The Decline of Faith

[Geee]

American Spectator:

Time recently published a cover story, "Is Hell Dead?" about a "rogue pastor" called Rob Bell in Michigan. We don't know for sure that anyone is in hell, he argues. Maybe, but fantasizing free heaven passes for all doesn't make much sense, especially for a pastor. If Bell's message is that his parishioners are all going to enjoy an eternity of bliss whether they go to church or not, it's only a matter of time before they stop going. "The doctrine of universal salvation turns out to be as deterministic as the more strident forms of scientific materialism," Ross Douthat wrote.

Rob Bell represents "the tragedy of non-judgmental mainline liberalism," said R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I agree with that. Meanwhile I keep thinking of C. S. Lewis's reminder: "All the most terrifying passages in the New Testament come from the mouth of Our Lord."

It should be clear by now that the theological liberalism that has dominated our age undermines religious faith, much as secular liberalism, intended to improve society, will end up bankrupting it.

Consider the Church of England, where every progressive cause is embraced. Gay bishops? Who, in our current climate, would dare to disapprove? Out of 60 million people in the United Kingdom, only 1.1 million, or about 2 percent, go to church every week. Once it was 10 times that. Even its leaders seem to have stopped believing in it. Declining congregations and growing costs make the C. of E. an unsustainable venture without the recovery of faith.

The trends in America are similar, although less advanced. The number of Americans who claim no religious affiliation has nearly doubled (from 8 percent to 15 percent) since 1990. In the same period self-identified Christians fell by 10 percentage points (from 86 to 76 percent).

[Saltbag]

A very sad article.

 

People want to disassociate religion from morality. Not once was morality mentioned in that article. More of the the "if you don't believe in our religion, hello damnation," instead of "here's the moral fundamentals to live by that just happened to build our great country." I can't stand hearing "or else" instead of "why."

[righteousmomma]

Good point, Saltbag!

[Sabre86]

I wish I could find a church to go to, but I have been unable to in the last 18 months since I left the one I had been attending.

 

If I exclude the liberal churches, or other ones I would not attend (not going to get into Protestant vs. Catholic vs. Mormon, vs. etc, etc, etc.) it leaves very few.

 

My biggest problem is I will be 33 on Saturday and single, and every single church I have been into in the last year has absolutely nothing for singles around my age. Plenty of things for married people, but its like they don't know what to do with people my age who aren't married.

 

The church I had been attending once had a huge group, over 100, with about 60-70 being regulars. By the time I left, it has around, with maybe 6 including myself as regulars. I would have stayed, but after being publicly humiliated by another member after making the mistake of asking her out, I decided it was time to leave. I'm still friends with two of the other guys from that church. They both agree with me, there is just no where else to go.

[Sanguine]

I wish I could find a church to go to, but I have been unable to in the last 18 months since I left the one I had been attending.

 

If I exclude the liberal churches, or other ones I would not attend (not going to get into Protestant vs. Catholic vs. Mormon, vs. etc, etc, etc.) it leaves very few.

 

My biggest problem is I will be 33 on Saturday and single, and every single church I have been into in the last year has absolutely nothing for singles around my age. Plenty of things for married people, but its like they don't know what to do with people my age who aren't married.

 

The church I had been attending once had a huge group, over 100, with about 60-70 being regulars. By the time I left, it has around, with maybe 6 including myself as regulars. I would have stayed, but after being publicly humiliated by another member after making the mistake of asking her out, I decided it was time to leave. I'm still friends with two of the other guys from that church. They both agree with me, there is just no where else to go.

 

It's a problem, for sure. I had to visit a lot of churches before I found the one I am a member of now. Even though it's a part of a fairly liberal diocese, our congregation and priest are conservative for the most part.

 

My rule of thumb is that the male/female ratio should be about even. It indicates a healthy congregation, in my experience. And, of course, the pastor, being the spiritual leader, has to be a righteous Christian.

 

Good luck to you.