In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace

[progressoid]

The religious landscape of the United States continues to change at a rapid clip. In Pew Research Center telephone surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019, 65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians when asked about their religion, down 12 percentage points over the past decade. Meanwhile, the religiously unaffiliated share of the population, consisting of people who describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” now stands at 26%, up from 17% in 2009.

Both Protestantism and Catholicism are experiencing losses of population share. Currently, 43% of U.S. adults identify with Protestantism, down from 51% in 2009. And one-in-five adults (20%) are Catholic, down from 23% in 2009. Meanwhile, all subsets of the religiously unaffiliated population – a group also known as religious “nones” – have seen their numbers swell. Self-described atheists now account for 4% of U.S. adults, up modestly but significantly from 2% in 2009; agnostics make up 5% of U.S. adults, up from 3% a decade ago; and 17% of Americans now describe their religion as “nothing in particular,” up from 12% in 2009. Members of non-Christian religions also have grown modestly as a share of the adult population.



These are among the key findings of a new analysis of trends in the religious composition and churchgoing habits of the American public, based on recent Pew Research Center random-digit-dial (RDD) political polling on the telephone.1 The data shows that the trend toward religious disaffiliation documented in the Center’s 2007 and 2014 Religious Landscape Studies, and before that in major national studies like the General Social Survey (GSS), has continued apace.

...more


https://www.pewforum.org/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/

[reACTIONary]

1. K&R

[Cartaphelius]

103. Probably wouldn't be happening

if they were really Christians. But as power and wealth has replaced
Christ's Alter their fear of loosing control in this world has relegated
their eternal souls to the judgement of their god in the next.

You reap that which you sow.

[Mariana]

108. When was Christianity not about wealth and power?

Read the story of Ananias and Sepphira, in the Book of Acts chapter 5. They sold their property, and gave a portion of the proceeds to the church. Peter then demands to know if they handed over ALL of the money from the sale. Rather than tell Peter to keep his nose out of their business, they lied to him, and they were killed for it. After that, "Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events."

If there's any truth to this story at all, it tells us that Christianity was about wealth and power from the earliest days.

[Raster]

128. Completely agree. Constantine did not convert because he was a true believer...

...he converted because it would be more to his advantage.

[IronLionZion]

2. They're so hateful these days

My family used to be more religious Catholics, but even my parents stopped going to church around the 2016 election time because of increased hostility towards immigrants. And they've been US citizens longer than many of the racists have been alive.

And then there are people who believe brown people can't be Christian, we must be Muslims or Hindus who got lost.

Oh well, this trend may have some election implications if Conservative Republicans have fewer supporters.

[47of74]

3. In my family I was considered to be the last person who would leave the Catholic Church

A fair number in my family of my generation had stopped going to church by 2011 but I was still heavily involved in church. But just a year later I had left the church when it became the GOP at prayer.

[ramen]

12. A ton of them are just awful.

A lot of them are not. In the Northeast, for example, there are a fair amount of UCC churches, almost all of which are vocally and actively aligned with liberal values. A fair amount of them have signs and banners like this one https://www.uccresources.com/products/be-the-church-rainbow-banner-vertical . There are other denominations that skew center left, too.

Though an 'out' atheist, I marched with church folks from four states on a protest for immigration justice. Some Christians are with us, and even some whole denominations, and I am not personally willing to throw them all under the bus due to the actions of those who are nominally or situationally Christians when it suits them or when they want to twist religion to give cover for their other racist or misogynist bias.


Short story, I worry about the baby and bathwater with this issue.
When we tend towards binarity on it then we play into the religious right's hands by seeming like godless Democrats (or "militant secularists" like from Barr's speech the other day) acting happy upon hearing of religious decline.

[McKim]

16. Yes, For Us There is Liberation Theology at UCC

Yes, for us as Democrats there is UCC. This is an American Liberation Theology Church. The decline of the ideals of Christianity is nothing to celebrate. There IS a religious Left in this country that is working hard to build a better world. I attend UCC for the spiritual strength to live through this difficult time and to work with others to realize my ideals for our country.

