Richmond, Va. — A new poll tells an old story: Americans are deeply religious, especially compared to Europeans. “Religious devotion sets the United States apart from some of its closest allies,” according to an AP-Ipsos survey. “Nearly all U.S. respondents said faith is important to them and only 2 percent said they do not believe in God.” Western Europeans are the “least devout” among the people surveyed (countries include the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, South Korea, and Spain).
I certainly found this to be true while working on my new book, Exodus: Why Americans are Fleeing Liberal Churches for Conservative Christianity. In interviews with believers a consistent theme emerged. They believers rejected the God-lite of progressive Christianity. They desire the absolute God of tradition.
Writer Andy Ferguson encountered the lesser god while taking a class at a West Coast Episcopal seminary. Andy sometimes argued basic Christian beliefs with a professor. After one such discussion he repaired to the lunchroom, where he was approached by a fellow student. “We have finally figured out what your problem is,” the classmate said. “You are the only one here who believes in God.” Andy thought it over and concluded: This guy is right. Thus began a journey that recently took him into Catholicism. In economic terms he had switched brands. It’s highly unlikely he’ll be switching back.
Andy’s not alone. The most recent “Religious Congregations and Membership” study, published in 2000 (the study is conducted each decade) by the Glenmary Research Center, tells the statistical story. Progressive churches are progressing, it seems, ever closer to oblivion. The Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (11,106 churches) has experienced a decline of 11.6 percent over the previous ten years; the United Methodist Church (35,721 churches) was down 6.7 percent; and the Episcopal Church (7,314 churches) lost 5.3 percent of its membership. Also, the United Churches of Christ (5,863 churches) declined 14.8 percent while the American Baptist Churches USA were down 5.7 percent.
The denominations showing growth included the deeply conservative Southern Baptist Convention, a collection of 41,514 churches, whose overall growth rate was 5 percent. The traditionalist Presbyterian Church in America (as opposed the mainline Presbyterian Church U.S.A.) experienced an impressive 42.4 percent increase, while the Christian and Missionary Alliance rose 21.8 percent. Meanwhile, the Evangelical Free Church was up 57.2 percent, and Pentecostal denominations also boomed. The Assemblies of God, with 11,880 churches, saw 18.5 percent growth, while the Church of God, with 5,612 churches, saw growth of 40.2 percent.
What is behind this traditionalist rise and progressive decline? The New York Times, in its summary of the survey, noted, "Socially conservative churches that demand high commitment from their members grew faster than other religious denominations in the last decade…." Glenmary director Ken Sanchagrin told the paper he was “astounded to see that by and large the growing churches are those that we ordinarily call conservative. And when I looked at those that were declining, most were moderate or liberal churches. And the more liberal the denomination, by most people’s definition, the more they were losing."
God-lite is thin beer indeed. One group of theologians has whittled the traditional God down to 30 percent of his original power: He cannot affect the past or future and isn’t holding all that many cards in the present. This 30 percent god may not be powerful enough to fix a parking ticket. For many Americans he is certainly not worth rolling out of bed for on Sunday mornings. [Source]
God-lite indeed. I can almost see a commercial with two people arguing over God-lite. Less filling – No taste. The call to relevancy has made God irrelevant. Christianity with no commitment and no cross. A church that is but an echo of society instead of a radical call to holiness and love of God and neighbor. Instead of the rich theological banquet spiced with mystery we have received theological junk food that never quite looks like the picture it is advertised with. God-lite looks so good from the outside from the human perspective and leaves you with nothing to sink your teeth or your mind into. There was never no false advertisement with Christ who up front told us "to pick up the cross daily." The modern church advertises itself as having an "open mind" leading invariably to empty congregations.
"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you" — St. Augustine.
4 comments
My sister in law, who is not Catholic, and I’m sure was just as saddened over my husband becoming Catholic as was his father, is the confessed Christian Missionary, who, all on her own, is on a mission from God. She professes to want to help the orphans of Africa, and spread God’s word. Give her money, and she’s your friend, but don’t think for a moment you have a say in what she may or may not do with “her” mission, or your money. I have made suggestions that are somewhat Catholic in flavor, and I’m always met with, “You Catholics, always read so much more into things. That’s not what that means. My plan is simple and not with all the misguided ideas your Church has.” She so hates the Catholic Church, and can’t stand the fact that my family is now all Catholic, and her nieces, and nephew are Catholic. “Your kids are going to be so messed up” And she trys to correct this from time to time, of which I have to let the kids know, as she sits there and listens, “She doesn’t believe as we do. There’s no reason to sit here and debate the issue. She’s not Catholic and doesn’t understand the way you do.” She like’s to tell the kids, Mary was only a woman and she’s not due any respect. You people waste so much time on things that don’t do anything that God cares about, It’s what some man came up with and not God”. My son said, ” Auntie, I didn’t know you were anti-Catholic, and somewhat narrow minded. You keep saying you want to sread Gods love with the people of Africa, but you don’t share that with us. How come?” Auntie said, “Your Church is messed up Honey”. He said, “NO, we believe the same as you, we just believe more stuff”.
If there is anyone on this earth I have to pray for in my life it’s her. I have scares all over my tongue from biting it when ever I”m in the same room as her. I’m always in fear of a religious battle with her if something comes up in regards to faith. THAT’S NOT TRUE is usually what comes out of her mouth first. (sigh) Here we go again….
Though Fr. Neuhaus was talking of seminarians, I think it is just as true of all of us. Father said, citing someone else, that although men will give their lives to a mystery, they won’t give them to a question mark.
I think that he is so right, and that that is why our seminaries have lost candidates, our convents, nuns, our parishes, priests, and our pews, worshippers.
Very interesting stuff, Chief. I was surprised that no information was given on the unitarians who have got to be on the botttom of the growth curve.
Lucy, I’m sorry to hear about your sister-in-law. She seems to have bought into the same “God is all about social justice and nothing else” mantra that many progressive “catholics” have bought into at the expense of all other aspects of the faith.
Lucy: Just keep praying for her (through Mary!). We do not “elevate” Mary to a special position, others knock her down. She was the first Christian… she believed without seeing and she did this before her Son made that proclamation to Thomas! We do not worship her, we give her high praise, just the same as you would any of your friends or family for doing a superior job.
My experience with American’s obligation to God is on par with their obligation to other commitments in life… as long as it doesn’t get TOO much in the way of what I want to do. If it doesn’t support the Greater Glory of Me, it seems not worth doing. Oh, and if I’m sinful and have offended the Lord… eh, God forgives, right? All of this, seems wrapped up with a philosophy of “I’m cute enough to go to Heaven” to me.