Decline of Christianity and Religion

[ChristineM]

you would rather live without family, friends either here or elsewhere?

People i love and are alive, not people that are dead in heaven.

Which is why i said if it works for you... The idea doesn't work for me

 

[Brickjectivity]

possibly people who have more material things, aren't as mentally resilient?

Money does change people. More than that I don't wish to guess about.

 

[setarcos]

Several reasons, here are a couple.

The methods of education have improved and people are now more willing to investigate and ask questions.
Also the internet which allows such inquisitiveness world wide.

I don't agree. I think people have always asked questions generally to the same degree. The tools have changed but the desire to know has always been there in the general population as far as that goes. Despite what many have been taught in school our ancestors generally weren't the mindless zombies accepting every theory that happened to come their way.
I suspect skepticism was more prevalent in ancient man than it is today. What has changed though is the tools available today which allow for the dissemination of false or misleading information on a massive scale. And our modern ability to gather data has far outstripped any one persons ability to make sense of it all. As far as "modern" educational methods, I think more and more educators are starting to realize the need for rethinking how people learn best. So as far as the demise of Christianity goes I think we ask the wrong question.
Christianity isn't on the decline. Christianity never was about the numbers of people. Christianity is trucking along just like it always has following its own self described prescription for its future. So why is Christianity falling out of favor with so many? At this point in history I think its because we've schooled ourselves into ignorance...ironically. All our gathered knowledge and we still haven't taught ourselves how to treat each other properly.

 

[Kenny]

why do you suppose christianity is on the decline? evidently religion is on the decline altogether.


a pew research poll shows christianity down 12% from a decade ago.


Christians continue to make up a majority of the U.S. populace, but their share of the adult population is 12 points lower in 2021 than it was in 2011. In addition, the share of U.S. adults who say they pray on a daily basis has been trending downward, as has the share who say religion is “very important” in their lives.

We might look for a correlation! You can be thirsty and think Coca-cola will satisfy it... but only water is the real thing.

8 hours and 27 minutes. That's how long the average gamer plays each week

 

[Kenny]

possibly people who have more material things, aren't as mentally resilient?

That actually is a good point!

 

[ChristineM]

I don't agree. I think people have always asked questions generally to the same degree. The tools have changed but the desire to know has always been there in the general population as far as that goes. Despite what many have been taught in school our ancestors generally weren't the mindless zombies accepting every theory that happened to come their way.
I suspect skepticism was more prevalent in ancient man than it is today. What has changed though is the tools available today which allow for the dissemination of false or misleading information on a massive scale. And our modern ability to gather data has far outstripped any one persons ability to make sense of it all. As far as "modern" educational methods, I think more and more educators are starting to realize the need for rethinking how people learn best. So as far as the demise of Christianity goes I think we ask the wrong question.
Christianity isn't on the decline. Christianity never was about the numbers of people. Christianity is trucking along just like it always has following its own self described prescription for its future. So why is Christianity falling out of favor with so many? At this point in history I think its because we've schooled ourselves into ignorance...ironically. All our gathered knowledge and we still haven't taught ourselves how to treat each other properly.

True enough for some but in general old style of learning by rote limited a person's inquisitiveness.

While the world population is growing the number of Christians (snd other religions) is declining.

And i find that treating each other properly is not a christian virtue. All fine for their own little group, own church, own brand if Christianity. But for everyone else, nope.

 

[Sand Dancer]

why do you suppose christianity is on the decline? evidently religion is on the decline altogether.


a pew research poll shows christianity down 12% from a decade ago.


Christians continue to make up a majority of the U.S. populace, but their share of the adult population is 12 points lower in 2021 than it was in 2011. In addition, the share of U.S. adults who say they pray on a daily basis has been trending downward, as has the share who say religion is “very important” in their lives.

The closer a country gets to first world status, and the more people are educated, the more religion declines. We are the last first world hold out.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I see God makes all things New.

I see all things have been made new and the power of influence has been removed from priests and the ecclesiastical and the choice is placed in the hands of each of us.

Regards Tony

I hope the next thing is better than the last.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I believe that Christianity is on the decline because God never intended Christianity to last forever. No religion was ever intended by God to last forever. As time goes on a religion reaches its wintertime and God speaks again through another Messenger. I believe that God has spoken again, as He always does when people have lost their way.

“All that lives, and this includes the religions, have springtime, a time of maturity, of harvest and wintertime. Then religion becomes barren, a lifeless adherence to the letter uninformed by the spirit, and man’s spiritual life declines. When we look at religious history, we see that God has spoken to men precisely at times when they have reached the nadir of their degradation and cultural decadence. Moses came to Israel when it was languishing under the Pharaoh’s yoke, Christ appeared at a time when the Jewish Faith had lost its power and culture of antiquity was in its death those. Muhammad came to a people who lived in barbaric ignorance at the lowest level of culture and into a world in which the former religions had strayed far away from their origins and nearly lost their identity. The Bab addressed Himself to a people who had irretrievably lost their former grandeur and who found themselves in a state of hopeless decadence. Baha’u’llah came to a humanity which was approaching the most critical phase of its history.” (Udo Schaefer, The Light Shineth in Darkness, p. 24)

No, religion is not on the decline, but agnosticism and atheism are on the decline.
Since the year 2000, religion has made resurgence whereas atheism and agnosticism are on the decline.

