TELEGRAPH – BLOGS – DAMIAN THOMPSON: The strangest thing happened last week, though few people noticed it. America officially ceased to be a Protestant country. According to the Pew Forum, the percentage of Protestants has dropped to 48 per cent, down from 53 per cent in 2007. That’s a huge shift.
But, before Catholics start punching the air, let me point out that the percentage of Catholics has been flatlining for years at 22 per cent. The big jump is in unaffiliated Americans, including atheists – up from 15 to 20 per cent. These “Nones”, as pollsters call them, are laying waste to the religious landscape of the United States. And Britain.
Here’s the question that intrigues me. Once the old, routine churchgoers have died off, and now that “None” is the default position for liberal-minded young people, what will the churches of the future look like?
We’re beginning to find out. More to the point, the clapped-out Anglican and Catholic bishops of the English-speaking world are finding out, too – and it’s giving them nightmares.
Those youngsters who once went to church out of obligation are now spending Sunday mornings in the supermarket or the gym (body worship is a flourishing faith). That means that the only young people in the pews are true believers who really want to be there. Read on and comment » | Damian Thompson | Friday, October 12, 2012
My comment:
The void will surely be filled by Islam. Islam is a growing, vibrant faith; Christianity is on its last legs. Christians, now often mostly nominal, also don't want children. Women would prefer their independence and careers. The result, of course, is a huge decline in the birthrate. Compare this with the Muslim population. Muslims are family people; they give birth to plenty of children. And as soon as they are born, the father whispers the following in the baby's ear: La illah ila Allah wa Muhammadan rasul ullah. With this going on, the future has to belong to them. The Church, by being so wishy-washy, is giving our heritage away. As, indeed, are our politicians. – © Mark
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