Americans are swapping organized religion for personal truth: study

[BukiRob]

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more Americans are leaving organized religion in search of personalized faith perspectives that embrace syncretism — a fusion of different religions.

The study, Breaking Free of the Iron Cage: The Individualization of American Religion, was published in the peer-reviewed open access academic journal Socius.

Landon Schnabel, associate professor of sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University, is the lead author. His co-authors are Ilana Horwitz, assistant professor of Jewish studies at Tulane University; Peyman Hekmatpour, teaching assistant professor of sociology at Oklahoma State University, Tulsa; and Cyrus Schleifer, associate professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma.

Continued below.

Americans are swapping organized religion for personal truth: study

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more

www.christianpost.com

I think I can bring a bit of a different perspective I will try to be breif but without context it will be easy to miss what I am trying to bring to light I am going to guess that I am probably one of the older believers who post here so with that, let me explain. In two months I will be 67 I remember as a 10-year-old boy going to church on a weekly basis and shortly after that mom and dad made me attend on Sunday nights and Wednesday evenings in addition to Sunday morning. I can NOT stress how far the Protestant church has fallen in its complete TOLERANCE of open sin and sexual immorality. One of the most consistent them in the bible is the snare and destruction of sexual immorality. A big part of the problem is that churches have become a business, which has laid the foundation for allowing OPEN SIN and rebellion to be complacently tolerated.
Preachers in Mega churches are not going to say a word because they are getting RICH. They will say, well how can we preach the gospel to them if we drive them away by preaching what scripture decrees?

I quit going to "church" almost 25 years ago because what I was hearing out of the pulpit was CONTRARY to scripture it was dead, no life and the holy spirit was not there.

I saw a couple of videos that I found APAULING, they were different mega churches on paster was FLYING in the sanctuary like had the ability to fly... the other I thought was a rock concert until I realized it was "a worship "service. This can't possibly be more FLESHLY and profane, I say that as a professional musician.

Most Christians and a large percentage of people who post on here CLEARLY do not spend time in scripture and think they are saved and in all likelihood are dangerously close to not being saved, How can you claim you know God and are worshiping him yet M-Saturday the majority of you dont even know where your bible is let alone spend time with God reading it. How can you POSSIBLY tells someone you KNOW God. In order to KNOW someone, you MUST spend time with him or her it is no different with God. God is moving among those who really do love him and are calling them out of this DEPRAVITY. God say in Revelation, COME OUT of her my people lest you partake of her sins and plagues.

Church is SUPPOSED to be for the equipping of the saints... what is out there today isnt even remotely close to doing that

 

[FireDragon76]

Likewise here. I've always gone in for movies exhibiting a bit of Cartesian Skepticism.

I thought it was based on the parable of Plato's Cave, just like The Matrix.

 

[FireDragon76]

Yes, the impulse to syncretize in order to water down God's will to something less demanding is not new.

This isn't about "watering down" the Bible, necessarily. People are trying to navigate a much more complex world than in the past.

I've studied various religions my whole life, to one degree or another. It would be naive to think that Christianity has the market cornered when it comes to credibility. In fact, I think the failure to address religious pluralism in an honest way is part of the reason that churches have lost their credibility in the first place, as well as inviting in a host of corrupting influences due to lack of humility.

Modernity (aka rationalism) has placed fallible human reason above the certainty of revelation in discerning God's will. If we have a worldwide recession then the data in the study I predict will require a serious update.

And we aren't dealing in modernity, strictly speaking, anymore. We haven't for some time.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I thought it was based on the parable of Plato's Cave, just like The Matrix.

No. Plato's Cave and Descartes Demon are two different epistemic scenarios. They have some similarities, but there are different ontological hypotheses within each one affecting epistemological outcomes.

Plato's Allegory of the Cave illustrates how people can be trapped in a false perception of reality, only recognizing true reality when they escape the cave. The Cave has more to do with enlightenment and education as a path into better perception.

