Christianity Recedes in Europe--Is America Next?


"I don't go to church, and I don't know one person who does." That statement, taken from Brian Kenny, a 39-year-old graduate student in Dublin, Ireland, launches readers of USA Today into a consideration of Christianity's receding influence in Europe.

In "Religion Takes a Back Seat in Western Europe," USA Today considers the rapid pace of secularization in Western Europe, and the social, moral, and political impact that has resulted from Europe's loss of faith.

The newspaper obviously believes that something important is at stake in this analysis, for this article by Noelle Knox appeared on the front page of the August 11, 2005 edition of the paper. As it stands, the article offers considerable information and insight. Something remarkable and newsworthy has taken place in Western Europe over the last two decades. Once the very cradle of Christian civilization, Europe has embraced a secular future, and the residual memory of the Christian tradition is fading fast.

For at least half a century, researchers have been observing massive shifts in Western cultures. The increasingly secular shape of European civilization has been evident for some time, though a realization of this can sometimes come as an explosive insight. When Brian Kenny reported, "I don't go to church, and I don't know one person who does," he understood that something had changed. "Fifteen years ago, I didn't know one person who didn't," he reflected.

The statistics documenting European secularization are now impossible to ignore. Ireland, still one of the least secular nations in Western Europe, has seen church attendance fall by at least 25 percent over the last three decades. Ireland is predominantly Roman Catholic, of course, but the paper reports, "Not one priest will be ordained this year in Dublin."

On the Protestant side, the picture is not much better. Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, once the cradles of the Reformation, are now prime examples of Europe's secular shape.

Throughout the European continent, Islam is the only religion growing in the number of adherents. According to the Center for the Study on Global Christianity, at the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in suburban Boston, the decline in Christian influence "is most evident in France, Sweden and the Netherlands, where church attendance is less than ten percent in some areas."

Why has this happened? Ronald Inglehart, Director of the World Values Survey in Sweden, suggests that Christianity has been a comfort to people in times of crisis. "For most of history, people have been on the borderline of survival," he explains. "That's changed dramatically. Survival is certain for almost everyone (in the West). So one of the reasons people are drawn to religion has eroded."

In other words, Mr. Inglehart believes that religion fulfills a social function. Once that function is no longer needed, the entire structure of Christian belief becomes unnecessary.

This kind of reductionism is now common in the social sciences, where religious faith is seen in functional terms rather than in theological categories.

Others, looking at the same pattern of secularization, point to the impact of theological liberalism, the rise of a technological society, and the cultural shift towards autonomous individualism as the main factors behind Christianity's decline.

At the dawn of the 20th century, the vast majority of European citizens identified themselves as Christians. Even now, 75 percent of Europeans identify themselves as Christians. What is going on here? If three out of four Europeans claim to be Christians, how can Europe have become so pervasively secularized?

For some years, sociologists and observers of church life have suggested that younger persons are developing a pattern identified as "believing without belonging." In other words, these researchers have suggested that low levels of church attendance may be offset by the fact that individuals still hold residual Christian beliefs. The more recent shape of secularized Europe indicates that the opposite must be true--that millions of Europeans must be "belonging without believing." In other words, these persons identify themselves as Christians simply as a matter of family heritage or superficial identity. Evidently, their Christian identity is not based in deep levels of Christian belief, high levels of church participation, or traditional markers of Christian discipleship. In Sweden, the government reports that 85 percent of Swedes are church members, yet only eleven percent of women and seven percent of men attend church services.

The most documented evidence of Europe's secularization comes in moral terms. As USA Today reports, the number of marriages is dropping throughout much of Europe. "There is virtually no social stigma for unmarried parents," the paper explains. "More than half of the children in Sweden and Norway are born to unmarried mothers, according to the European Union." In other nations, the statistics are similar.

Interestingly, the paper reports that one of the "most striking consequences" of Christianity's decline in Europe has been fewer children. As Knox explains, "The birth rate throughout much of Western Europe has fallen so drastically that the population in many countries is shrinking . . . ." As Ronald Inglehart argues, "The biggest single consequence of the declining role of the church is the huge decline in fertility rates."

The pattern doesn't stop there, of course. USA Today also acknowledges that the decline of Christian belief in Europe "also has brought a change in attitudes and laws on issues such as divorce, abortion, gay marriage and stem cell research."

Without doubt, the decline in Christian belief and the massive transformation of European lifestyles and moral expectations go hand in hand. As a matter of fact, it may be impossible to determine just how these trends work together within the process of secularization. As Christian conviction declines, Christian morality gives way to the ethos of moral individualism, sexual libertinism, and eroding commitment to marriage, children, and family.

USA Today's cover story on the decline of Christianity in Western Europe raises the question of America's future. In many ways, America seems to be following the European example, though several years behind. Yet the pace of moral transformation in the United States may indicate that America is fast catching up with the European model of secularization.

All this should remind seriously-minded Christians to analyze survey data with caution. Even as the vast majority of Americans claim to be Christians, the indicators of social morality and commitment to marriage and children indicate that America may be moving closer to the European precedent.

