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Goodbye Jesus

Christianity A Dying Religion?


Merlin

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Hey Everybody,

 

I was just sitting here pondering a topic, and I'd love to hear your replies.

 

The thought crossed my mind that Christianity may very well be a dying religion.  We always hear about how terrible Christians can be, and we  sometimes have a tendency to keep our focus on that aspect of Christian society.  This tendency may affect us in a way that causes our collective subconscious minds to view Christianity as a much larger influence on modern society than it actually is.  We don't always take the time to think about the fact that sites like this are growing, and so are many other groups that promote alternative religious pathways.  In my humble opinion these two facts seem to point toward a very real shift in the collective social consciousness.

 

So  I would just like to hear your thoughts on this subject (don't worry about sounding too random).

 

 

 

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Well, I live in a country where christianity is a minority. Most people have no religion. But when in it the goal was always to grow. To invade the whole country and then Europe and then the rest of the world. There have been great efforts to do so. Hundreds of Church planting...in all our cities...and all over Europe and beyond. One of the leading guys of the Church I have been just got sent to Cambodia last year with his family (wife and two kids in school age) another one of the leaders got sent to Italy (wife and four kids in school age) and another one just two weeks ago got sent to Tel Aviv (also wife and kids though I don't know how many and how old)...

I don't really keep track of it but was just curious and googled them and that was how I found out. Thought it was crazy. They always tell about growth and all...don't know what to think of it but when I look at the people outside of this mess it does not really look that way. So I hope you are right and Christianity is shrinking.

 

Also I think when you spend so much time in that topic you might think Christianity is huge. But then I go out into my little world again and find that it isn't. But as I said, I don't live in the US.

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I have hope that with the generations coming up that are more willing to go their own way, and think for themselves, there is a possibility that it could have less influence.  

I would like to see ALL religion erradicated, but that is just me.

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I sure do hope so but I don't expect it to reach completion in my lifetime.

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Here is a link and quote from Pew Forum:

The number of Americans who do not identify with any religion continues to grow at a rapid pace. One-fifth of the U.S. public – and a third of adults under 30 – are religiously unaffiliated today, the highest percentages ever in Pew Research Center polling.

http://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise/

 

I've wondered if there is a mathematical model for the rate of children believing a religion based on rates of belief among parents and rates of various types of religiously mixed marriages.

 

I suspect Christianity will become more fanatical as it shrinks to a minority. I wonder if that's how it is in Europe?

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I am just guessing, but I have a feeling that Xtianity will be with us as long as our culture exists. The culture won't last forever. But because Xtianity is so tied up with our culture I don't we will have one without the other. bill

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We can only hope it is. It's no coincidence that church attendance numbers are getting smaller nowadays. 

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In the US, the Christian right is wildly successful and surveys show the worst thing you can be is an atheist, in terms of public opinion. No, Christianity isn't shrinking or dying, not here. My only hope is that a relatively greater percentage of young people are atheist--but it's not large enough to counterbalance Xtianity.

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i live in south east asia,,,,

 

christianity is growing,,,

 

dying? probably not for a very long time

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yeah, seems like it is really taking off in the third world.  I'm not sure about the US.. the religious right keeps getting louder and more extreme, but there's no way that can be representative of future trends.  I like to think they are louder because they know they're losing.

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Christianity is very good at what it does, at playing off people's fears and hopes and evolutionary instincts. Don't expect it to go away anytime soon. However, many churches and Christians around the world benefit people in tangible ways by filling voids that would otherwise be filled by government welfare programs or NGOs-- this can be witnessed firsthand in many third-world countries. And a whole lot of people, not just in third-world countries, need Christianity in their lives for many reasons. Don't forget that either.

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(Talking about the US) I wish the liberal Christians would make more of an effort to stand up against all this right wing craziness and stop lettign them speak for everyhone else.  Kinda like what people say about all the peaceful Muslims.  One point that I believe Dawkins has made is that the moderate and liberal versions of these religions are equally to blame because they sit by and allow the fundamentalists to speak for them.

