israel." - Gary North

• "I hope to see the day when, as in the early days of our country, we won't have any public schools. The churches will have taken them over again and Christians will be running them. What a happy day that will be." - Jerry Falwell

• "There will never be world peace until God's house and God's people are given their rightful place of leadership at the top of the world." - Pat Robertson

• "Our goal must be simple. We must have a Christian nation built on God's law, on the Ten Commandments. No apologies." - Randall Terry

These people don't want to enable others. They want to control them. I'll bet you consider some of these comments examples of good Christian morals and ideas that ought to be made law. I want them making no laws. Let them go off and pray and sing hymns instead.

 

[sun rise]

Christianity remains one of the most helpful faiths in the US... maybe even in the world.

I appreciate the "one of the most" because I'd have an issue with "the only".

do you think it was because the message and its power wasn't relevant?

The difference between us is that you find your life oriented around Jesus and fulfillment in a structure, the church. I have no quibble with that. We should all follow the best path we know, the one that satisfies the longing of our hearts.

There are many rivers that lead to the "sea" and in the end, it's the sea that matters not the river one used.

 

[Sand Dancer]

It is apparent that good people are realizing they don't need a religion like Christianity to tell them they are good (or saved despite being worthless rags). Christianity is growing among the more conservative and extreme, and I suspect they are exploiting the ideas in Christianity (like salvation) as a way to offset negative personality triats and immoral views. Evanglical Christianity is very divisive, and almost acts like an abusive spouse. It beats down the believer, and then offers a way to be lifted up, thus creating a sort of emotional dependency. Threads like this one illustrates how insecure some believers feel about their religion's influence in a society that is moving away from the need to believe. This thread offers a question, then a sales pitch. Who is the sale aimed at, is my question. Obviously the post has only attracted reasons why Christianity is well past its Use By date. And it also opened the door to the harm evangelical Christianity is doing to the USA.

Rich Mullins said something like, "God is like the kid that bloodies your nose, then gives you a ride home on his bicycle." He was brilliant.

 

[Sand Dancer]

The numbers are projected to rise over the next few decades.

- World population by religion 2010-2050 | Statista

In developing nations, which is a bad combination.