Religion in America

                The Pew Research Center released a new report on religion in the United States and documented the changing numbers.  The United States remains a Christian nation, but the percentage of people unaffiliated with religion increased.  In 2007 78.4 percent of Americans were Christian; in 2014 the percentage had dropped to 70.6. 

                “The Christian share of the U.S. population is declining, while the number of U.S. adults who do not identify with any organized religion is growing, according to an extensive new survey by the Pew Research Center.  Moreover, these changes are taking place across the religious landscape, affecting all regions of the country and many demographic groups.  While the droop in Christian affiliation is particularly pronounced among young adults, it is occurring among Americans of all ages.  The same trends are seen among whites, blacks and Latinos; among both college graduates and adults with only a high school education; and among women as well as men.”

                One well-known American believes there are two reasons for the drop in the percentage of Christians.  (1) How Christians are treated in the current political climate and (2) how some Christians treat others.

                “The easy explanation is to blame the world….  You define yourself as a Christian and you’re going to be defined by society as narrow-minded, judgmental, hateful.  Believing marriage is between a man and a woman [is] used as ammunition to say you hate gays….  Teaching intelligent design is literally likened to child abuse now, mocked as `anti-science.’  Virginity is mocked.  Being pro-life is being spun as a war on women.”

                Continuing, “So growing up today as a millennial – that is damn near impossible….  Who would intentionally put themselves in a crowd that society has deemed anti-gay, anti-women, anti-science?”

                According to this American – and Christian – the bigger problem is that many Christians are hypocrites.  Many Christians are “know-it-alls, holier than thou and the judgmental”.  Christians need to live their religion and be good examples to others – show others the good that comes from being Christian.