The growth rates of the Abrahamic religions from 1910-2010 were as follows: Judaism .11%, Christianity 1.32%, Islam 1.97%, and Baha’i Faith 3.54%.

Atheism was growing at a rate of 6.54% from 1910-2010 but dropped to a growth rate of 0.05% from 2000-2010. Agnosticism was growing at a rate of 5.45% from 1910-2010 but dropped to a growth rate of 0.32% from 2000-2010. That demonstrates that both atheism and agnosticism are on the decline but also that there are many more agnostics than atheists.

Statistics from: Growth of religion - Wikipedia

I think people are realizing it's okay to just be religious nones instead of having to proclaim a view on deities. They just don't care.

 

[setarcos]

True enough for some but in general old style of learning by rote limited a person's inquisitiveness.

While the world population is growing the number of Christians (snd other religions) is declining.

And i find that treating each other properly is not a christian virtue. All fine for their own little group, own church, own brand if Christianity. But for everyone else, nope.

That's my point. rote learning isn't old...its still with us. And I must conjecture a relatively new method of education. Ancient man taught with experience. They didn't describe an experience and have the pupils remember it by rote. They took the pupils out and "showed" them. Somewhere along the line we've misplaced having the students learn themselves with directed assistance with teaching the students directly without the students assistance.

Yes the population is growing and personally I think the "ignorant" are outbreeding the decent folk. But the Christian message is clear. Here is an example....
Matthew 24:10
10 At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another, 11and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.…
And that's just among Christians. Among the increasing world population I suspect many will become Christian. But many more will "fall away" and the general trend should be towards decline. Its pretty clear though. According to Christianity it will become harder and harder for people to become Christians as the ages wear on. So much so that Christ himself said that those who can and do are more blessed than even those Christians that knew him personally during his time on earth.

And to be clear...Christianity didn't invent morality. It didn't create the virtue of one human being kind to another. Human nature is what it is irrespective of Christianity. Some people are born moral, some psychopathic. Some who are moral are Christian. Some are not. And some who claim to be Christian are clearly psychopathic and immoral . Christianity simply puts these things into perspective from its own point of view. For instance it claims our sense of morality comes from God. But it doesn't say that only Christians have a sense of morality. That's my speech and I'm stickin to it.
Peace....out. mic drop

 

[ChristineM]

rote learning isn't old...its still with us.

Shocked... Wheredo you live?

Ancient man

We are not talking ancient but the fairly recent decline which has occurred over the last 50 years or so.

Christianity didn't invent morality

Of course not. Without morality humanity would not have developed into such a state that churches were able to establish and grow. Christianity just stole morality for itself, modified it to exclude anyone not christian.

Human nature is what it is irrespective of Christianity.

Get christianity has its teachings.

And some who claim to be Christian are clearly psychopathic and immoral

And they are still christian. It is not tour place to judge who is and who isn't christian

But it doesn't say that only Christians have a sense of morality.

I agree here. But many christians don't

 

[Colt]

why do you suppose christianity is on the decline? evidently religion is on the decline altogether.


a pew research poll shows christianity down 12% from a decade ago.


Christians continue to make up a majority of the U.S. populace, but their share of the adult population is 12 points lower in 2021 than it was in 2011. In addition, the share of U.S. adults who say they pray on a daily basis has been trending downward, as has the share who say religion is “very important” in their lives.

Christianity failed to remain true to the original gospel of Jesus. It failed to reform its YEC claims.

But the Urantia Book is just getting started.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

I hope the next thing is better than the last.

It is indeed, the future will be most great. I wish you the best of choices and the best life can offer.

Regards Tony

 

[sealchan]

why do you suppose christianity is on the decline? evidently religion is on the decline altogether.


a pew research poll shows christianity down 12% from a decade ago.


Christians continue to make up a majority of the U.S. populace, but their share of the adult population is 12 points lower in 2021 than it was in 2011. In addition, the share of U.S. adults who say they pray on a daily basis has been trending downward, as has the share who say religion is “very important” in their lives.

I wonder whether the movie and TV industries has succeeded in providing epic works that speak better to spiritual understanding than the literalistic and aging stories that are being clung to by Christian churches.

I an think of many shows I have watched that deal more intelligently with spiritual matters than many Christians deal with these things through their own sacred texts.

Since the 2000s there have been more and more fantasy and science fiction frachises (including superhero frachises) that capture a sense of wonder and mystery surrounding the experience and potential of our existence. Few Christian genre works approach the maturity of discussion that many non-Christian efforts have achieved.