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I live in the US, the midwestern portion of it. Not too far from good ol' Westboro Baptist, actually.

 

Christianity isn't dying here. Far from it. There are 5(!) churches within 3 miles of my home. 2 non-denoms, a Church of Christ, a standard Christian church and a large Catholic church. There are plenty of hipster non-denoms in the area where I live and several megachurches as well. If you can't make it to church, you can listen to one of 5 or 6 Christian radio stations on the FM side and an untold number on the AM side. Or watch one of the 5 church broadcasts on local stations on Sundays. Besides Skull Osteen, there are several others, such Creflo Give Me Yo Dollar(s) and House of Prayer, alongside TD Jakes and maybe Rick Warren, although I'm not 100% about that. And the Catholic masses in both Spanish and English on two separate channels...

 

As far as atheism goes, I don't see it spreading where I live. It's really red (conservative) here and people just don't come out and announce their non/dis/un-belief in invisible sky daddies and walking dead sons. Hence why I am on here and not out in real life meeting people who are ex-c's or not-Christians.

 

My non-believing family is definitely in the minority. I remember in jr. high and high school that a lot of my friends weren't allowed to spend the night on Saturdays because we didn't go to church and I didn't go to youth. That was in the late 90s/early 00s.

 

It's also not uncommon for Christians to openly evangelize in the community. People handing out church flyers on street corners. Guys carrying giant wooden crosses in rush hour traffic. Homeowners handing out Bible verse cards alongside candy at Halloween. Trunk or Treats, Christmas dances, Bible schools, passion plays...it goes on and on throughout the community and it has for years. They are mostly harmless, I think...but then I know that they really aren't. If they can, they will worm their way into schools via Good News Clubs and morning prayer clubs. They will gladly petition for prayer in schools, creationist-friendly science curriculum, and book banning in libraries. They actively vote against same sex marriage, universal health coverage, and other such things.

 

So no, Christianity is not a dying religion. It's just going through an awkward phase. Once they get a few more less creepy hucksters ala Mark Driscoll and that one guy with the super-mega-Madison Square Garden-church in NYC, they will be on their way to finding new footing, I believe. Christ will become a bearded hipster who preaches love, love, love. Everything will be digitized. I think that ultra-fundie groups like the IBLP will probably go extinct within the next few generations, but Catholicism and Emergent Hipster Christianity will continue to grow.

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I would be ok with that if they could also please phase out the child rapey leaders and learn to embrace science and progress and stuff.

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I think Biblical Christianity (which I consider real Christianity) is not just dying but almost dead in parts of Europe.  Most Christians are fairly clueless to what the Bible teaches imo.

 

The beast that is Social Christianity may take a long time to go away, but it is getting further and further away from what the Bible teaches anyway.

 

A case in point between them both.

 

Here in the UK the church has just legally approved female Bishops, to go along with female priests…..The NT says no…….Social Christianity ignoring Biblical Christianity at its best.

 

A couple of side notes:

 

I love America, I really do, it’s people and its culture, but I find it alarming in the 21st century, anyone running for POTUS has to at least pretend to be a Christian if they are to have hope for high office.

 

If Christianity does die out, we will be spared the shit-eating-grins of such men as Kirk Cameron and Ray “Banana” Comfort.

 

I am not a violent man, but Cameron looks like he needs a slap with a wet fish and Comfort looks like he pees sitting down

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I think Biblical Christianity (which I consider real Christianity) is not just dying but almost dead in parts of Europe.  Most Christians are fairly clueless to what the Bible teaches imo.

 

The beast that is Social Christianity may take a long time to go away, but it is getting further and further away from what the Bible teaches anyway.

 

A case in point between them both.

 

Here in the UK the church has just legally approved female Bishops, to go along with female priests…..The NT says no…….Social Christianity ignoring Biblical Christianity at its best.

 

A couple of side notes:

 

I love America, I really do, it’s people and its culture, but I find it alarming in the 21st century, anyone running for POTUS has to at least pretend to be a Christian if they are to have hope for high office.

