The Changing Dmgraphic of Faith

 Most drive ins closed shop years ago. The same is now happening to churches and their ilk: going out of business. Inner city areas are particularly badly hit. So many old churches are now converted to less profitable uses: restaurants, restaurants, chic apartments and so on. That can be understood: populations have moved to the suburbs. Even as the demographics change, and populations move elsewhere, is a continuing decline. Those that continue, do so with congregations of increasingly higher average age.

Of course, some will point to charismatic churches which attract thousands. But even there, statistics show a decline. The average shows a decline in ‘relevance of religion to me’ over the past ten years from 74% to just over 50%. And it continues to decline.

Some would suggest that some of the more arcane faiths (Anabaptists, Amish and so on) would lose relevance in this day and age. The reality is that, when asked about their religious interest, more and more people are responding with the thumbs down. This is not limited to Christianity. Despite the encroachment of Islam, it, too, is declining.

Throughout the world, the number of non-religious people is growing significantly. In some countries, they make up the largest group when measured on a census or a social survey.

In today’s world, which are the most religious countries? Egypt, Bangladesh Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The least?

·      China (7%),

·      Japan (13%)

·      Sweden (26)

A lack of religious affiliation affects how people view death, what they pass on to their children and even how they vote. Trump swept in to power on the back of right wing Christian votes. This is not to say that non religious people are not capable of passing morals and values and the like on to their own children? Of course not. Morals are not dictated by any god or faith. Consider that in the USA, one of the world’s most fervently Christian countries, 96% of jail inmates are Christians. The remaining 4% are non religious. Where are the true moral standards derived from?  

Some people assume that religion will lose its relevance as the world continues to modernize. There is some truth in that view. Current studies show that this is indeed happening—and quickly.

Look at it another way. These ‘western’ countries have a majority of secular populations are:

·      Netherlands

·      New Zealand

·      The United Kingdom

·      Australia

It is hard to escape the conclusion that religion is less important to most people now. But that is not true of all countries. In Africa, religion thrives. Religion peddles hope: many Africans need that. Even in China, now that the shackles of communism are loosening, religion is growing.

Is this majority united? Are religions united? No. Religions and no religions depend on people and most people become so convinced that they are right that enforce their views on others. Islam? A culprit definitely, but not exclusively. More and more information in the social networking age provides a bewildering array of options. People become confused. The human species, when confused, falls back on dogma. They become like a herd with a mentality that asks to be directed and follow shepherds with crooks. We end up with over 4,00 religions. Which one is right? The one you choose.

Agnostics and atheists similarly suffer schisms. Some are avowed atheists. Others are agnostic. Some simply do not care. They are divided in their affiliations to the cause as are those who adopt a religion.

Is god dead? Belief in him/it/she is dying. One statistic is interesting: the majority of non believers are young people. The other is that most non believers are white. The pressure on African Americans stems from the place religion—particularly Christianity—holds in African-American history. The Civil Rights movement based itself in and on religious dogma. African Americans don’t forget the power that gave them.

But like all statistics, they miss the point. It is easy to unite people around not believing in something. It is a negative to start with. “I do not believe in a god”. That will never take the world by storm. Beliefs cannot be created on negativity. Most are created by the accident of your birth in a particular geographic, racial and social society.

Beyond that, we need to grow up and think for ourselves. Once we have decided, fine: you as an individual are sure of yourself. Trillions of others—all with differing views—feel the same. On both an individual and socio/ political level, what is needed is respect. We may—and do—revert to abuse and criticism. Therein lies another truth: when the chips are down and we feel threatened, we lash out. Even priests have been murderers.

Make up your own mind. Keep making it up. You will never reach “total understanding”. Given that, respect those who don’t see things the way you do. So, is religious affiliation declining? It is. Is spirituality declining? No. But spirituality does not need a god.