U.S. has become notably less Christian, major study finds

LA Times ^ | May 12, 2015 | By DAVID LAUTER

[Jim Robinson]

The U.S. has become significantly less Christian in the last eight years as the share of American adults who espouse no systematic religious belief increased sharply, a major new study found.

For what is likely the first time in U.S. history – certainly the first since the early days of the country – the actual number of American Christians has declined. Christianity, however, remains by far the nation’s dominant religious tradition, according to the new report by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center.

The rapid increase in the number of adults without ties to traditional religious institutions has strong implications for other social institutions and for politics.

Whether a person attends religious services regularly is among the strongest predictors of how he or she will vote, with traditional religion strongly tied to the Republican Party, at least among white Americans.

The decline in traditional religious belief adds to the demographic challenges facing the GOP, which already faces difficulties because of its reliance on white voters in a country that has grown more racially diverse.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Good point. The Dems are really pushing the race issue this time around. I wonder why. Anyway, that is a stunning statement, “their reliance on white voters.” Race has nothing to do with it unless you are democrat and need to race-bait to have a chance.

[SkyDancer]

Well those pollsters IMHO only went to libs and asked them.

[MaggiesPitchfork]

You got that right. Then the hippies grabbed onto it wholesale and it was all over at that point. This is why conservative values have to stand alone without the crutches of religion. You don’t need to spout “SIN!” for those values to stand firm, and today’s kids are dominated by skool union commies starting at pre-K; even if they’re from Christian homes, they’re getting the commie doctrine drilled into their little heads. Societal evils don’t need to be phrased in religious terms that today’s young people don’t relate to.

[fwdude]

The immoral left is just giddy over this overblown, over-reported story.

They must be peeing all over themselves.

[fireforeffect]

And in other news, polls show the liberal party winning the British Parliament elections.

Oh, wait......

[If You Want It Fixed - Fix It]

I’ve become MORE Christian! And I’m HAPPY!

[Jack Hammer]

Explains a lot.

[keats5]

It used to be that most Americans identified with Christianity. Now it’s becoming more apparent who is truly Christian vs those who are only social Christians. As the divide becomes more apparent, the social pressure to appear Christian has given way, and people of both extremes are showing their true colors.

Matthew 13:24-30New King James Version (NKJV)

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

[keats5]

I belong to one of those Bible Believing non-denominational churches. We are conservative Christians, and our pastor preaches the gospel and teaches the Biblical stance on social issues.

We started with a small Bible Study, which grew to a 30 person church that rented space in a community center. Within a few years we built a 500 seat church, which was quickly outgrown. Our present 2000 seat sanctuary with it’s 4 weekly services soon became inadequate and so that we do not grow “too big,” we’ve sprouted smaller satellite churches over the area.

People are hungry for true Christianity. Our pastors do NOT compromise, and there’s no lack of growth in our church. I also suppose congregations like ours are not counted in this poll.