[paleotn]

22. Yep, it depends on where you are.

I moved north from NC. I'm from TN. Down there most Episcopalians, UM and PCUSA, primarily in the cities, align with what the gospels actually espouse. The rest, i.e. the majority, are varying degrees of hate, racism and misogyny, with the SBC and independent Baptists being the worst. And there's a church of some kind everywhere. And I mean everywhere.

New England is a different planet. UCC's and other Uniteds here and there, many with rainbow flags. Mainline protestants and Catholics predominate, with evilgelicals rarely seen. And they're NOT on every damn corner. And they mind their own business other than to do the things they're commanded to do in the gospels...feed the poor, shelter the homeless, etc. Down south, the evilgelicals will throw a little money to the less fortunate, but only if they can spare it from their latest mega church building project. Other than that, they're very Calvinist in their view of the less fortunate. The poor are poor because they're wicked and lost, while the rich are obviously blessed by God because they're good. Otherwise they wouldn't be rich in the first place. Few doctrines ever developed are as evil as Calvinism.

The irony is, New England was founded by people who espoused a Calvinist world view far more than the Methodists and Baptists who predominated in the early southern states.

[Aquaria]

62. O RLY?

Down there most Episcopalians, UM and PCUSA, primarily in the cities, align with what the gospels actually espouse.

So they espouse the parts talking about hell--AKA, torturing people forever? (Multiple verses)

Or the part calling immigrants dogs and refusing them medical care unless they grovel for it first? (Matthew 15:22-28)

Or that part about fomenting divisiveness, even amongst families (Matthew 10:33-36)

Or that part about how you're supposed to love the deity more than you love your own family? (Matthew 10:37)

Or that part about murdering disobedient children? (Matthew 15:4)

Or all of that anti-Semitic vitriol that litters most of the Book of John?

Or all of those nasty old Tanakh rules about slavery, rape, what to eat and wear and so forth that are still the law until the earth no longer exists? (Matthew 5:18).

This is the problem with claiming that espousing the Gospels is a good thing. Somehow the nasty and hateful parts of the book are always ignored in favor of the few cherry-picked parts that might sort of be not evil.

[Act_of_Reparation]

24. "These days"?

If religions seem more intolerant today, it is because social norms changed for the better. Religion was just as hateful yesterday as it is today.

[IronLionZion]

27. Then liberals should win more elections

if social norms are changing for the better, right?

Liberals are probably leaving the more hateful churches, while the people staying have become more hateful. There are liberal churches in many cities and liberal areas and that's a ray of hope.

[Act_of_Reparation]

29. That's a non-sequitur.

And besides, we're talking about young people and young people are overwhelmingly more liberal than their parents.

[IronLionZion]

32. I'm still hoping the rapture would happen already

so we can be rid of a lot of conservatives

[SCantiGOP]

53. Agree. That's where I am directing

my thoughts and prayers.

[keithbvadu2]

55. Maybe the rapture has already happened? And they are still here with us.

[CrispyQ]

129. You can almost tell what kind of Christian someone is by the political party they identify with. -nt

[3Hotdogs]

4. Thank you, Jesus. Great news.

[reACTIONary]

105. +10 nt

[Major Nikon]

5. Thank god

[mwb970]

6. This can't happen quickly enough for me.

Religion will be the death of us all if we let it.

[NCjack]

7. Their meddling and lying in politics has soured many. nt

[AZ8theist]

8. PRAISE KORESH!!!

Can't happen fast enough for these hypocrites to to fade into the dustbin of history. Unfortunately, homo Sapiens are not evolved enough to have this happen anytime soon. As long as children can be brainwashed between the ages of 3 and 12, superstitious nonsense will be with us for centuries to come. If we don't extinct our species before then......

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

14. And thank you for that bit of atheistic bigotry. I knew that the DU atheists couldn't resist. n/t

[Mariana]

34. What do you think about the news in the OP? nt.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

43. I already knew it. And to a large extent, the religious leaders have brought it on themselves.

The Catholic Church has, for centuries, institutionalized misogyny. They used to say that women cannot be ordained because women are inferior to men; now they say that women are "ontologically different" from men -- which is a euphemism for "women are inferior to men". Many women, and many men who support them, are fed up with this.

