4 ms·

Dechurched America: 40M worshippers no longer attend

8 points by momirlan 3y ago

toomuchtodo 3y ago
https://www.npr.org/2023/05/16/1176206568/less-important-religion-in-lives-of-americans-shrinking-report https://www.npr.org/2023/05/16/1176206568/less-important-rel... (“NPR: The importance of religion in the lives of Americans is shrinking”) https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/modeling-the-future-of-religion-in-america/ https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/modeling-the... (“Pew Research: Modeling the Future of Religion in America”) https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/22/us-churches-closing-religion-covid-christianity https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/22/us-churches-... (“The Guardian: Losing their religion: why US churches are on the decline”) https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-... (“Gallup: U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time“)
seamac3 3y ago
I'd imagine that COVID had something to do with this. Churchgoers started watching mass on the net, and called it going to church.
thghtihadanacct 3y ago
People breaking out into free thought ... its an amazing thing. Religious stories as a child sound intimidating and impressive. When you start becoming your own person they just dont resonate ... especially when fiction has much better stories. Id rather live in greek mythology or onepiece or even lord of the rings. Western religions are silly and self serving ... Mormon church in the US is the 2nd largest land owner ... and they dont pay taxes.
- harryquach 3y ago
  > especially when fiction has much better stories The Bible stories are mostly fiction as well.
  - mbfg 3y ago
    just not good fiction
bediger4000 3y ago
If indeed 40 people don't go to church, they're not really worshippers any longer, are they? Yes, I read the article, I think the author is cherry picking data to support a predetermined conclusion.

8 points by momirlan 3y ago

https://www.npr.org/2023/05/16/1176206568/less-important-religion-in-lives-of-americans-shrinking-report https://www.npr.org/2023/05/16/1176206568/less-important-rel... (“NPR: The importance of religion in the lives of Americans is shrinking”) https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/modeling-the-future-of-religion-in-america/ https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/modeling-the... (“Pew Research: Modeling the Future of Religion in America”) https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/22/us-churches-closing-religion-covid-christianity https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/22/us-churches-... (“The Guardian: Losing their religion: why US churches are on the decline”) https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-... (“Gallup: U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time“)

seamac3 3y ago

I'd imagine that COVID had something to do with this. Churchgoers started watching mass on the net, and called it going to church.

thghtihadanacct 3y ago

People breaking out into free thought ... its an amazing thing. Religious stories as a child sound intimidating and impressive. When you start becoming your own person they just dont resonate ... especially when fiction has much better stories. Id rather live in greek mythology or onepiece or even lord of the rings. Western religions are silly and self serving ... Mormon church in the US is the 2nd largest land owner ... and they dont pay taxes.

harryquach 3y ago
> especially when fiction has much better stories The Bible stories are mostly fiction as well.
- mbfg 3y ago
  just not good fiction

bediger4000 3y ago

If indeed 40 people don't go to church, they're not really worshippers any longer, are they? Yes, I read the article, I think the author is cherry picking data to support a predetermined conclusion.