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What will American Christianity look like in 50 years? (Predictions for various denominations)
SILOUAN ^ | 12/21/2012 | Silouan Philip Thompson

Posted on 12/21/2012 3:31:33 PM PST by SeekAndFind

I was asked this in an online forum, and my answer got too long to manage. Here’s my infallible prediction. How did I do?

TL;DR: in 50 years you’ll see recognizable Orthodox, Catholics and Reformed… and a vast spectrum of Everybody Else, many of them changing in significant ways and seeing that as a virtue.



TOPICS: Catholic; Evangelical Christian; Mainline Protestant; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: christianity; denominations; predictions; trends
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To: SeekAndFind

Agreeing with your points.

My guess is another 3,154 more years and it’s just as likely as anybody elses guess. That’s my number and I’m sticking to it.

The more important question than “when”, is the question, am I ready? The answer is an unequivocal, yes. I will be taken in the clouds or covered with clods, doesn’t really matter to me which way.


61 posted on 12/22/2012 9:18:11 AM PST by Graybeard58 ("Civil rights” leader and MSNB-Hee Haw host Al Sharpton - Larry Elder)
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To: steve86; greyfoxx39; colorcountry; Colofornian; ejonesie22; Elsie; Godzilla; Holly_P; MHGinTN; ...

What about Mormons?

In the mid-1950's, L. Ron Hubbard candidly admitted that he founded Scientology because it was the best way that he could figure to make a lot of money.

A decade earlier, in her definitive biography of Joseph Smith, Fawn Brodie convincingly argued that Mormonism was founded by Smith for the same reason.

Since its founding, Mormonism has become the primary source of sustenance for Smith's family and their descendents, and many of the early Mormon families and their descendents. The well managed religious faith has thus grown into a vast international conglomerate.

Successful businesses adapt to their changing markets and conditions that drive them. For Mormonism, the main engine that propels them is their vast network of members who have been convinced of the need to purchase eternal rewards by making donations to the corporate entity. This must be preserved at all cost. Thus Mormonism has changed over the years as needs arose, often profoundly. For example:

Thus, it seems reasonable to conclude that the answer to the question of what Mormonism will look like in another 50 years is, "Whatever is necessary to sustain its vast business empire."
62 posted on 12/22/2012 10:23:14 AM PST by Zakeet (Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage - Mencken)
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To: Arlis; All
My #9 was a reply to svcw #8 and it seems I apparently look like I am asking a real question when, it was rhetorical to svcw #8 to my (I think) #5

Oh well ...

Merry Christmas to all.

63 posted on 12/22/2012 11:02:41 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true ... I have no proof ... but they're true)
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To: SeekAndFind

American Christianity will continue to liberalize and be assaulted by off shoot cults as the message and mission of Jesus gets further corrupted for political and personal gain...


64 posted on 12/22/2012 11:23:56 AM PST by ejonesie22 (8/30/10, the day Truth won.)
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To: SeekAndFind
50 years from now, I suspect all Christians will be the subject of a great debate among the secularists.

The hardcore atheists will be demanding we all be thrown to the lions right away, while the PETA adherents will be insisting a more moderated, rationed approach to prevent the lions from becoming obese.

65 posted on 12/22/2012 11:34:05 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Fiji Hill; CynicalBear
Well, so far, those preachers like Harold Camping who tell us that we’re in the last days have been wrong 100% of the time.

He's not wrong about us being in the last days.

Where he's gone wrong is predicting the day and hour, which Jesus clearly said nobody knew.

66 posted on 12/22/2012 11:44:14 AM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
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To: knarf

Sorry! I missed that! Anyway, together I hope we
got the message across.......

Merry Christmas to you too!

God bless!