Last week, the Catholic bishops filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court, asking the court to allow them to discriminate against LGBT employees. Any Catholic who opposes bigotry should see this as repellant and unchristian behavior.

Protestant Evangelical churches were founded before the Civil War, and had defense of slavery as a major tenet. After the Civil War, they made the easy switch to defense of Jim Crow. Racism is still a major part of that religion, as is misogyny, as is homophobia. A majority of white Evangelicals support Trump, basically because they see their "values" under attack, and believe that Trump can stay that attack. Religious social conservatives view individual freedom as "the individual is free to do as he or she pleases, but only insofar as I, personally, approve of what the individual is doing". To put that more simply, they do not approve of individual freedom.

Indeed, many of them want the US to be turned into a theocracy, with, of course, them in control. The world shown in A Handmaid's Tale is, essentially, what they want. These attitudes turn off a great many people. As one man I know put it recently, "my church has turned into the Republican Party at prayer".

So yes, there is a lot to dislike in organized religion in the United States. I, myself, have essentially left the Catholic Church, and I told my bishop exactly why. He didn't like what I had to say. I try to follow the teachings of Christ, especially the commandments about loving one's neighbor. I wish that various Christian churches would do the same.

[Eko]

52. Sounds like you made the perfect case for us Atheists.

Thanks.

[keithbvadu2]

56. "turned into a theocracy, with, of course, them in control." Going to be some religious wars.

“turned into a theocracy, with, of course, them in control.”

Going to be some religious wars.

[AZ8theist]

38. You're very welcome!! Anytime!!

And sorry you're so butt hurt....but...well....tough shit.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

41. If I were to insult Jews. African-Americans or Hispanics or women or even atheists

I would be stomped on for it. And rightly so. But insult religious people? That's perfectly acceptable. Can you say, "double standard" boys and girls? I knew you could -- except that no one will be called out on this hypocrisy.

[trotsky]

42. Except they didn't insult religious people.

They mocked religious beliefs.

I understand this is too fine a point for you to grasp, but there is no need to slink back in this group and moan about imagined bigotry.

All ideas can be criticized. All ideas can be mocked. I'm sorry that upsets you so much. Perhaps if you were more secure in your beliefs it wouldn't?

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

44. And who has those beliefs? Religious people do. At least, some religious people do.

Yes, religion and some religious beliefs most certainly can be criticized. In my response to Mariana above, I do exactly that.

However, the post by AZ8theist clearly says that religion, per se, can't die fast enough. THAT is what I was objecting to.

[trotsky]

45. And yet, they're still just beliefs. Open to criticism, unless you prefer to censor that.

"Religion can't die fast enough." Again, talking about an IDEA, not PEOPLE.

You should apologize to AZ8theist for completely misrepresenting what they said in order to accuse them of bigotry.

That would be a "Christian" thing to do, wouldn't it?

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

47. Who holds these beliefs? PEOPLE do. You are insulting the people, and see nothing wrong with it

Because, as you did regularly in the Religion group, you find absolutely nothing wrong with slamming believers because they are believers. I know that hypocrisy is not part and parcel of atheism, but people like you give rise to the opinion that it is.

[trotsky]

49. Yet ideas are still not people. You're flailing desperately.

Just apologize. You're lapsing right back into your old behavior that got you booted from this group. Show you've become a better person and apologize for your accusations.

[AZ8theist]

50. Thank you trotsky

For understanding the OBVIOUS that my criticism was of RELIGION, not of it's believers.

One of the major problems with American society today is the inability of anyone to criticize any religion. No matter how ridiculous their beliefs or how anti-American their tax exempt status allows them to operate politically with impunity.

The evangelicals will be our downfall if we let them.

(and I had no idea this guy was kicked off the site..?? I really have no idea who he is.....)