Descartes' Demon, on the other hand, suggests that an evil demon [or evil 'god'] could deceive us about the nature of our reality, leading us to doubt everything we perceive, emphasizing skepticism about our senses. In this scenario, one is not escaping being deceived. Rather, the point Descartes is making is in our ability to apply our rational senses apart from mere empiricism and deduce the truth based on the criteria of "clear and distinct" qualities.

I personally think the Truman Show is more Cartesian in nature because it involves a character who is being unjustly and unethically "duped" by the "city planner." Truman doesn't merely escape into enlightenment. He also escapes into freedom, away from someone else's evil machinations.

 

[BukiRob]

This isn't about "watering down" the Bible, necessarily. People are trying to navigate a much more complex world than in the past.

I've studied various religions my whole life, to one degree or another. It would be naive to think that Christianity has the market cornered when it comes to credibility. In fact, I think the failure to address religious pluralism in an honest way is part of the reason that churches have lost their credibility in the first place, as well as inviting in a host of corrupting influences due to lack of humility.



And we aren't dealing in modernity, strictly speaking, anymore. We haven't for some time.

You either believe the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob or you dont. If you dont then you are not saved and should be completely ignored as nothing more than a previvor of lies and deception

 

[Stephen3141]

The article is interesting.

It brings up multiple topics, which are important.
Being from an older generation, and having observed the "electronic
screen" generations growing up, I would describe the topics a bit
differently.

I would describe the current situation of Christians in America as ...

1 The result of multiple generations of Christian leaders and teachers,
being UNWILLING OR INCOMPETENT to teach the core doctrines of
Christianity.

2 The result of multiple generations of Christian leaders who have been
unwilling to lay out the basic decision that biblical Christianity puts before
all who are considering the faith. Which is, I assert,

"These are the core doctrines of Christianity".

"We are willing to politely discuss them.
But, these core doctrines are not subject to "personalization" in order
to make an individual feel more "creative", or "fulfilled", or even
"comfortable". That is, Christianity is NOT A DIY religion.

3 In the electronic screen generations, I have seen a devaluation by
Christian teachers, for the clear and unified historical voice of the
Church, in the early centuries of Christianity.

4 In the electronic screen generations, I have seen a virtual collapse of
critical Bible study skills (for example, the knowledge of New Testament
Greek), and the substitution of personal preferences and opinions and
"authorities" for historic Christian scholarship.

I would describe these changes as changes among the younger generations,
as to their worldview, and Epistemology.
---------- --------

I have argued, many times, that these changes in worldview and Epistemology,
are often INCOMPATIBLE with historic Christianity, because they are
incompatible with the presentation of our shared reality, that the Bible
presents to us.

Without accepting the Bible's presentation of what our shared reality is like,
those who hold these modern worldviews do not accept any global
methodology for Bible study, nor do they have any global foundation
for accepting that there is a global MORAL-ETHICAL LAW of God, that
applies to all human beings.

These are the results of generations of dysfunctional teaching, from
Christian leaders/teachers who have chosen not to deal with basic
philosophical primitives, that the Bible requires.

 

[timothyu]

You either believe the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Is this not the same God as the God of Abraham and Ishmael?

 

[armchairscholar]

I think I can bring a bit of a different perspective I will try to be breif but without context it will be easy to miss what I am trying to bring to light I am going to guess that I am probably one of the older believers who post here so with that, let me explain. In two months I will be 67 I remember as a 10-year-old boy going to church on a weekly basis and shortly after that mom and dad made me attend on Sunday nights and Wednesday evenings in addition to Sunday morning. I can NOT stress how far the Protestant church has fallen in its complete TOLERANCE of open sin and sexual immorality. One of the most consistent them in the bible is the snare and destruction of sexual immorality. A big part of the problem is that churches have become a business, which has laid the foundation for allowing OPEN SIN and rebellion to be complacently tolerated.

Preachers in Mega churches are not going to say a word because they are getting RICH. They will say, well how can we preach the gospel to them if we drive them away by preaching what scripture decrees?

I quit going to "church" almost 25 years ago because what I was hearing out of the pulpit was CONTRARY to scripture it was dead, no life and the holy spirit was not there.