 

If Christianity does die out, we will be spared the shit-eating-grins of such men as Kirk Cameron and Ray “Banana” Comfort.

 

I am not a violent man, but Cameron looks like he needs a slap with a wet fish and Comfort looks like he pees sitting down

 

There is no biblical Christianity...

Every thing of liturgy and what we consider Church like going there once a week, sitting in a pew, singing songs, listening to a monologue, tithing, giving an offering...actually is pagan. Has nothing to do with the holy book because it grew out of tradition and the desire of controlling people. It is like: Oh now we have a religion and we have a book. Lets see how we can connect those two...

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I think Biblical Christianity (which I consider real Christianity) is not just dying but almost dead in parts of Europe.  Most Christians are fairly clueless to what the Bible teaches imo.

 

The beast that is Social Christianity may take a long time to go away, but it is getting further and further away from what the Bible teaches anyway.

 

A case in point between them both.

 

Here in the UK the church has just legally approved female Bishops, to go along with female priests…..The NT says no…….Social Christianity ignoring Biblical Christianity at its best.

 

A couple of side notes:

 

I love America, I really do, it’s people and its culture, but I find it alarming in the 21st century, anyone running for POTUS has to at least pretend to be a Christian if they are to have hope for high office.

 

If Christianity does die out, we will be spared the shit-eating-grins of such men as Kirk Cameron and Ray “Banana” Comfort.

 

I am not a violent man, but Cameron looks like he needs a slap with a wet fish and Comfort looks like he pees sitting down

 

There is no biblical Christianity...

Every thing of liturgy and what we consider Church like going there once a week, sitting in a pew, singing songs, listening to a monologue, tithing, giving an offering...actually is pagan. Has nothing to do with the holy book because it grew out of tradition and the desire of controlling people. It is like: Oh now we have a religion and we have a book. Lets see how we can connect those two...

 

I disagree with that.

 

Christianity is based on the Bible, Hence Biblical Christianity 

 

Christians (mostly) live lives outside of Biblical laws, yet go to church, "love" Jesus, etc, etc, hence Social Christianity. The distinction for me is a profound one.

 

I agree that Christianity is filled with pagan ideas, the church hasn't got the front to teach the Bible as it stands, because they know perfectly well how vile it is

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I think Biblical Christianity (which I consider real Christianity) is not just dying but almost dead in parts of Europe.  Most Christians are fairly clueless to what the Bible teaches imo.

 

The beast that is Social Christianity may take a long time to go away, but it is getting further and further away from what the Bible teaches anyway.

 

A case in point between them both.

 

Here in the UK the church has just legally approved female Bishops, to go along with female priests…..The NT says no…….Social Christianity ignoring Biblical Christianity at its best.

 

A couple of side notes:

 

I love America, I really do, it’s people and its culture, but I find it alarming in the 21st century, anyone running for POTUS has to at least pretend to be a Christian if they are to have hope for high office.

 

If Christianity does die out, we will be spared the shit-eating-grins of such men as Kirk Cameron and Ray “Banana” Comfort.

 

I am not a violent man, but Cameron looks like he needs a slap with a wet fish and Comfort looks like he pees sitting down

 

There is no biblical Christianity...

Every thing of liturgy and what we consider Church like going there once a week, sitting in a pew, singing songs, listening to a monologue, tithing, giving an offering...actually is pagan. Has nothing to do with the holy book because it grew out of tradition and the desire of controlling people. It is like: Oh now we have a religion and we have a book. Lets see how we can connect those two...

 

I disagree with that.

 

Christianity is based on the Bible, Hence Biblical Christianity 

 

Christians (mostly) live lives outside of Biblical laws, yet go to church, "love" Jesus, etc, etc, hence Social Christianity. The distinction for me is a profound one.

 

I agree that Christianity is filled with pagan ideas, the church hasn't got the front to teach the Bible as it stands, because they know perfectly well how vile it is

 

 

You can disagree with it but it is still true.