[trotsky]

65. No problem, you're welcome.

That guy basically proved exactly what you already know - any criticism of religion will invariably be met with cries of bigotry against believers. It's an effective weapon to stifle debate and discussion in many arenas. But not here - and that drives certain individuals crazy with rage.

[Mariana]

72. I'm pretty certain that Fortinbras Armstrong understood you, too

but is feigning a lack of reading comprehension, as hypersensitive religious people often do. As you say, it was obvious what you meant.

[guillaumeb]

88. You reveal your agenda regularly.

And part of that agenda is focusing only on negatives.

And there is no one "booted" from this Group. So where did that come from?

[trotsky]

95. You are completely wrong about me, as usual. But you've got your narrative I guess.

And FA was blocked from this group many years ago when we had mods. He viciously attacked atheists and was banned for that behavior. Ask him about it if you don't believe me. He was very angry and posted in other groups about how unfair it was.

[Major Nikon]

98. Also as usual projects his bad behavior on others in true Freudian fashion

[trotsky]

99. It's remarkable the similarity his tactics have with GOP/Soviet-style propaganda techniques.

Projection, whataboutism, gaslighting, the list just goes on and on.

[Major Nikon]

100. Notable, but not all that remarkable

There’s no shortage of religionists who use the exact same tactics. So it’s really just another example of his banality. I suspect they feel empowered to use propaganda techniques since they work so well on the weak minded who have been indoctrinated by them since birth. I’m sure it’s very perplexing to them as to why they fail on freethinkers with predictable regularity.

[guillaumeb]

123. Ironic, and that is all that needs to be said.

[guillaumeb]

124. Your behavior is on display.

So there is that. If you do not see what it reveals.....

[trotsky]

131. Indeed it is. And so is yours.

Reveal all you want. You craft your own narrative.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1218&pid=319776

[Major Nikon]

90. Get back to us when someone actually insults people instead of an idea

Until then your best attempts at trying to conflate those two things are falling flat.

As long as religion gets to freely promote itself, so must others be free to criticize it. Suggesting otherwise simply an attempt to perpetuate religious privilege at the expense of free thought.

[AZ8theist]

125. Right on, Major..

I will quote Hitchens AGAIN as it corresponds succinctly with your post:

"That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

And THAT, my friends, is EXACTLY how I feel about "god" and religion. Thank you all for standing up to ignorance.

[MineralMan]

89. Long time no see...

[Martin Eden]

9. Conservatives Christians are their own worst enemies

They're driving young people away with their appalling hypocrisy.

[calimary]

19. That's actually a good thing.

[Martin Eden]

21. Though agnostic myself, I'm not anti-faith

But the hijacking of religion to serve the political agenda of fascists is one of the greatest threats we face.

[calimary]

33. No kidding!

[keithbvadu2]

58. Religion and politics use each other to gain power and wealth.

Religion and politics use each other to gain power and wealth.

[Act_of_Reparation]

25. Or maybe young people figured out it's all just a bunch of bullshit.

[Martin Eden]

30. One size does not fit all

People come to reject religion by many paths.

Agnosticism was natural for me because my parents were not religious, but a large percentage were indoctrinated into the belief system of their parents before they were old enough to understand the concepts involved -- let alone make a mature informed personal choice.

Much of organized religion is indeed bullshit, but the deeper metaphysical questions are beyond my willingness to embrace certainty one way or another.

[Aquaria]

61. Except Agnosticism isn't a religious belief.

It's not a middle ground between belief and non-belief. It's a knowledge position. That definition is built right into the word itself. Gnosis = "knowledge of a deity or deities." Ergo, agnosis is the lack of that knowledge. You either know or you don't. There is no middle ground with that. It's always binary.

The belief position is a/theism. You either believe that deities exist (theism), or you lack that belief (atheism). There is no middle ground with that, either.

I know this will shock most self-proclaimed "agnostics," but nearly all atheists are also agnostics. Even the "agnostic" and theist bogeyman, Richard Dawkins, is an agnostic atheist, by his own admission. Gnosticism tends to be a theist thing.

