I am going to write an article for the newspaper of my university, and I have decided to write about how the chuch has lost power compared to the past. I already have the general idea, but I would like you to share your knowledge. 

Also, recommend books/articles if you want please.

Thank you. 

It first began to lose power when men became literate, when men no longer relied upon the clergy to read to them, and thus men began to think for themselves when they read the book in its entirety instead of only hearing parts of it in church.

Information, science, technology and enlightened thought exposed the fallacies of religion.

They tried to control sex.

Do you plan on compensating folks for doing the legwork on the article you'll be receiving credit for?

Not judging, mind you. 
Just curious.

Incessant schisms due to a garbled and confusing Message.

Study the European Enlightenment.

They could never quite get the hang of this:

And if the 10s of thousands of schisms didn't neuter the faith enough, then you get Christians deciding for themselves which Bible verses they would comport to and which ones they would not as they were seen as inconvenient.


IOWs, modern era Christianity has no 'there' there.