Look Out, Here Comes the Religious Left


A sociologist who studies religion provides a nice over view of the changes taking place. There are various reasons Christian numbers are falling, especially white numbers. But, she notes so correctly, one part of the change is a movement within Christianity. At its core is the inability to accept the Bible as a literal source of the faith. 

The subject of the link is a professor of religion in Connecticut who plots press coverage of religion. She found liberal Christianity is getting more and better press today than conservative Christianity. The reaction to this is Conservative Christianity has doubled down on the requirements to be in their fold.

One example is Russell Moore, the subject of other blogs here. He was removed from a high position in the Southern Baptist Convention because he criticized Trump. Trump himself is under fire within his own camp the endorsing Covid vaccinations. This is the purification that continues to unfold and is at least part of the turnoff to young people born into Christian families.

Polling reveals this. The percentage of nones, those who claim no religious affiliation, includes some who retain some who maintain some many of thought which would be called "religious." They do not, however, want to be identified with denominations. Of those who have revealed their interest in religion none that I have seen think their former denomination was not conservative enough. Whatever they retain of the faith, therefore, must be not conservative but liberal. If a portion of them return to church life the odds are it will not be to the conservative branch. 

It is true the most fiery and determined members of the faith are in the conservative wing. This does not automatically mean this is the future of the faith. The likely future is this group will age out with nothing to replace it. 

I can't image a more fruitful field in which to recruit young people out of conservative religion or to no religion than abortion. Abortion rights is driven by women and their supporters among men. I agree there are plenty of women against abortion but the political juices are with women whose right to abortion is being taken away. The more it is linked to Christianity the faster the exit.

Until now, the most political noise came from conservative Protestants and Catholics. According to the link subject that is changing.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maybe the "Original Sin" Should be Reassigned

Image
We can all agree most Catholic priests are fine people and not guilty of sexual abuse. What Catholics must face, however, it that their church harbors executives who are dishonest . There is an incredible story about the Argentine Bishop Zanchetta. The Pope worked with him in Argentina and they are considered friends. Around 2015 Zanchetta sent nude pictures of himself and they began circulating world wide. He also was too friendly with young seminarians and some left because of him.  Three different officials say they made formal complaints to the Vatican about Zanchetta between 2015 and 2017. Yet, in 2018, the Vatican claimed it was unaware of any complaints about Zanchetta. This might be a good time to repeat the Catholic hierarchy claims to have the sole authority handed down from Jesus to what the faith stands for. It condemns as sinners those who practice birth control, have abortions and gay sexual relationships. Handing the hierarchy this responsibility would make som
Read more

The Religious Capitol Invaders May Yet Win

Image
So much about U.S. society and religion can be learned from the Civil War and what happened afterwards. After its defeat, the South started a myth about the unethical soldiers from the North. The South fought for principles of God and states rights. The North did not. It was the South, this propaganda told the country, that had the high moral ground.  The Capitol invaders, encouraged by Trump, swallowed the myth that Biden's election was stolen. Thus, they think they held and still hold the high moral ground. This was reinforced by the cross and prayers during the invasion. Even with Trump is gone, we will see political opportunists like Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley stroking crowds and feeding the same lies as Trump. Like "the South will rise again" these gullible followers will talk of victory over the unclean. After the Civil War the South rallied around the phrase, Lost Cause. For decades, and maybe to this day, there are ceremonies remembering fallen martyrs, Re
Read more

Father Frank Pavone, the Ultimate Crook

Image
Recently, the Vatican defrocked Frank Pavone. His diehard fans are outraged. This is because he cleverly manipulated his fans and the press all the while living well from donations and, apparently, abusing some women. By making abortion the "sin" of the century, and himself the main opposition to this one sin, he himself could get away with any sin he pleased.  As the link points out, Pavone was the perfect priest for the Trump era. Trump is so self-important laws have no role in his life. He felt accountable to no one. Women were there to be had. Pavone and Trump are interchangeable.  Pavone was very successful raising money. In his mind, abortion was so important in Catholic beliefs and he was so important in anti-abortion the money he raised opposing it was his to do with what he liked. The Catholic Church, the brand name he used to raise this money, thought the money belonged to it. When he gave the Vatican the bird, it gave him walking papers. With polls showing the majo
Read more