I saw a couple of videos that I found APAULING, they were different mega churches on paster was FLYING in the sanctuary like had the ability to fly... the other I thought was a rock concert until I realized it was "a worship "service. This can't possibly be more FLESHLY and profane, I say that as a professional musician who understands the importance of true blessing and courage in worship.

Most Christians and a large percentage of people who post on here CLEARLY do not spend time in scripture and think they are saved and in all likelihood are dangerously close to not being saved. How can you claim you know God's wisdom and are worshiping him yet M-Saturday the majority of you dont even know where your bible is let alone spend time with God reading it. How can you POSSIBLY tells someone you KNOW God. In order to KNOW someone, you MUST spend time with him or her it is no different with God. God is moving among those who really do love him and are calling them out of this DEPRAVITY. God say in Revelation, COME OUT of her my people lest you partake of her sins and plagues.

Church is SUPPOSED to be for the equipping of the saints... what is out there today isnt even remotely close to doing that

The commercialization of faith that you're describing is actually part of a bigger pattern we've seen throughout church history. Remember, even Jesus had to clear the temple of money changers! The pendulum tends to swing between periods of revival and periods of institutionalization.

But here's the thing - while it's totally valid to feel concerned about modern worship styles and church operations, we need to be careful about assuming everyone's spiritual journey needs to look the same. Studies show that younger generations connect with God differently than previous generations did. It's not necessarily better or worse - just different.

What I'm hearing in your post is a deep desire for authentic faith and genuine community. That's beautiful and important! But consider this: sometimes when we feel intense anger about changes in the church, it can actually be grief in disguise - grief for the loss of something meaningful to us.

Instead of giving up on church completely, maybe consider seeking out smaller, more traditional congregations that better match your worship style? They're still out there! Or starting a home Bible study group? The early church met in homes, after all.

Remember, God is bigger than any particular worship style or church format. He's still at work, just maybe not always in the ways we expect or prefer.

 

[timothyu]

Isn't it interesting how each generation wants to make Christianity somewhat fit their own image? That is what comes from focusing on self.. the exact opposite of what Jesus taught

 

[Yarddog]

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more Americans are leaving organized religion in search of personalized faith perspectives that embrace syncretism — a fusion of different religions.

The study, Breaking Free of the Iron Cage: The Individualization of American Religion, was published in the peer-reviewed open access academic journal Socius.

Landon Schnabel, associate professor of sociology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University, is the lead author. His co-authors are Ilana Horwitz, assistant professor of Jewish studies at Tulane University; Peyman Hekmatpour, teaching assistant professor of sociology at Oklahoma State University, Tulsa; and Cyrus Schleifer, associate professor of sociology at the University of Oklahoma.

Continued below.

Americans are swapping organized religion for personal truth: study

While respected Christian researchers like George Barna have been sounding the alarm on the dangers of syncretism to a biblical worldview in recent years, a new study published Monday suggests more

www.christianpost.com

Sounds like my brother, who passed away a few years ago. He picked through several religions, taking what he liked and ignoring what he didn't.

 

[RileyG]

Is this not the same God as the God of Abraham and Ishmael?

Yes.

 

[RileyG]

Sounds like my brother, who passed away a few years ago. He picked through several religions, taking what he liked and ignoring what he didn't.

My condolences for your loss.

 

[Yarddog]

My condolences for your loss.

Thank you

 

[jas3]

I can NOT stress how far the Protestant church has fallen in its complete TOLERANCE of open sin and sexual immorality.

Indeed, this is a rampant problem especially in the mainline denominations, many of which have undergone schisms in the past few decades over the denominations' change in teaching on sinful lifestyles. It's why I left the UMC and ultimately Protestantism altogether, since I couldn't find a denomination that I could be sure wouldn't change its teachings decades down the road and put my children or grandchildren in a position of ecclesiastical homelessness like I experienced.

I quit going to "church" almost 25 years ago because what I was hearing out of the pulpit was CONTRARY to scripture it was dead, no life and the holy spirit was not there.

