The end of Christianity?

[xr34p3rx]

I have been thinking about why christianity is still around and is difficult to "extinct". Christians would argue, oh it says in the bible in Isaiah 40:8

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.

which is a little cute defense that the creators of the bible thought would come in handy later one juuuuust in case they started to have their reputation attacked.

so does anyone have any info that i should know?
i do know that christianity over the years has been decreasing, im not sure how accurate the statistics of that are but... yea

[Chad32]

I have heard that USA is about the last country that's predominantly christian, and even here it's decreasing. Unfortunately I've heard islam is growing like wildfire. Not that I think everyone in that religion is of the extreme. Those are just the most newsworthy ones. It's not like we don't have our extremists over here. Of course if you're hearing about declining christianity and growing islam, that's got to leave some christians not sleeping well at night.

[InevitableCheese]

I don't think religion will go away for a long time. It's part of society. But hopefully we're coming to an age (and we're already seeing this in US Christianity) where's it's non-intrusive, and more spiritual and personal instead of intrusive.

[Mister Agenda]

Last developed country that's predominantly Christian, and if trends continue, Christianity is headed towards becoming the religion of a minority. Protestants are about to sink as the religious majority already at down to 51%. It may take centuries for Christianity as a whole in the USA to dwindle down to 5%.

[Crossless2.0]

Last developed country that's predominantly Christian, and if trends continue, Christianity is headed towards becoming the religion of a minority. Protestants are about to sink as the religious majority already at down to 51%. It may take centuries for Christianity as a whole in the USA to dwindle down to 5%.

I'm sure I won't live to see it, but perhaps my grandchildren or great-grandchildren will see the day when Christians become a toothless minority curiosity in the U.S. with no real political power beyond the numbers they can muster on election day.

[Minimalist]

I'm glad I lived to at least see the start of it.

As the old fucks die and the young ones ignore it, it will fade. How long did it take Europe to cast off the bonds of mental slavery?

[Crossless2.0]

I'm glad I lived to at least see the start of it.

As the old fucks die and the young ones ignore it, it will fade. How long did it take Europe to cast off the bonds of mental slavery?

Yes, it will fade but not in the way it faded in Europe. There they had experienced brutal wars and terrorism due to Christian/Jew and Catholic/Protestant religious bigotry. They grew out of it because they had to.

Here every two-bit schmuck can set up a church in a strip mall and compete in the marketplace of "ideas" and few people blink, let alone view it as something shameful. The laughter and mockery of people realizing the Emperor has no clothes is what will eventually do in Christianity, but it will take some time and there will be a great deal of push-back from the faithful as their hold on power and respectability becomes more and more tenuous. The whiny persecution fantasies of believers today will seem mild compared to what is coming.

Yes, it's good to see the beginning of it, but -- damn it! -- I wish I could be there to see the end of it.

[Mr Greene]

It's a generational thing, the last generation to subscribe to christianity en masse in the UK was the WWII generation who are now reaching life expectancy. As such our churches should be gone in next 20-30 years.
In the US the average age of the congregation is lower but shows the same trend, in effect you'll have to wait for the average age to equal life expectancy. (In the UK the average age of the congregation is about 7 years from life expectancy) I think the average age for US congregations is about 20 years from life expectancy though trying to nail down a figure is like pulling teeth even on the net.

[Mudhammam]

I have been thinking about why christianity is still around and is difficult to "extinct". Christians would argue, oh it says in the bible in Isaiah 40:8

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.

which is a little cute defense that the creators of the bible thought would come in handy later one juuuuust in case they started to have their reputation attacked.

so does anyone have any info that i should know?
i do know that christianity over the years has been decreasing, im not sure how accurate the statistics of that are but... yea

All religions declared their gods' longevity and future reign. Kings and empires did as well. Consider this passage in the Enuma Elish, the ancient Babylonian scriptures which preceded the Genesis creation myths, which declare the everlasting supremecy of the god Marduk: "The Merciful One, with whom it is to bestow life!" May his deeds endure, may they never be forgotten, In the mouth of mankind whom his hands have made!"

[Polaris]

I have heard that USA is about the last country that's predominantly christian, and even here it's decreasing. Unfortunately I've heard islam is growing like wildfire. Not that I think everyone in that religion is of the extreme. Those are just the most newsworthy ones. It's not like we don't have our extremists over here. Of course if you're hearing about declining christianity and growing islam, that's got to leave some christians not sleeping well at night.

Do you mean the last among the First World nations? In the Second World, it's actually increasing and it's still quite strong in the Third World (Armenia has 92% of the population stating they are Christian).