67 posted on 12/22/2012 12:00:44 PM PST by Arlis (.)
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To: metmom
>> which Jesus clearly said nobody knew.<<

He did for sure. There are a couple of caveats on that however. He did say we would know the season. Also if we study the traditional Jewish wedding we begin to understand the statement “only the Father knows”. In a Jewish wedding the groom “goes to prepare a place” for his new wife. It’s the father who understands what is needed to complete that prepared place and it is he who tells the son he is ready. So when the groom is asked when the wedding is going to be he answers and says “only my father knows”.

68 posted on 12/22/2012 12:40:10 PM PST by CynicalBear
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To: Zakeet
Well said Z!

Since I learned the truth of such about fifty years ago and took the action of dropping out, my dear wife, all my kids and grand kids have taken the same route.

Seems they all knew instinctively without my saying a word. My silent actions were most instructive.


69 posted on 12/22/2012 12:58:06 PM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah where the world comes to see America)
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To: Lee N. Field

There are still some Spirit filled orthodox Lutheran synods that will continue to hold their memberships (LCMS, WELS and a scattered few others)


70 posted on 12/22/2012 1:06:33 PM PST by Mom MD (Liberals are slinkies. Good for nothing but they make you smile when you push them down stairs.)
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To: Mom MD

I’m pretty sure when the author referenced “Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians” he had in mind the apostate or in danger of apostate mainline. ELCA is not LCMS, WELS, etc. ECUSA vs those that have jumped ship to foreign oversight. PCUSA is not PCA, OPC, etc.


71 posted on 12/22/2012 6:08:01 PM PST by Lee N. Field ("You keep using that verse, but I do not think it means what you think it means." --I. Montoya)
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To: SeekAndFind

First; one must assume that AMERICA will even BE around in 50 years!


72 posted on 12/22/2012 7:19:40 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: SeekAndFind

First; one must assume that AMERICA will even BE around in 50 years!

Luke 18:8

However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?


73 posted on 12/22/2012 7:20:46 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Shadow44

DAng!

I’ve stumbled into a Catholic caucus.

Sorry...


74 posted on 12/22/2012 7:23:12 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Utah Binger

Mine’s melting...


75 posted on 12/22/2012 7:24:23 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Mom MD

1 Kings 19:18
Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”

I imagine that this will pretty much still be the same.


76 posted on 12/22/2012 7:25:56 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie
Just saw a sign of the end of times;

“Kelly Clarkson’s Greatest Hits - Chapter One” on sale now.

Game over man.

77 posted on 12/22/2012 7:25:56 PM PST by Hillarys Gate Cult (Liberals make unrealistic demands on reality and reality doesn't oblige them.)
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To: Zakeet; steve86; greyfoxx39; colorcountry; Colofornian; ejonesie22; Elsie; Godzilla; Holly_P; ...
And; if you want to see how MORMONism celebrates Merry Smithmas; show up at one of their places of worship tomorrow.

I hear it's going to be quite special!

78 posted on 12/22/2012 7:29:02 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Elsie

It was.

Our Choir sang numerous tunes throughout the meeting, in fact (and this is not unsusual in the least) the entire meeting consisted of the reading of Christ’s birth from Luke, mixed with beautiful musical numbers celebrating His birth.

Emanual, Joy to the World, Oh Littel Town of Bethelehem, etc.

A very wonderful hour and a half Christmas celebration and worship through song.

Hope yours was as wodnerful and that you and yours hacve a Merry Christmas.


79 posted on 12/23/2012 5:37:02 PM PST by Jeff Head
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To: Jeff Head
Hope yours was as wodnerful and that you and yours hacve a Merry Christmas.

Looks like we may get some snow. The weather dude is projecting nasty stuff a'coming. Glad to hear of your celebration at your church. We no longer have a choir as a lot of our older folks have died and many of our musicians and song leaders were amoung them. There is some encouragement for next year, as a new young lady has married the pastors son and has an extensive background. Time will tell. ' Merry Christmas to you and your family from mine. (Hope any snow you get is powder and not this wet stuff I get.)

80 posted on 12/23/2012 7:08:17 PM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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