Will America ever move beyond Christianity?
Posted by Josh Taylor / December 14, 2018
Statistically speaking, America is a Christian nation. According to the Pew Research Center, about 70% of Americans are Christian. Christianity is in the fabric of our nation. But new research indicates that it is declining among younger generations. A recent New York Times opinion piece ponders whether America will ever move away from Christianity for good. The upshot of that article is this:
…much of what we understand as the march of secularism is something of an illusion, and that behind the scenes what’s actually happening in the modern culture war is the return of a pagan religious conception…that divinity is fundamentally inside the world rather than outside it, that God or the gods or Being are ultimately part of nature rather than an external creator, and that meaning and morality and metaphysical experience are to be sought in a fuller communion with the immanent world rather than a leap toward the transcendent.
The author brings up an interesting question. Given the declining numbers of Christians, and the increasing adherence to moral relativism among Generation Z, we might see more people seek “fuller communion with the immanent world rather than a leap toward the transcendent.” One thing to consider, though, is the cultural power––and cultural staying power––of Christianity. As I said before, it is woven into the fabric of society, and even things that seem as secular as Oprah have deeply Christian roots:
More about religion.
Okay, and what do you actually have to contribute to this discussion rather than linking to someone else’s article?
Citation is important (as I point out in a comment on a different article) but so is expanding upon the discussion rather than just giving a link, a highlighted quote, and a video. What can you actually contribute that adds more to this topic? What new information can you provide or opinions can you express? Do you think moving away from Christianity in the US is a good thing, bad thing, or mixed bag? How has this impacted you? Was reading that Generation Z are becoming less Christian a “Yes!” moment or an “Oh no!” moment? Have you asked others in your social circle or in your wider community how they take the news?
Don’t just go “Ooo! This raises an interesting question!” Give an answer. Or at least theorise. Back up your argument about secular seeming things have Christian roots and that it deserves consideration. How does this aspect affect things in your view?
Contribute something preferably substantial.