So which are you: An agnostic theist, or an agnostic atheist? You're one or the other.

[gopiscrap]

63. welcome to DU

[Martin Eden]

64. I didn't suggest it was

I'm aware of the root word meaning of agnostic, which is why I apply it to myself.

I don't have a belief, because I don't know.

[trotsky]

66. "I don't have a belief, because I don't know."

Same here, which is why I'm an agnostic atheist.

[AZ8theist]

127. EVERY SINGLE HUMAN BEING is an Agnostic...

Because NONE of us has any direct knowledge of a "god" or "gods"...
Some may claim they have knowledge, but we all know that's bullshit. Only certain mentally ill individuals can claim a "direct knowledge" of the existence of "god".

Atheism is about belief. And until I see SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE that a "god" exists, I have no reason to accept that assertion.

[Major Nikon]

130. And yet believers will work overtime trying to convince everyone otherwise

They will claim god talks to them, they know god, they hear god, they speak to god, and/or they feel god.

All of these things are symptoms of mental illness, yet because of “faith” otherwise rational people think nothing of it. Funny how that works.

[keithbvadu2]

57. Political Christians rather than Christians of faith.

[Mariana]

73. Most of them probably have a genuine Christian faith.

You may have the opinion that they're doing Christianity wrong, but that doesn't mean their faith isn't sincere.

[keithbvadu2]

74. Yeah! Putting babies in cages is part of the Christian faith.

Yeah! Putting babies in cages is part of the Christian faith.

[trotsky]

75. And they would have the same attitude about abortion.

Both of you will scream that the others aren't Christian. Where does that get us?

[keithbvadu2]

76. "they" ,,, "Both of you" - But you don't include yourself?

"they" ,,, "Both of you" -

But you don't include yourself?

[trotsky]

78. No, because I'm not a Christian. n/t

[keithbvadu2]

79. Irrelevant. You're making judgement of who might be a "sincere" Christian.

Irrelevant.

You're making judgement of who might be a "sincere" Christian.

[edhopper]

80. He is saying both of you are "sincere" Christians

you just disagree what that means.
Faith doesn't require anything but belief. So arguing who is the "true" Christian is pointless.

[keithbvadu2]

83. "Faith doesn't require anything but belief."

"Faith doesn't require anything but belief."

If the "true" Christian does not practice it, does he really believe it?

[edhopper]

84. He/she practices what they believe

what their faith tells them to.
Otherwise it's just a "no true Scotsman" game.

[keithbvadu2]

85. Good one!

Good one!

The Bible is a menu of options and so is Christianity.

There are no absolute beliefs/principles in Christianity.

Just the parts one wants to believe/practice.

You nailed it.

on edit: reply to your 04:06 PM post

[Mariana]

86. "The Bible is a menu of options and so is Christianity."

Exactly. A person can believe or disbelieve just about anything, and still be one flavor of Christian or another. That's why there are so many different denominations, countless "nondenominational" and "independent" churches, and who knows how many individual practitioners. All of them interpret the book differently, and all of them are certain that they are right, and that everyone else is doing it wrong.

[keithbvadu2]

87. Oftentimes the method of religion is more important than the God of religion.

[trotsky]

81. No, that's you making the judgment.

You are judging others not to be "sincere." Do you really not see that?

[keithbvadu2]

82. Of course I do. We are both doing it.

Of course I do. We are both doing it.

[trotsky]

94. No, we "both" aren't doing it.

Anyone who says they are a Christian, as they understand the word, is one as far as I'm concerned. I'm not judging. You are the one who declares that people who claim to be Christian really aren't.

Do you understand yet or do we need to go through this some more?

[keithbvadu2]

96. Please continue.

Please continue.