The evidence is mounting, and the current shape of secular Europe should serve as a powerful warning. Without a robust commitment to Christian truth, Christian morality simply fades away.

Hmmm...my church has over 500 people show up on Sunday.

it's not declining but slowly evolving into "New Age" and "Scientology"

I don't think so....churches are growing by numbers, expanding, and attendance is up, thus the churches having the need to grow.

Europe used to have the largest churches and church going population around. You are right...the Church of England has dropped to nearly nothing.
My preacher was invited to come and preach in England....he was awesome...but the attendance on television was sparce. To which the issue of attendance was spoken. He was well received by the English goers.
The reason they are asking for American Preachers to come is to inspire them to come back.
If one looks at the trouble in Europe what with riots and the young people doing all sorts of hard core ills...it isn't so hard to see what is happening.
My church has risen from 75 ten years ago to a regular attendance of 7000 strong. Our church had to expand its building to accommadate the mass growth. They have several services on Sunday and many through the week. He is a strong young man that talks the way one needs to hear.
He once was quite the rouser, now he is a man of God. Our church sends thousands and thousands of dollars around the world to help other churches get on their feet and help their communities. It is all to be seen by all its members. The staff changes regularly to keep honesty and power in tact. No one can get the "big eye" there.

Kat

When people hear the word Christian , they think Bush , Cheney , Powell , Rumsfeld .....and the rest of the gang are coming after them .....
.

Not at my house.

I come from a family of Democrat Christians.

Yes it is.

If we get all the masses from saturday and sunday together in my parish (St. Ausgustine. Orlando, Fl)
We are talking of a figure around 3,000 people.
If you go to hispanic communities (rural areas) the numbers are even higher.
So I don't know my friend. If those figures mean declining.

It's very easy to target one section of the population to run surveys, and then play with the data and run biased statistical analysis.

However, the real researcher is the one who takes an homogeneous sample from the universe, and then runs the statistical analisys.

Then this researcher has the three ingredients of reliability which are LOGOS, ETHOS, and PATHOS.

Thank you for the effort to keep us inform. Your job is very well appreciated.

TLW

The Gospel is reaching untold millions across the globe, via sattelite.
Thousands are coming to Christ .

There is coming a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit on this earth.
As it was with the early outpouring of the Holy Sprit,, so will it be again with the latter rain.

It is already happening.
People are Hungry...not for religion..but for God.
And thousands upon thouands are finding Jesus IS the Answer , their hungry hearts have been longing for.

Be Blessed Everyone....Have a Safe and Happy Fourth....

Its stronger than ever

sadly true....

Just look at the Crusades being held in Africa and in other nations.

Thousands gather at these crusades, with hands lifted up, praising the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why this large gathering happening everywhere??

Cause JESUS is being lifted up, and NOT religion.

When Jesus and not religion is being lifted up, it draws ALL People to Him.....and God is then able to Move .

The time is already upon is..... God is Fixing to pour out His spirit upon ALL flesh .

It is true in poorer nations Christianity is increasing. I think Africa it is up by 3% each year.

Statistics and Reasons for Church Decline in America
Dr. Richard J. Krejcir


Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds. Proverbs 27:23

For the last 15 plus years, we, at the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development (FASICLD) in partnership with Into Thy Word Ministries (another Francis Schaeffer vision), have been in careful, steadfast research in quest of “why so many churches are failing.”

What the Statistics Tell Us

This quest started in 1992 as a Fuller Institute project that was picked up by FASICLD in 1998, seeking what had happened and why the bride of Christ was in decline. God’s marvelous Church has become culturally irrelevant and even distant from is prime purpose of knowing Him, growing in Him, and worshipping Him by making disciples! This is evidenced by what is going on in our culture and in our church. Most of the statistics tell us that nearly 50% of Americans have no church home. In the 1980s, membership in the church had dropped almost 10%; then, in the 1990s, it worsened by another 12% drop—some denominations reporting a 40% drop in their membership. And now, over half way through the first decade of the 21st century, we are seeing the figures drop even more!

What is Going on with the Church in America?

The United States Census Bureau Records give some startling statistics, backed up by denominational reports and the Assemblies of God U.S. Missions:

· Every year more than 4000 churches close their doors compared to just over 1000 new church starts!

· There were about 4,500 new churches started between 1990 and 2000, with a twenty year average of nearly 1000 a year.

· Every year, 2.7 million church members fall into inactivity. This translates into the realization that people are leaving the church. From our research, we have found that they are leaving as hurting and wounded victims—of some kind of abuse, disillusionment, or just plain neglect!

· From 1990 to 2000, the combined membership of all Protestant denominations in the USA declined by almost 5 million members (9.5 percent), while the US population increased by 24 million (11 percent).

· At the turn of the last century (1900), there was a ratio of 27 churches per 10,000 people, as compared to the close of this century (2000) where we have 11 churches per 10,000 people in America! What has happened?

· Given the declining numbers and closures of Churches as compared to new church starts, there should have been over 38,000 new churches commissioned to keep up with the population growth.