 

The only thing about Christianity that is biblical is the believe in Jesus and God and even this Jesus your personal friend and saviour is up to debate weather it is biblical or not. But there was no Christianity like we have it today in the bible. Having a Church building, scheduled meetings, the whole way the church service is set up, the pastor as the leader of the church, does not come from the bible. Even tithing is pretty much not biblical.

 

You don't find christianity as people live it today in the bible. If you don't believe me you can read the bible and you will find that churches are more described as loose communities and not those organizations like we have them today. People met in peoples houses, but not like a scheduled and liturgical meeting. It was more spontaneous and not much organization. Paul set up a few things but they still don't compare to todays over organized and marketed Churches.

 

Even tithing is not really Christian according to the bible. If you have been a christian, you sold EVERYTHING and gave it to the community that gave it to the people in need. Not just a tithe. What is described in the bible is more like a hippie commune kinda thing where everyone is your friend and everyone cares for everyone. But no going to Church on sundays, dressing up, carrying a bible with you, drinking wine out of a little plastic cup and eating a tiny piece of bread and call it the lords supper...no sitting in pews, listening to a monologue speech, singing to songs, all nicely planned and set up before service.

 

If you find people living the way they are portrayed in the bible, like this community style thing and believing in Jesus and praying to God then well, there is biblical christianity. But I doubt you will find such thing. And if you find it it will be pretty rare.

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Hey Everyone,

 

I've really enjoyed reading the insights, thoughts, and ideas that have been posted as they concern the issue at hand.  It is really interesting to note (as some of you have said) that the current trends seen in popular versions of the modern church are only vaguely reminiscent of early church Christianity.  This thread has so far been of a very informative nature.  Anyway,  I'm not wanting to slow things down, so please keep the posts coming.  Thank you so much for taking an interest in this subject!

 

~ Imperialblue

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I think Biblical Christianity (which I consider real Christianity) is not just dying but almost dead in parts of Europe.  Most Christians are fairly clueless to what the Bible teaches imo.

 

The beast that is Social Christianity may take a long time to go away, but it is getting further and further away from what the Bible teaches anyway.

 

A case in point between them both.

 

Here in the UK the church has just legally approved female Bishops, to go along with female priests…..The NT says no…….Social Christianity ignoring Biblical Christianity at its best.

 

A couple of side notes:

 

I love America, I really do, it’s people and its culture, but I find it alarming in the 21st century, anyone running for POTUS has to at least pretend to be a Christian if they are to have hope for high office.

 

If Christianity does die out, we will be spared the shit-eating-grins of such men as Kirk Cameron and Ray “Banana” Comfort.

 

I am not a violent man, but Cameron looks like he needs a slap with a wet fish and Comfort looks like he pees sitting down

 

There is no biblical Christianity...

Every thing of liturgy and what we consider Church like going there once a week, sitting in a pew, singing songs, listening to a monologue, tithing, giving an offering...actually is pagan. Has nothing to do with the holy book because it grew out of tradition and the desire of controlling people. It is like: Oh now we have a religion and we have a book. Lets see how we can connect those two...

 

I disagree with that.

 

Christianity is based on the Bible, Hence Biblical Christianity 

 

Christians (mostly) live lives outside of Biblical laws, yet go to church, "love" Jesus, etc, etc, hence Social Christianity. The distinction for me is a profound one.

 

I agree that Christianity is filled with pagan ideas, the church hasn't got the front to teach the Bible as it stands, because they know perfectly well how vile it is

 

 

You can disagree with it but it is still true.

 

Of course there is Biblical Christian as opposed to Culture Christianity, surely you can see the distinction 

 

 

 

Even tithing is not really Christian according to the bible. If you have been a christian, you sold EVERYTHING and gave it to the community that gave it to the people in need. Not just a tithe. What is described in the bible is more like a hippie commune kinda thing where everyone is your friend and everyone cares for everyone. But no going to Church on sundays, dressing up, carrying a bible with you, drinking wine out of a little plastic cup and eating a tiny piece of bread and call it the lords supper...no sitting in pews, listening to a monologue speech, singing to songs, all nicely planned and set up before service.

