What Can We Expect to See As Religion Numbers Fall


We are seeing the future today. It is the increased radicalization of religion as it becomes obvious to believers they are losing the argument. Those remaining in the faith feel they must clamp on ever for forcefully to their myths or they will slip away.

In my opinion, falling religious numbers explain some of the support for Trump. The demographic of those remaining grows older and more frustrated the ideas they tried to instill into society are being rejected. Maybe something or someone will come along that insults those who insult me. That person is Trump. 

I think we will see "The Church of Anti Abortion and Anti Gay" do well in fund raising. I call it a "church" because its members are more enthusiastic about their hatred of gays and women than they are about the church that gives them cover. If their church lightens up on either issue they are gone. That is exactly what has happened across the Protestant denominations and is about to happen to Methodists. If "forgiveness of sin" and all that goes with it had been what they thought was central to their denomination they would not have split off. They said they were members of the Lutherans, Presbyterians, etc. but actually they were and remain members of "The Church of Anti Abortion and Anti Gay."

There is a term in the game of poker and in stock market strategy called "doubling down." Readers know, I'm sure, it means raising your wager when you start to lose. Behind it is the theory that if you lose some the odds of losing more are less. Therefore, as you lose you bet more. Becoming more committed to one's cause as fewer support you is another version and perhaps what we can expect in religion.

I don't have any objection to a more fervent set of believers unless it means they are more committed than ever to put their beliefs into government. It seems like falling numbers would mean less political support for such mischief. We've all seen, however, carving up congressional districts gives the minority powers over the majority and how this plays out might be different than we think. It could work either for or against religion in government.

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