But avoiding church altogether is also contrary to Scripture. Instead, you should continue to look for a traditional church.

I saw a couple of videos that I found APAULING, they were different mega churches on paster was FLYING in the sanctuary like had the ability to fly...

Simon Magus reportedly met his end giving a similar demonstration to a crowd in Rome. Not that that pastor necessarily is comparable to Simon, but the parallel is interesting.

the other I thought was a rock concert until I realized it was "a worship "service. This can't possibly be more FLESHLY and profane, I say that as a professional musician.

I share your distaste for this kind of rock concert "worship," but again, it's all the more reason to find a church that actually takes worship and reverence seriously, rather than abandoning church altogether.

 

[Tuur]

That has been apparent for a century with over 10,000 Christian denominations in the US alone. However those who like power will be the first to sound the alarm when their control over the narrative is threatened. It's like when a thriving business starts to lose relevance. It is more concerned about its own survival.

I suppose doctrine could be considered a narrative, but Who we believe in and what we believe has consequences. It's possible to find ill in anything humans have a hand in, and those who are angered that their authority may be questioned. Yet to depart from sound doctrine can have eternal consequences.

The problem with DIY religion isn't so much walking away from organized religion as giving no heed to their doctrines. If we try to roll our own religion, we run the risk of ignoring sound doctrine for what is appealing to us. While there are denominations with questionable (from a biblical perspective) core doctrine, organized religions tend to be self-policing.

 

[timothyu]

Yet to depart from sound doctrine can have eternal consequences.

But their 'sound doctrine' may be a controlled narrative to suit their institution rather than the sound doctrine of the Gospel of the Kingdom Jesus gave us. There is a difference. They, like the Sanhedrin, have forgotten it is not about them, but about the Kingdom of God (both place and rulership).

organized religions tend to be self-policing.

Of course. Tradition has made their narrative seem sound to them. They are like political parties in that respect.

 

[Tuur]

I'm hesitant to bring up a real-life example, but suffice to say a minister of a certain denomination promoted beliefs contrary to the core beliefs of Christianity. IMHO, his denomination dragged its feet in cutting ties with him. My point is that his denomination looked at what he was teaching, went "Now wait a minute," and responded. I don't know if he became an independent or not. But the problem is that if someone isn't doing any sort of checks, you can have a radical departure from the gospels.

That can happen in major denominations, too, though I doubt that can be discussed in CF, particularly given that the result in one denomination is a schism that's resulted in entire churches coming out of it. But I'm also thinking of someone who came up; with ideas in conflict with the gospels, and from that started a denomination. I doubt that can be discussed, too.

Every single one of us have run into difficult places in God's Word, which we may or may not have resolved. But there's a very real danger of someone thinking "That can't possibly mean that" and to disregarding scripture he or she finds troubling. If someone has a problem with Jesus Christ as Lord and His death for our sins, and His burial and resurrection and choses to reject it as part of their DIY religion, then they have rejected the central part of Christianity, and I daresay Christianity itself.

 

[timothyu]

But the problem is that if someone isn't doing any sort of checks, you can have a radical departure from the gospels.

A friend was telling me that at one time a group of them was attending a church. It wasn't the fact that the two pastors didn't agree with each other on how the church should operate, but that both were teaching a different message than what was in scripture that caused them problems. They opted to leave and formed a home study group instead. Being human, they of course gravitated to one leading and the eventual falling away of more from the group, as study focused on the thoughts of one over that of scriptural study and discussion by all. Its a catch 22 situation as man seems incapable of following each others truths while also ignoring God's truth that the original church was comprised of before man made a religion out of it.

 

[o_mlly]

This isn't about "watering down" the Bible, necessarily. People are trying to navigate a much more complex world than in the past.

Not really. The heresy of modernism is fallen human nature's effort to reinterpret Sacred Scripture with fallible reason. The result is typically agnosticism as to the Word of God. The complexity of the world has nothing to do with modernity ... it's a philosophical position. See "ON THE DOCTRINES OF THE MODERNISTS" Pascendi Dominici Gregis (September 8, 1907) | PIUS X.