· The United States now ranks third (3rd) following China and India in the number of people who are not professing Christians; in other words, the U.S. is becoming an ever increasing “un-reached people group.”

· Half of all churches in the US did not add any new members to their ranks in the last two years.

· So, why do they leave—besides because of death? Why are they not coming?

More Startling Data

Between 1992 and 2002, 77% to 87% (160 million in 1992) of Americans identified themselves as Christians in most studies. However, what constitutes a Christian or a churchgoer is the question. One study that I did between 1992 and 2002 had surprising results. I found that church attendance may be half what those survey results stated. Many polls have indicated that the percentage of people who regularly attend a church service in the United States is around 40% to 50%, 20% in Canada, and 8% or less in Europe. But, when we started to count people from denominational reports and compare to census data and University research data, the numbers that were originally declared dropped by half!

· 22% of Americans “frequently” attended church in 1992, including Orthodox, Evangelical, or Protestant. (The reason why the other research is variant is due to how they ask the questions. I sought frequency over just attending. I deem frequency as at least 2 times a month as opposed to two to three times a year indicated by other statistical research.)

· 20.5% of Americans “frequently” attended church in 1995

· 19% of Americans “frequently” attended church in 1999

· 18.0% of Americans “frequently” attended in church in 2002

Now, by extrapolating the data and doing some statistical evaluation and adding some hope for revival, we can see the figures drop to 15% of Americans in attendance at a church by 2025, and a further drop to 11% or 12 % in 2050. Soon, we can catch up with Europe, which is currently “enjoying” two to four percent of its population in regular Church attendance. By the time these predictions come to pass, Europe may have no significant Church presence at all.

It’s no accident that the US - the first-world country with the poorest support for its own citizens, with no decent social security, no universal healthcare and an astonishing level of poverty for such a wealthy nation - remains so bizarrely religious. It is alone among the western nations in having the vast majority of its citizens beholden to mystical concepts formed in ancient times and foreign lands. This situation has been bolstered by the policy of the Bush administration to fund social programmes through faith-based organisations, so that even when the state is providing for them - albeit by proxy - poor, sick and otherwise needy people must still turn to churches and organisations with a religious message to sell.

It could be possible that bushy himself is responsible for any kind of decline in religious followers. I mean it seems that it was his format, then to let all those God believers down like that? His God told him to go kill Iraqies? Kill for oil? Not any God I know would do that, not for money.

For all those church goers to be closing like that....there must be some kind of move here. We have churches growing and building all the time.

Kat

After trying to find some statistics it kind of shows that Europe is declining in Christianity as of Australia.

The US I am unsure of, yet it indicates that there are less attendances in church and many more churches are closing then opening through the years.

A sharp rise in Latin America and Africa. Primarily the poor continents are rising sharply in population believing in Christianity.

Here is a statistic for Australia

The latest statistics on religious affiliations from the 2006 Australian Census provide little comfort for the leaders of the major Christian churches.

In 1901, the overwhelming majority (96 percent) of Australians described themselves as Christian. One hundred years later, that number has declined to 64 percent (down from 71 percent in 1996). This decline will continue, since the younger the age group the lower the percentage.

The mainline non-Catholic denominations have declined the most, while the Catholic Church has remained fairly stable in recent years at around 25 percent of the Australian population.

The most rapid growth - from very small bases - has occurred with the Christian fundamentalists such as the Pentecostals and the major non-Christian believers, notably Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus.

From a Catholic standpoint, the most disturbing statistic is the number of those brought up as Catholics who have switched to 'no religion'. In 2006, only 64 percent of those under 15 at the time of the 1996 Census who were identified as Catholic (presumably by their parents) still described themselves as Catholic ten years later. And most of these are graduates of the Catholic education system.

This no doubt reflects the influence of secularism, with the number stating 'no religion' continuing to grow, from 16.6 percent of all Australians in 1996 to 18.7 percent in 2006, and with the growth greatest among the younger age categories.

Among those professing any religious belief, the statistics make clear that an undiluted faith attracts and retains adherents while accommodation with the secular culture will ensure further decline.

This is the challenge that faces Catholicism in the lead-up to World Youth Day 2008.

I think Christianity or any faith was easier to believe in before the industrial revolution because the things we view now as scientific law was strange and magical to people and easily explained by faith (such as the evolution of man). Also there is a general aversion to any authority thats been on the incline since the beginning of history. we can attribute this later factor to a general interpretation of the law of Entropy.

I think there has always been enough evil in this world to make the most faithful zealot question God's existence, but those questions were easily drowned out by "evidence" of god's existence through miracles. Notice though, how the advent of inventions such as the camera and microphone have suddenly discouraged god from showing any miracles in the last 100 years. For many people their faith in a god has kept them from acting on their animal instincts, so without proof of that god, many people give up on a transcendental view on happiness, and settle for satisfaction of instinctual desires such as sex, power, and survival.

Very true what you say!

Smiless and others , who are seeking and want to know....here is a great read.

Grab a cup of java.....it's rather long...

Be Blessed Now....



http://endtimepilgrim.org/end-timerev.htm