[trotsky]

97. OK

Martin Eden, post #9: "Conservatives Christians are their own worst enemies"
You, post #57: "Political Christians rather than Christians of faith" (You judging they are not sincere Christians.)
Mariana, post #73: Points out that they are likely just as sincere in their faith as you.
You, post #74: "Putting babies in cages is part of the Christian faith." (Said sarcastically, of course.)
Me, post #75: Noting that they would use the same sarcasm against you, with regards to abortion. (I.e., judging you not to be a sincere Christian.)
You, post #76: Asking why I didn't include myself in a discussion about two groups of Christians.
Me, post #78: Noting that I'm not a Christian, that's why.
You, post #79: The accusations start about me judging what a "sincere" Christian is.

Now it's your turn. Please point out where I judged who a sincere Christian is or isn't. Include the specific post number where I did that. Thanks!

[Major Nikon]

101. I've been watching you dig your hole and it just keeps getting deeper

For further reading see...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman

[keithbvadu2]

107. "is one as far as I'm concerned"

"is one as far as I'm concerned"

There you go, judging again.

No matter how evil or hypocritical they may be, they are valid Christians to you, in your judgement.

That's how they understand it and practice it.

[trotsky]

110. Oh I see your confusion now.

You think that taking someone at their word (as I did) is "judging" them no differently than outright declaring they aren't who they say they are (as you did).

Yeah, with that kind of disconnect, we are simply not going to be able to understand each other. Take care.

[keithbvadu2]

112. No confusion - "is one as far as I'm concerned" is your judgement.

No confusion - "is one as far as I'm concerned" is your judgement.

Not someone else's.

Run away, run away.

[trotsky]

114. Right, got it.

Running away now! Toodles!

[Mariana]

111. There's nothing magical about Christianity

that makes its adherents into better people than anyone else. I understand that conflicts with what the PR says, but it is so. History has shown us that Christians are just as likely to be horrible people, and do horrible things, as anyone else.

[keithbvadu2]

113. Yep

[trotsky]

115. Then you admit the right wing Christians are still Christians?

Interesting tactic, taking a 180 and disagreeing with yourself! I am played again.

[keithbvadu2]

116. You say you are leaving but you cannot keep your word.

[trotsky]

117. Can't resist when I see you blatantly contradict yourself.

But you do you. I'll just be over here laughing.

[Mariana]

119. Changing one's mind isn't lying.

However, personal attacks, such as accusing a poster of lying, are against the rules of this site.

But do keep on exemplifying Christianity. It is enlightening.

[trotsky]

120. Maybe he's not a "sincere" Christian?

Guess I should start judging him.

[Mariana]

121. Looks like a jury already did that.

Oopsie.

[AZ8theist]

126. The US prisons are FULL of Christians...like 98%

[Mariana]

92. Please stop typing things twice. It isn't necessary.

There's no need to repeat the title in the body of the post.

[Major Nikon]

102. And yet beating and/or executing disobedient children is

Funny how that works, no?

[keithbvadu2]

106. Good one!

You understand the Bible and Christianity just fine.

[Major Nikon]

109. Believe it or not, most every Christian will explain it to you whether or not you ask

With widely varying apologetics. Funny how that works.

[Freethinker65]

10. Thanks Trump. The hypocrisy of many "Christian" leaders has been exposed

Why those leaders were willing to risk their reputations by aligning with Trump is the work of the devil.
Nah, they were all always charlatans out to enrich themselves just like Trump.

[Mariana]

35. This trend has been going on long before Trump was put in office.

Trump's presidency, and the fact that the majority of Christian voters supported him, may accelerate it a little bit. He certainly didn't cause it.

[keithbvadu2]

59. Trump devout Christian - practice Christianity

Trump devout Christian - practice Christianity

[phandancer917]

11. Even in Kentucky...

...there are signs of this influence waning.

In fact, I was only asked ONCE last where 'So, what church do you attend?'

Just kidding of course (I did hear that question about 3 times a week when I first moved out to the country), but people around Central KY (at least in my limited circles) are showing signs or being more open.