 

You are making my point for me......Christians today follow the church (social Christianity and not the Bible)

 

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I think Biblical Christianity (which I consider real Christianity) is not just dying but almost dead in parts of Europe.  Most Christians are fairly clueless to what the Bible teaches imo.

 

The beast that is Social Christianity may take a long time to go away, but it is getting further and further away from what the Bible teaches anyway.

 

A case in point between them both.

 

Here in the UK the church has just legally approved female Bishops, to go along with female priests…..The NT says no…….Social Christianity ignoring Biblical Christianity at its best.

 

A couple of side notes:

 

I love America, I really do, it’s people and its culture, but I find it alarming in the 21st century, anyone running for POTUS has to at least pretend to be a Christian if they are to have hope for high office.

 

If Christianity does die out, we will be spared the shit-eating-grins of such men as Kirk Cameron and Ray “Banana” Comfort.

 

I am not a violent man, but Cameron looks like he needs a slap with a wet fish and Comfort looks like he pees sitting down

 

There is no biblical Christianity...

Every thing of liturgy and what we consider Church like going there once a week, sitting in a pew, singing songs, listening to a monologue, tithing, giving an offering...actually is pagan. Has nothing to do with the holy book because it grew out of tradition and the desire of controlling people. It is like: Oh now we have a religion and we have a book. Lets see how we can connect those two...

 

I disagree with that.

 

Christianity is based on the Bible, Hence Biblical Christianity 

 

Christians (mostly) live lives outside of Biblical laws, yet go to church, "love" Jesus, etc, etc, hence Social Christianity. The distinction for me is a profound one.

 

I agree that Christianity is filled with pagan ideas, the church hasn't got the front to teach the Bible as it stands, because they know perfectly well how vile it is

 

 

You can disagree with it but it is still true.

 

Of course there is Biblical Christian as opposed to Culture Christianity, surely you can see the distinction 

 

 

 

Even tithing is not really Christian according to the bible. If you have been a christian, you sold EVERYTHING and gave it to the community that gave it to the people in need. Not just a tithe. What is described in the bible is more like a hippie commune kinda thing where everyone is your friend and everyone cares for everyone. But no going to Church on sundays, dressing up, carrying a bible with you, drinking wine out of a little plastic cup and eating a tiny piece of bread and call it the lords supper...no sitting in pews, listening to a monologue speech, singing to songs, all nicely planned and set up before service.

 

You are making my point for me......Christians today follow the church (social Christianity and not the Bible)

And therefore biblical Christianity ceased to be long time ago...and pretty nonexistent nowadays.

 

 

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If Xtianity is dying why are so many fundamentalists and the like getting elected to public offices, such as congressman, senators, governors, etc.?  bill

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And therefore biblical Christianity ceased to be long time ago...and pretty nonexistent nowadays.

 

​Agreed 

 

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If Xtianity is dying why are so many fundamentalists and the like getting elected to public offices, such as congressman, senators, governors, etc.?  bill

 

I would love, absolutely love to see these fundamentalist public "servants" say what the Bible says:

 

Picture voting for a man who says that he believes that it is wrong to seek medical assistance, that rape victims are to be stoned to death and that you should give ALL your worldly goods away........

 

Bill, to answer your specific question, I would say that people are brainwashed into thinking Christianity is good for the world, despite the historical evidence being against ,combined with the fact that those seeking election , fight on an edited negative Christian message (such as Gay marriage and abortion). There dare not reveal an unedited Christian message, as say, the WBC does.

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I love America, I really do, it’s people and its culture, but I find it alarming in the 21st century, anyone running for POTUS has to at least pretend to be a Christian if they are to have hope for high office.

 

What's weird is that 3 of the first 4 presidents weren't Christian by some definitions. Washington was, but Jefferson and Madison were deists, and though Adams was originally a Quaker, he because a Unitarian at some point, and Unitarians didn't believe in the Trinity.

 

Even more ironically, the Republicans ran a Mormon for President. A few years ago almost nobody would have considered that a Christian denomination! It's amazing to me that these Evangelicals in the Republican party don't know how wacky that religion is, even compared to Christianity.

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