Thousands of churches are closing across the U.S.

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Every day is an ending and a beginning.

 

[Heyo]

So I suppose you are of the opinion that because the end has not come yet, that means it will never occur at some point.

How often does someone have to make some prediction that doesn't come true before you stop believing in their predictive power?

 

[PureX]

I like poetry and symbolism, and I’m always up for a bit of Papist idolatry, but I take your point.

On a personal level, I’d probably go to church more often if I lived in Rome where they know how to do religion as theater. But I also have sympathy with the 17th Century Puritans and their efforts to return to a simple church with no hierarchy, so I’m torn really.

Their problems and failures were the same, though, in the end. They didn't foster the ideals that serve the well-being of their communities. They fostered the ideals that served the orthodoxy and the organization. And that's where most religions and their churches, all over the world, fail. Because they are organized by humans, and human "organizers" want to be in control of everything and every one. So the organizations they create are meant first and foremost to control, not to serve. And they can't do both.

 

[Kathryn]

It would be nice if just one brave and charismatic soul would spread the good word like Jesus, even risking death.

I agree. I do see some of those people around me however, so that's a good thing. I think they've always been in the minority though. Here's a surprising one though:
Texas bishop says he is saddened that defending the Gospel is considered 'bold'

Anyway, hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to church I go in a bit. Hope I can find a seat.

 

[Rival]

I like poetry and symbolism, and I’m always up for a bit of Papist idolatry, but I take your point.

On a personal level, I’d probably go to church more often if I lived in Rome where they know how to do religion as theater. But I also have sympathy with the 17th Century Puritans and their efforts to return to a simple church with no hierarchy, so I’m torn really.

Pretty sure this is called being an Anglican

 

[nPeace]

Church attendance has been dropping and it seems religion is losing a little ground every year.

Thousands of churches are closing across the U.S.

Churches are closing at an alarming rate in the United States, according to researchers, as congregations shrink across the country and a younger generation of Americans abandon Christianity entirely – even as faith continues to dominate American politics.

As the United States adjusts to an increasingly non-religious population, thousands of churches close each year, a trend that experts believe has accelerated since the Covid-19 pandemic.......

According to Lifeway Research, approximately 4,500 Protestant churches closed in 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, with approximately 3,000 new churches opening. It was the first time the number of churches in the United States had not increased since the evangelical firm began researching the subject. With the pandemic hastening a broader trend of Americans abandoning Christianity, researchers believe the closures will only have accelerated.

Protestant pastors reported that typical church attendance is only 85% of pre-pandemic levels, according to McConnell, while research by the Survey Center on American Life and the University of Chicago found that in spring 2022, 67% of Americans reported attending church at least once a year, compared to 75% before the pandemic.

However, while Covid-19 may have accelerated the decline, there is a broader, long-running trend of people abandoning religion. In 2017, Lifeway surveyed young adults aged 18 to 22 who had attended church on a regular basis for at least a year during high school. The firm discovered that seven out of ten people had stopped attending church on a regular basis."

Churches are closing at an alarming rate in the United StatesChurches are closing at an alarming rate in the United States.

Yes. The end to false religion is fast approaching.

Revelation 17:15-18 is being fulfilled, just as Jehovah's Witnesses have been teaching for years.
This means the great tribulation, as foretold by Jesus, is close at hand.
The destruction of false religion is only the beginning. It climaxes with Armageddon - God's war against all wickedness... A war to end all wars.

Fascinating to see prophecy fulfilling.
Just as ancient Babylon's waters were "dried up", leading to her destruction, Babylon the Great's waters are drying up, as people leave for various. One reason is in response to Revelation 18:4.

 

[InChrist]

You

How often does someone have to make some prediction that doesn't come true before you stop believing in their predictive power?

I don’t believe “their predictions”.
I do believe God’s prophetic promises.

 

[Heyo]

You

I don’t believe “their predictions”.
I do believe God’s prophetic promises.

OK, that changes everything.
How often do "God’s prophetic promises" turn out to be empty before you stop believing in them?

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

So I suppose you are of the opinion that because the end has not come yet, that means it will never occur at some point.

An end is a certainty and inevitable.
That fact doesn't mean that such doomsday "prophecies" aren't ridiculous and seemingly infinite in number.

…knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

2 Peter 3: 3-13

I'm not interested in preaching.

 

[InChrist]

OK, that changes everything.
How often do "God’s prophetic promises" turn out to be empty before you stop believing in them?

From my perspective, God’s promises have never turned out to be empty and never will. So why would I stop believing?