[usaf-vet]

13. And now we have a U.S. Attorney General Barr who ignores (?) the separation of church and state.

Last edited Mon Oct 21, 2019, 09:15 AM - Edit history (1)

And now we have a U.S. Attorney General Barr who ignores (?) the separation of church and state.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/19/william-barr-attorney-general-catholic-conservative-speech

Separation of church and state in the United States
"Separation of church and state" is paraphrased from Thomas Jefferson and used by others in expressing an understanding of the intent and function of the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution which reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

https://magazine.nd.edu/stories/barr-preaches-religious-freedom/

https://heisenbergreport.com/2019/10/12/bill-barr-delivers-bizarre-speech-at-notre-dame-says-militant-teachers-progressives-are-out-to-get-jesus/comment-page-1/

[EricaGriswoldAuthor]

17. these people are the reason why christianity is falling apart.

I can remember Shane Claiborne coming to my college and doing the monthly convocation. He said christians were known for being 3 things: Judgemental, hypocritical, and anti-gay.

This was in 2006.

We have tried to stay in the church, but for many it has been hard.

The GOP and their platform is to blame.

And yes, there are plenty of christians who don't like it. The methodists wanted Hillary, a fellow Methodist, to win

[Mariana]

36. Yes, plenty of Christians don't like it.

While it's true that the majority of Christian voters cast their ballots for Trump, there was a large minority who didn't. No one thinks that all Christians are Trump worshiping Fox watching hateful right wingers

[Act_of_Reparation]

67. Religious fundamentalism is nothing new.

Conservative Christian demographics are holding steady while mainstream and liberal Christian churches are bleeding membership. It seems silly to me that after a hundred years of practically ignoring each others' existence a Catholic would up and leave their church because of something a Baptist did or said.

I think the internet has a lot more to do with it, the ready availability of accurate information. I think the decreased social consequence of not being religious has a lot to do with it, too. More and more people are going to college these days, and more education is inversely correlated with religiosity. So there's that, too.

[EricaGriswoldAuthor]

68. baptists are loosing members too.

[Act_of_Reparation]

69. OK

I mean, I didn't say they weren't.

[Major Nikon]

104. They are, but not at the same rate

And their decline significantly lags the overall trend. Not to mention those who remain have become increasingly vocal. It’s as if they see the decline not as a sign they should change, but rather as a sign they should double down on the self-defeating rhetoric.

Little by little the devout baptists I know are becoming increasingly radicalized. Some are preppers, all are gunnuts, all believe the “homosexual agenda” is a disease propagated by the devil. Little by little demagogues like Trump are stoking the flames of radicalization. One can only hope the ultimate effect of this is the marginalization of all of it.

[usaf-vet]

70. TOTALLY RIGHT! They are the movement that drove my otherwise dedicate parents away from church.

My folks were Christian folk until the day the died. That is they went to church on Sunday with all six kids. They lived every day as caring people. Folks who would share what little they had with those in need. We, the whole family helped to clear land for a new church. Every weekend for almost two years we gather with other church members to clear a 5-acre spot for the church and parking.

Jumping ahead to the new church opening. We all celebrated our success. Shortly after that, my folks were told that all church members were going to be REQUIRED to give a fixed amount to the church every year. My mom and dad both worked. My dad was a union worker but still had a part-time job raising six kids. They put what they could in the offering plate on Sunday morning. And they gave of their time. But could not afford a fixed amount each month.

They were hounded with calls and letters and finally an in-home visit by the minister and "church leaders". As kids, we were not privy to the conversation but I know it got tense and my mom and dad stood their ground. It was suggested to them that they were not good Christians if they failed their duty to the church. THAT WAS IT! We never went back to that church.

It took us about a year to find an alternative church. I was married in that church 18 years later.

Now nearly 50 years later my wife and I are still together. Raised 4 kids are active in our new community. Do what we can to help those in need among us. BUT STILL NO CHURCH.

[Martin Eden]

31. Barr believes his religion is being attacked when he is not permitted to impose it others

Or at least that's what he wants to make religious folk believe.

He may be a true believer, but the real agenda is gaining and exercising power in a way that discriminates against others and curtails liberty.

[keithbvadu2]

60. Separation

http://assets.amuniversal.com/6b3ddda05d46012ee3bd00163e41dd5b

[Cartoonist]

122. Hart was a rwnj

I'm not sure you get his point.

