Last month, Newsweek featured an article titled: “The Decline and Fall of Christian America” Often times when a liberal magazine like Newsweek focuses on Christianity, we think their taking a cheap shot at the Christian faith. At least that is what I thought initially. However, the article was based on empirical data. The Northeast and no longer the Northwest is now the most unchurched region in America. The reason why this is scaring many Christian leaders is because the Northeast use to be the foundation or the roots of American Christianity. The foundation has been shaken, the roots are decaying, and that is why people are concluding that Christianity is fading in America.
What do you think? Do you think that Christianity in America is on the decline? And if so how should we as Christians respond? I would love to get your feedback on this.
Attack on the church has typically been good for it, having unforeseen consequences that worked to strengthen or spread Christianity (e.g. the early church’s diaspora in response to persecution, the underground church movement in China, etc.). The situation in the US seems different. First, the “arguments” against Christianity are oblique and do not target the truth or falsity of what it professes. Second, in many ways, the practices and structures that traditionally upheld the community life in the Church have atrophied, and we have not been particularly adept at creating or adapting to the contemporary lack of connection. So, in short, the attack focuses on our weakness for propoganda and isolation.
What do I mean about oblique attacks on Christianity? C.S. Lewis in Screwtape Letters wrote that we no longer “think of doctrines as primarily ‘true’ or ‘false’, but as ‘academic’ or ‘practical’, ‘outworn’ or ‘contemporary’, ‘conventional’ or ‘ruthless’. Jargon, not argument, is . . . [the] best ally in keeping . . . [us] from the Church.” Take a look at Bill Maher’s Religulous–questions are not actually asked for a debate/ response on the topic of question. Rather than queries seeking a response, Maher’s questions serve as indirect statements of the stupidity of those who take Christianity seriously. Thus the actual critique of Christianity cannot be answered without calling Maher’s bluff and addressing the statement behind the question (you can bet if that was done, it was edited out–haha).
As for isolation, perhaps I speak out of personal experience on that front. I have a good church community in NY, but am transitioning (and am really persisting in the face of overwhelming evidence that my search is in vain) to find something even more up close and personal in NJ where I live. It has been a pretty sucky experience looking for those illusive relationships that aren’t just “churchy” and yet are real enough to entertain conversations about truth and faith. I know that everybody seeks a sense of authentic connection–what is it that stops us from being real? On to the church retreat to see what’ll happen there (*sigh*)…
Christians should accept that their religion is just as false as all the other ones that have come and gone from Greek mythology to Viking gods to Islam. Without base in science and logic. Nothing can survive for long. You Christians have had a good run of it, time to accept that it’s over and welcome the coming of the Age of Technology.
“What do you think? Do you think that Christianity in America is on the decline? And if so how should we as Christians respond?”
I think that it is on the decline and our best way to handle it is to just let it happen. Pushing our faith onto other people serves no one. People have lost faith due to all of the false prophets out there, the crazy religious zealots, the allegations of child molestation, the former President Bush and on and on and on.
Add to it that few are struck by awe by walking into a church and rather knowing that that their money is spent on elaborate decoration and stained glass and preach hypocritically on the issue of vanity. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, you read that the church “initially opposed to use of a fork, believing it was an instrument of the devil.”
It’s a wonder how we have any members left at all!