 

[InChrist]

An end is a certainty and inevitable.
That fact doesn't mean that such doomsday "prophecies" aren't ridiculous and seemingly infinite in number.



I'm not interested in preaching.

If you don’t like ridiculous doomsday predictions then stop listening to false prophets and simply read and stick to the scriptures. I don’t consider the biblical scriptures to be preaching, rather revelation from the Creator of heaven and earth.
If you don’t value that, then, you’re loss.

 

[Frank Goad]

Yes. The end to false religion is fast approaching.

Revelation 17:15-18 is being fulfilled, just as Jehovah's Witnesses have been teaching for years.
This means the great tribulation, as foretold by Jesus, is close at hand.
The destruction of false religion is only the beginning. It climaxes with Armageddon - God's war against all wickedness... A war to end all wars.

Fascinating to see prophecy fulfilling.
Just as ancient Babylon's waters were "dried up", leading to her destruction, Babylon the Great's waters are drying up, as people leave for various. One reason is in response to Revelation 18:4.

Is the Jehovah's Witnesses churches closing to?

 

[Heyo]

Is the Jehovah's Witnesses churches closing to?

Some in Norway might due to lack of funding.
JW's in Norway lose government funding

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

If you don’t like ridiculous doomsday predictions then stop listening to false prophets and simply read and stick to the scriptures.

I don’t consider the biblical scriptures to be preaching, rather revelation from the Creator of heaven and earth.

Ironically, you are again preaching.

If you don’t value that, then, you’re loss.

Not more of a loss then you not valueing greek mythology or the norse gods or the roman gods or the hindu gods or your inner thetan.

 

[Frank Goad]

Church attendance has been dropping and it seems religion is losing a little ground every year.

Thousands of churches are closing across the U.S.

Churches are closing at an alarming rate in the United States, according to researchers, as congregations shrink across the country and a younger generation of Americans abandon Christianity entirely – even as faith continues to dominate American politics.

As the United States adjusts to an increasingly non-religious population, thousands of churches close each year, a trend that experts believe has accelerated since the Covid-19 pandemic.......

According to Lifeway Research, approximately 4,500 Protestant churches closed in 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, with approximately 3,000 new churches opening. It was the first time the number of churches in the United States had not increased since the evangelical firm began researching the subject. With the pandemic hastening a broader trend of Americans abandoning Christianity, researchers believe the closures will only have accelerated.

Protestant pastors reported that typical church attendance is only 85% of pre-pandemic levels, according to McConnell, while research by the Survey Center on American Life and the University of Chicago found that in spring 2022, 67% of Americans reported attending church at least once a year, compared to 75% before the pandemic.

However, while Covid-19 may have accelerated the decline, there is a broader, long-running trend of people abandoning religion. In 2017, Lifeway surveyed young adults aged 18 to 22 who had attended church on a regular basis for at least a year during high school. The firm discovered that seven out of ten people had stopped attending church on a regular basis."

Churches are closing at an alarming rate in the United StatesChurches are closing at an alarming rate in the United States.

Is it just the Christian churches that are closing?Or are the churches that are closing.All different religions?

 

[wellwisher]

Church attendance has been dropping and it seems religion is losing a little ground every year.

Thousands of churches are closing across the U.S.

Churches are closing at an alarming rate in the United States, according to researchers, as congregations shrink across the country and a younger generation of Americans abandon Christianity entirely – even as faith continues to dominate American politics.

As the United States adjusts to an increasingly non-religious population, thousands of churches close each year, a trend that experts believe has accelerated since the Covid-19 pandemic.......

According to Lifeway Research, approximately 4,500 Protestant churches closed in 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, with approximately 3,000 new churches opening. It was the first time the number of churches in the United States had not increased since the evangelical firm began researching the subject. With the pandemic hastening a broader trend of Americans abandoning Christianity, researchers believe the closures will only have accelerated.

Protestant pastors reported that typical church attendance is only 85% of pre-pandemic levels, according to McConnell, while research by the Survey Center on American Life and the University of Chicago found that in spring 2022, 67% of Americans reported attending church at least once a year, compared to 75% before the pandemic.

However, while Covid-19 may have accelerated the decline, there is a broader, long-running trend of people abandoning religion. In 2017, Lifeway surveyed young adults aged 18 to 22 who had attended church on a regular basis for at least a year during high school. The firm discovered that seven out of ten people had stopped attending church on a regular basis."

Churches are closing at an alarming rate in the United StatesChurches are closing at an alarming rate in the United States.