 

[Viker]

Christianity isn't all religions. It may be on a slight decline but alternative religions may be on a slight incline. Many of which address concerns and beliefs of the young and disenfranchised. Religion in general is here to stay.

 

[Nakosis]

why do you suppose christianity is on the decline? evidently religion is on the decline altogether.


a pew research poll shows christianity down 12% from a decade ago.


Christians continue to make up a majority of the U.S. populace, but their share of the adult population is 12 points lower in 2021 than it was in 2011. In addition, the share of U.S. adults who say they pray on a daily basis has been trending downward, as has the share who say religion is “very important” in their lives.

Because of the influx of diversity, Christianity no longer has the same authority it once held.
Questioning the authority of Christianity was seen before as immoral. Now, not questioning the authority of Christianity has become immoral.

 

[DNB]

why do you suppose christianity is on the decline? evidently religion is on the decline altogether.


a pew research poll shows christianity down 12% from a decade ago.


Christians continue to make up a majority of the U.S. populace, but their share of the adult population is 12 points lower in 2021 than it was in 2011. In addition, the share of U.S. adults who say they pray on a daily basis has been trending downward, as has the share who say religion is “very important” in their lives.

Morality has always been on the decline throughout the centuries, and licentiousness on the rise. Each year the TV shows are becoming more and more racier and audacious, the radio broadcasters are lewd (eg; Howard Stern), the movies more graphic and violent, video games more illicit, porn stars and gang bangers are celebrated, music videos are raunchy, etc... There is much to distract people from the more wholesome and beneficial aspects of life, which the latter never seem appealing in face of the superficial allurements and quick fixes.

Christianity was always meant to be a minority demography, as many are called but few are chosen. And, the enticements of this world tend to demarcate who were the mature Christians, and who were not. Ultimately, evil must reign in order for Armageddon to take place, so that Christ may return and sickle the sheep from the goats.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I believe that Christianity is on the decline because God never intended Christianity to last forever. No religion was ever intended by God to last forever. As time goes on a religion reaches its wintertime and God speaks again through another Messenger. I believe that God has spoken again, as He always does when people have lost their way.

“All that lives, and this includes the religions, have springtime, a time of maturity, of harvest and wintertime. Then religion becomes barren, a lifeless adherence to the letter uninformed by the spirit, and man’s spiritual life declines. When we look at religious history, we see that God has spoken to men precisely at times when they have reached the nadir of their degradation and cultural decadence. Moses came to Israel when it was languishing under the Pharaoh’s yoke, Christ appeared at a time when the Jewish Faith had lost its power and culture of antiquity was in its death those. Muhammad came to a people who lived in barbaric ignorance at the lowest level of culture and into a world in which the former religions had strayed far away from their origins and nearly lost their identity. The Bab addressed Himself to a people who had irretrievably lost their former grandeur and who found themselves in a state of hopeless decadence. Baha’u’llah came to a humanity which was approaching the most critical phase of its history.” (Udo Schaefer, The Light Shineth in Darkness, p. 24)

No, religion is not on the decline, but agnosticism and atheism are on the decline.
Since the year 2000, religion has made resurgence whereas atheism and agnosticism are on the decline.

The growth rates of the Abrahamic religions from 1910-2010 were as follows: Judaism .11%, Christianity 1.32%, Islam 1.97%, and Baha’i Faith 3.54%.

Atheism was growing at a rate of 6.54% from 1910-2010 but dropped to a growth rate of 0.05% from 2000-2010. Agnosticism was growing at a rate of 5.45% from 1910-2010 but dropped to a growth rate of 0.32% from 2000-2010. That demonstrates that both atheism and agnosticism are on the decline but also that there are many more agnostics than atheists.

Statistics from: Growth of religion - Wikipedia

It's worth noting that the OP was talking about the US religious affiliation trends, whilst your link uses global figures. That has a massive impact on what the stats suggest.

Most trends still seem to suggest religion is trending down, but this article might be of interest to you.

The Proportion Of White Christians In The U.S. Has Stopped Shrinking, New Study Finds

 

[muhammad_isa]

..why do you suppose christianity is on the decline?

Faith is inversely proportional to the "size of our bellies".

Jesus famously said:
"For the rich man to get to heaven is like the camel passing through the eye of a needle".

Wealth is a major distraction from remembering G-d.
When we stop remembering G-d, our deeds become more selfish
and that takes us further away from G-d.
The converse is also true.
Those that do good deeds [in the "name" of G-d / righteousness], their faith increases.

 

[Trailblazer]

It's worth noting that the OP was talking about the US religious affiliation trends, whilst your link uses global figures. That has a massive impact on what the stats suggest.

Most trends still seem to suggest religion is trending down, but this article might be of interest to you.

The Proportion Of White Christians In The U.S. Has Stopped Shrinking, New Study Finds

Yes, I am well-aware that religion is trending down and atheism and unaffiliated is on the rise in North America and Europe and probably even in Australia, and most of that trend is because many people are dropping out of Christianity and/or not adhering to the Christian tradition that they were raised in.