[paleotn]

15. If the trends continue at their last 10 year pace.....

non's will achieve a plurality. A very refreshing thought.

[pamdb]

18. Good

Now if we could just get rid of the fu*king evangelicals...

[amcgrath]

20. This isn't even vaguely accurate

Most evangelical churches abandoned Christianity long ago. And when was the last time you heard a right wing preacher mentioning Jesus? They don't. They stick to Old Testament prophets and characters who better suit their proclamations on cruelty, vengeance and division.

It is almost a guarantee that someone who defines themselves as a Christian in their twitter bio is a nasty piece of work.

It is a meaningless word, mostly used to define yourself as nationalist and morally superior

[trotsky]

23. They are Christians whether you like it or not.

From their point of view, it is liberal Christians who abandoned the religion long ago.

Which of you is right? Which of you is wrong? Only your god knows for certain, and no one has heard anything from it in a very long time.

[Major Nikon]

91. I rarely hear two sentences from them without mentioning Jesus

Like it or not they are fundamentalists which places them more in line with traditional Christianity than most, despite the efforts of those who would try to redefine the religion as something it hasn’t been for pretty much all of the last two millennia.

[SWBTATTReg]

26. And the best part and ironic thing about this whole analysis and trend...they brought it all on ...

themselves...there is no one else to blame but themselves and Barr our so called pretend 'AG' of the US, tried to blame outside sources for the decline. Too bad there wasn't a giant mirror in the room so he could clearly see the reasons why staring right back at him.

[mr_lebowski]

28. Well, there is also the nature of reality which suggests that supernatural shit ... is bullshit ...

And they're having a harder time foisting these nonsensical fables upon people due to the ready availability of what we call 'facts' and 'science' and the like.

[Act_of_Reparation]

37. I don't know many atheists citing Bill Barr as a significant reason for their lack of faith.

Mostly, they seem to think religion is nonsense.

[ThoughtCriminal]

39. They have been worshiping the Golden Calf

for a long time now.

If you ask someone what kind of church Satan would set up, they might think of pentagrams, black magic, creepy, evil rituals - including human sacrifice. But the truth is that it would have the exact same dogma and appearance of conservative, right-wing, Christain Fundamentalism.

[Act_of_Reparation]

46. The Golden Calf was a lie the Hebrews told themselves to feel better about a shitty situation.

All gods are lies people tell themselves to feel better about a shitty situation. All religions are golden calves.

[SCantiGOP]

54. Except Pastafarianism

It is about his Blessed Noodlediness.

Praise the Sauce!

[Newest Reality]

77. Ramen!

[keithbvadu2]

93. "what kind of church Satan would set up"

Jeffress also has bad feelings about Catholics.

https://www.newsweek.com/did-satan-create-catholicism-trump-supporting-pastor-robert-jeffress-thinks-so-690176

Did Satan Create Catholicism? Trump-Supporting Pastor Robert Jeffress Thinks So
By Maria Perez On 10/21/17 at 1:55 PM EDT

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212524322

Has Trump rejected that premise?

[I_UndergroundPanther]

40. I'm happy for them

Because in my experience being involved in churches,it is a manipulating belief. It was so liberating just to drop the belief system of Christianity. And explore the unknown simply because it's unknown. I walk my own path.

Less christians less theocrats.
Less misogyny,homophobia,transphobia,
Less proselytizing butt holes on loudspeakers, it's a good thing when Christianity and it's abusive capricious god of a book is abandoned by a free thinking majority. Maybe people can be who they are without fear and control games. And the church will have less money to buy politicians. The
Greedy preachers will go away.
That is my hope,liberation.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

48. One of the great Christian writers of the 20th century, Thomas Merton, wrote

"Do not be too quick to condemn people who no longer believe in God, for it is perhaps your own coldness and avarice, your mediocrity and materialism, your sensuality and selfishness that have killed their faith." -- Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation.

That is what I was trying to say to Mariana above.

[madamesilverspurs]

51. Disinviting

.

[Iggo]

71. ...as it should. (n/t)