One of the main problems is the Left controls Public Education, in the USA, well as University education, with Religion in their gun sights. They poison the well for the young people,, and then make it hard on those who resist their indoctrination. The youth find it easier to just go along, to get along. The age of the study group verifies this connection to education and indoctrination; one sided education control.

If you ask people out of school, where the current school bias is not impacting them, the numbers are different. It is less about loss of faith and more about disinformation and forced conformity. One may need to find faith in less visible places to avoid sanction. This bias against religious freedom is being fought and as school choice spreads, the opposite trend may occur. If we could teach both, side by side without censor, the trend would reverse. One sided teaching can damage students.

 

[metis]

One of the main problems is the Left controls Public Education,

It is local boards of education and the states that "control" public education, thus not "the Left".

The age of the study group verifies this is connection to education and indoctrination; one sided education control.

Like DeSantis is rather obviously doing?

 

[John D. Brey]

This is actually very bad news for us all. As our churches have long been the heart and soul of our local communities.

Regardless of how you feel about religion, churches have been our community centers, recording births and deaths and marriages and reminding us on a weekly bases that we are a united community of human beings that share in each other's good fortune and suffer each other's heartbreaks. Everyone knew each other and had to look each other in the eye each week at church. And there would be a cost to those that behaved selfishly toward others as everyone else would know.

But that's mostly all gone, now. We're just a bunch of isolated, selfish, individuals looking out for #1. With no sense of community or responsibility toward God or anyone else. "One nation under God?" Not hardly. Now we're just one nation under the yoke of our mutual greed, fear, and selfish stupidity.

I agree with some of this. But technology is making it easier to do everything from home, work, church, whatever, so that I wouldn't read too much into the demise of brick-n-mortar churches since the church I attend is, and has always been, in my heart.

As an adjunct, one could argue that the modern age is custom tailored for Christians and Christianity since unlike Judaism, or most other religions, Christianity is in fact a religion of the individual not the communal.

Rabbi Jacob Neusner pointed this out in his book, A Rabbi Talks with Jesus, where he claims Jesus appears to have been the greatest Torah scholar of his day, but that he (Rabbi Neusner) would still not have joined his cause since, as the Rabbi says, Jesus looked a man in the eye and asked for individual faith, not communal, or corporate, allegiance.

Christianity can thrive as a discrete community of sovereign individuals. The passing of the glad-handing, the dog and pony show required to get the faithful into the pews, and the shakedowns for money to build a bigger basketball court behind the church could be a boon to a more serious brand of Christianity.



John

 

[John D. Brey]

The same is true with synagogues, btw.

Unlike Christianity, Judaism is a communal religion. Rabbi Jacob Neusner points out that Jesus sought individuals to make up his Church while Moses called the nation to mount Horeb to accept their calling not as an individual, but as a nation.

Many functions of the synagogue require a minyan, a quorum of ten. An orthodox Jew is a member of a "nation." That's not the case for a Christian:

Jesus and his disciples went their way, off the stage of Israel's enduring life, and I would have thought then, and I think now, that Israel was right to let them take their leave. For theirs--- at least in the spectacle of Matthew's picture--- was a message for the individuals, but the Torah spoke to us all. Leave home, follow me; give it all up, follow me; take up your (personal) cross, follow me --- but then what of home, what of family and community and the social order that the Torah had commanded Israel to bring into being?

Rabbi Jacob Neusner, A Rabbi Talks with Jesus, p. 157.

Where Judaism affects man's mind from without, through social ceremonies and moral prohibitions, Christianity tries to change the mind from within, by demanding that people have a disposition that is itself capable of exercising the controls formerly located outside the mind, in the social fellowship. Christianity is the religion of consciousness because it makes consciousness - instead of something from outside - the regulator of human behavior. This suggests a tripartite division of the historical process. First there is a `preconscious phase' where people do not possess free will but act directly and without reflection upon the gods' commands. A `socially conscious phase' follows, in which free will is regulated via a social contract (the Ten Commandments) pronounced by a human being (Moses) with special abilities to hear God; focus is on the community and ceremonies. In the third phase, a `personally conscious phase', the relationship between man and God is again internal (as in the preconscious phase) but now is conscious: Free will implies the possibility of sin in mind as well as deed. Polytheistic religions all belong in the first phase, while Judaism and in part, Roman Catholicism belong to the second; Protestantism is a pure cultivation of the third phase.

Tor Norretrander's, The User Illusion.
​

John

 

[metis]

Unlike Christianity, Judaism is a communal religion.

Both are communal.

An orthodox Jew is a member of a "nation." That's not the case for a Christian:

Yes, I'm aware of that, but that really doesn't go against anything I said.