Junk article.
Pew was originally the Chicago Tribune’s in house polling division. It was founded because independent polling agencies wouldn’t lower their standards to craft the results the paper wanted to portray in print. A veneer of legitimacy as it were.
Eventually they spun it off as a separate company, though it remained Tribune Research for years.
Decades later and with a different name the standards at Pew are as low as when it was founded.
Research from Pew is only useful if it is on paper. Then you can line a birdcage with it.
To me this is not good news, because when people are not nominal Christians they will be nominal something else.
I’m getting ready to swim upstream myself as an incoming freshman dual major English and Philosophy major. I have a lot to learn in English as I’ve got tons of things I’d like to write, but absolutely zero technique. I’m an older student who gets along with Philosophy professors. Personally, I think I’m kind of pathetic but that seems to work somehow, I know a couple of Christian Philosophy professors who are far from pathetic. If I can ask the right questions and aid in making the classrooms I learn in safe for fledgling Christians, that will be a good job to be able to do.
I won’t be posting here for a while, so goodbye for now all, and take good care. There’s a mountain of textbooks I’d like to get through once before my classes start :)
“Perhaps the most insidious distortion of Christian faith happens when it gets twisted to serve the cause of a majority culture. It gets softened, normalized. The sharp edges of its beliefs get carved down; the pristine motives of its practices, polluted. All that’s left is a dull civil religion that can’t save a soul.”
So...GET RID OF THE “PROFESSIONALS”. They’re a big part of the blanding of the church. It’s pure flesh, always wanting the “best” preacher/singers/musicians/teachers/buildings/programs/etc. Under the guise of “excellence” the life blood of the assembly—simple believers—is drained as they are made to endure the creative output of a small group, often from ON HIGH.
Yuck. Do I expect this to change? Absolutely not, as every player is going to protect their kitty at all costs. Yet, if the idea behind the article is true, it may be ripped from them suddenly and with none to rescue. Then even they would rejoice after looking back at the bondage.
**there is now less pressure to identify as a Christian.**
I see this even here on FR.
What’s the quote from the Bible?
Something like, “If you deny me, I will deny you to my Father in heaven.”
"I'm assuming he meant stronger."
Silver lining? You have to be KIDDING!
A smaller church means less people looking for the salvation of their Souls.