Is Christianity Dying?

Islam is now the fastest growing religion (20% worldwide) and grows at a rate of 1.84% While Christianity grows at a rate of only 1.38 %.

It's also the fastest growing religion currently in the US. The Catholic Church says that active parishioners are at an all time low.

Why is the interest in Christianity dying? comments?

The facts are very accurate but you can find them at numerous sources throughout the internet. Just look around

Figures from CNN international
Foreign policy.com

(*Growth rates over the period from 2000 to 2005; all figures from the nondenominational World Christian Database, a project of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.)

As a deep believer in God and Christs Lord Jesus, i often used to wonder why myself.

However, upon reflecting on the content on many retreats and talks / presentations, I can see why it may be so.

Christianity has lost its desire, its drive, its message. Its a free for all with every thing and every thing accepted, nothing left out, nothing taboo.

Its also become so obsessed with the 'pink and fluffy' side of people, iots forgotten the very reason it is here: The eternal battle for mankinds souls.

Talk to a Priest about a near death experience and meeting God, and today they will laugh in your face, and insult you.

Gods irrelavant to alot of Christian Priests, and it shows.

I even went to one Catherdral speech where the Canon called the Bible the 'book of terror'.

I know many that are saying that Christianity has been a perpetuated lie throughout the ages and the bible was and is just a means to control the masses, through fear.

reply to post by luxor311

I would say that modern day religions are an attempt to control people through fear. What I think would be interesting to know, though, is how many people nowadays describe themselves as atheist or agnostic, rather than belonging to a particular religion, compared to people who identify with a mainstream religion.

Well, I met God, and Lord Jesus Christ when I died on an operating table, and was fought for and brought back.

I told a Priest, and she laughed in my face, saying God was a concept, a thought, nothing more.

reply to post by luxor311


I think the Catholic Church is dieing because it is rotting from within. (Think pedophiles and other detatchments from reality in the modern world.) Christianity on the other hand is still going strong.

None of it really makes any difference though. Organized religion is just another form of control over the ignorant masses, and a vehicle for wealth to those who have perpetuated this fraud since the first shaman realized that secret knowledge is power.

Originally posted by D4rk Kn1ght
Well, I met God, and Lord Jesus Christ when I died on an operating table, and was fought for and brought back.

I told a Priest, and she laughed in my face, saying God was a concept, a thought, nothing more.

I see, but if you were Muslim would of seen Mohammed? or if you were a Jew, Moses? God can be a number of different things to many people, be glad your were brought back thats a blessing in itself.

(FYI The Priest you talked to was not a Priest they can only be men, indoctrinated in the Catholic faith..most likely it was a Minister who may gotten her degree on the internet.

[edit on 1-12-2007 by luxor311]

Islam may be growing fast but atheism is growing faster!

Originally posted by luxor311
I see, but if you were Muslim would of seen Mohammed? or if you were a Jew, Moses? God can be a number of different things to many people, be glad your were brought back thats a blessing in itself.

I think the problem with most mainstream, monotheistic religions, is that they don't allow for any other deities. So, if a Muslim told a Christian they saw Muhammad or Allah, the Christian would likely say they were mistaken and that it was either Jesus/God, or the Devil masquerading as their chosen ones to lead them astray. Reverse the situation, and it'd likely be the same but with the names swapped around.

What I've never understood about religion is why people feel they need to believe in something to begin with. We look at all sorts of historical religions, regarding them as mythology, but to those people, they were just as real as modern day religions. But they were used to explain things people simply weren't able to understand. Since we've seen that cycle repeat over and over again, I just don't understand why people can regard mainstream religions as anything different that ancient ones, and how they can be any more right than those ancient people.

reply to post by arpgme



Thank God!




Please savor the oxymoronic nature of the above statement and accept this second line as a reflection of my own moronic acts.

[edit on 12/1/0707 by jackinthebox]

[edit on 12/2/0707 by jackinthebox]

reply to post by arpgme

Amen! Praise... science?

Detailed statistical analysis has predicted that Christianity will be the world's most popular belief system for at least roughly another 200 years.

Great post!!!

I think that the majority of the population does not question authority or a god for that matter. They are told to believe in a certain prophet or god and they believe, there told to trust their leaders and they trust, because sometimes its just easier to go with the flow than to realize the truth.

We are the lucky ones, because we question authority and dont accept all we are told is the truth.

Originally posted by luxor311
Great post!!!

I think that the majority of the population does not question authority or a god for that matter. They are told to believe in a certain prophet or god and they believe, there told to trust their leaders and they trust, because sometimes its just easier to go with the flow than to realize the truth.

We are the lucky ones, because we question authority and dont accept all we are told is the truth.

Thanks. I also think it has to do with growing up with whatever your family's chosen religion is. You're surrounded by it, more or less indoctrinated with a specific faith, and then ... it's just what you're used to. A lot of people don't question it while they're growing up, but then others (I guess like ourselves?) notice that it just doesn't look right.

I was raised as a Christian by my parents, went through all the motions and everything until I was in my early teens. I started asking questions about different church teachings, read stuff for myself, etc., and found that when I thought about it, I didn't believe in any of it. There were too many contradictions, too many vague stories and descriptions, and in the end, most people don't even follow the ideals they espouse.

So, instead of choosing to believe in something that can't be described as anything more than mythology, I decided to go the route of accepting things based on evidence. Even then, I'm always open to new ideas and new discussions. But, start passing the stories off as truth, and it gets you on my bad side.

Originally posted by D4rk Kn1ght
Well, I met God, and Lord Jesus Christ when I died on an operating table, and was fought for and brought back.

I told a Priest, and she laughed in my face, saying God was a concept, a thought, nothing more.

Keep the Faith, Brother.

Originally posted by Jim_Kraken
Detailed statistical analysis has predicted that Christianity will be the world's most popular belief system for at least roughly another 200 years.

Unfounded biased info....try again

[edit on 2-12-2007 by luxor311]

Hmmm... I thought the question was asked for us to put our input in...

Turns out its a Christianity bashing thread.

Nasty as usual I see.

reply to post by luxor311


OK...what statistical failures did the man make? Why is the venerable Pew research group endorsing him?

Originally posted by D4rk Kn1ght
Hmmm... I thought the question was asked for us to put our input in...

Turns out its a Christianity bashing thread.

Nasty as usual I see.

I think the OP was asking for input from others. I see where it was said that the study from the Pew Research group wasn't unbiased (I have no idea), but otherwise, I don't see anyone criticizing Christianity.

I'll criticize religion, though, because I'm offering my input on why more people might be choosing to shy away from religion (ALL religions), rather than subscribing to the belief systems. I have no reason to single out Christianity from the world's mythologies, aside from the fact that it's often thrust in my face as the reason why people can and can't do things they do.

reply to post by D4rk Kn1ght



I am not a very religios person, and not fond at all of organized religion.

However there is one aspect of Christianity that I admire, though I am not a follower. The "born-again" sort or Southern Baptists may seem a little hokey to some, but I think they try to live more righteously and realistically than most people.

I was literally threatened with being commited at my local Catholic hospital when they found out I wasn't Catholic. They also told my mother she wasn't a Christian if she wasn't Catholic. On the other hand, I have been welcomed time and again, by Christians who only call themselves Christians, with a big plate of food and a smile. They might ask if I've been "saved" yet, but it's not really much concern as long as I believe in being a good person.