The Tables Have Turned


This weekend there was yet another article on a large Christian site reporting on the decline in Christian numbers. Like some others the study was conducted and written, not by a group hostile to Christianity, but by an evangelical organization. For some reason it is now in style or popular for Christian organizations to make glum reports about what is happening to Christianity.

While it is laudable these Christians truthfully report what the declining numbers they never go very far into the bigger question, why? When we look at the history of where Christianity came from, how it got so large and why it is declining, it no doubt is painful to discuss what happened.  

Many observers argue the lucky break for Christianity was the conversion of the Roman pagan dictator Constantine to Christianity. Constantine ruled the Roman Empire from 306 to 337 CE.  If Constantine had remained pagan, or had converted to some other religion, would Christianity ever spread across the globe? It doesn't seem likely. There are piles of written material about Constantine's faith, whether he ever had it or understood it, but there can be no doubt he made it acceptable to society at large. 

If there is something similar to Constantine in current history surely it would be the President, or Presidents, of the U. S. The last President who wore Christianity on his sleeve was George W. Bush. Since then there has not been a President who talked of divine guidance. There is not a leader of world prominence advocating Christianity. The competition is not another religion but secularism. An argument can be made the table has turned on Christianity. The prominent political leaders or leaders now belongs to secularism.

Christianity had a lucky break in the mid 1400's with the printing press. Without a cheap way to print it the Bible would not have spread around the world.  Surely no one can argue the benefit to Christianity of a cheap Bible.

We all know the tables on the cheap spread of Christian propaganda have turned. The computer has done more to question the Bible and its faith than to pormote it. 

The huge success of Christianity is not its message or "truth" but simply lucky breaks. It now looks like its luck has run out.

Pundits inside the faith would help their cause by admitting the role of luck instead of ignoring it.

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