New Harvard Research Says US Christianity Not Shrinking but Growing Stronger

I don't much care if their numbers grow or shrink. I care that these people enjoy and trust their own heartfelt and sincere faith -and leave me alone. They can call me once in awhile, and drop by to leave me a pamphlet, but otherwise, they should stay out of my hair and my government's constitutional exercise of secularism.

 

See fig. 1

 

Why do I care? Because I don't like to see fellow men headed to hell when God's offer of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is open to them. What is your motivation?

 

The OP acknowledged that study and some of its points but questions its conclusions.

"Voas and Chaves (2016) recently challenged the notion that American religion is exceptional and provided a persuasive argument that the United States fits the secularization thesis. Demonstrating a clear downward trend in American religiosity as measured by affiliation, practice, and belief,1 they concluded the United States is secularizing in the same way as comparable countries. We are convinced by the steep downward trend in average religiousness noted by Voas and Chaves (2016). Clearly, America appears to be secularizing. We are not yet convinced, however, by the assertion that the religious change occurring in the United States fits the secularization thesis. Is America really secularizing like other countries where religion is simply fading into obscurity?"

The answer to that last question is clearly no.

Wouldn't want to challenge your world-view, would you? We can debate all we want about the US situation, which is only 5% of the world's population, but the fact is global Christianity is projected to grow 35% between 2015 and 2050.

 

I simply don't want to see others waste their time on a lie.

BTW, in your opinion, do those who don't agree with you head straight to hell? You realize that the maj0ority of he worlds population do not agree with your views, right?

 

Why the concern about other's time, and what they believe? I don't make thousands of posts on Hindu forums telling them they're wrong. My wife doesn't like football, but doesn't hang out on NFL forums telling them how stupid it is. IMHO the reason for the atheist obsession with Christianity is what Jesus said in John 12:32 "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."

Yes.

As Jesus said, broad is the road to destruction and narrow the road to life.

 

The right wing, led for years by the fake news of Hannity and Fox in general, has remained a reliable source of lies, spin, deceptions, trickery, racism, and unconscionable fake news. They made their bed and I won't lie in it. The Federalist is just another one as is The Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute. ... All deceiving liars. They offer NOTHING for anyone's "world view".

And trump takes his marching orders from Hannity and his fake news!!

Aside from that, the report shows decline. I see the decline. Hence, there is decline.

 

Your words and attitude are a primary reason why Christianity become so reviled and so many are turning away from it and zealots like you.

BTW, the only obsession shown here is your obsession with insistence that atheists obsess with your little religion. For most of us we seldom even consider it on a daily basis, unless someone like you comes along and tries to push it in our face.

 

Not very impressive .. as with anything .. it depends how you ask the question. For example - they asked people if they Pray .. and did a comparison on that.

This is not a great way to do things in my books. Sure people claim to be Christian (because that is how they were raised) - and most people pray - have some kind of conversation in their mind with respect to God. The fact remains however that Church attendance is down and continues to decline.

Another problem with this article is the major bias.. which does not inspire much respect for the credibility of the article.

First thing to note is that this number is quite low = only 33% compared to what it would have been say 50 years ago.

The second issue is that they call this "exceptional". Only someone with a huge bias would call belief in something without proof as "exceptional" - in circles of people that use reason and logic - this is the opposite of "exceptional".

What's more - is that the author clearly does not realize that the majority of Christianity does not accept inerrancy - that the whole Bible is the word of God and thus inerrant.

This then begs the question - who are the real Christians ? The Christians who don't believe in inerrancy or those that do ?

I would argue that the term "real Christians" is not a proper way to look at things but, this is apparently how the author views things. Those who believe in inerrancy are "exceptional" and those who do not are not.

This is preposterous. The author is an idiot.

 

Does not matter. Your interp is subjective.

 

It's called the Great Commission. God is honored when His truth is proclaimed, regardless of the response.

My presence here is more easily explained than yours.

 

Personal attack noted. And lots of atheists have poor father experiences, it makes for an interesting psychological study.

https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Fatherless-Psychology-Paul-Vitz/dp/1586176870

 

I'm Agnostic. I don't know and I'm comfortable with that.

 

Projected by whom, religious fanatics like yourself with no grasp of reality?

Not an impressive claim on your part, especially since it is not true and even you know it.

As for my posts in this forum, have you ever considered that it is my "commission" to bring the truth to those like you who refuse to accept it?

Your only purpose here is to try to bully those that don't believe you into declaring for your false god.

 

Or that insisting that known falsehoods are true. Sound like you?

 

Talk about personal attacks, you have typically done exactly that when shown to being misled.

 

Perhaps because you have been rejected in all other forums.

 

Not sure what you're talking about there, bud. Perhaps that 'known' part is only in your head?

 

Stop projecting.

 

"Known" is in the view of the observer. You claim to "know" the mind of this god of yours which is patently untrue. You claim it is your "commission" to make others believe as you do. Seems like something that you like that is counter productive. Like insisting that lies are true.

 

Only projecting if it is not true, and even then the word is subject to interpretation. I stand by my statement, it is up to you to prove it incorrect.

 

All interpretation of data is subjective but that does not mean it is wrong.

 

Or that is correct.

 

In your case, yes, it does.

 

How so?