Christian share of global population shrinks despite remaining largest religious group: study

[Michie]

Muslims are the fastest-growing religious group

A new Pew Research Center report shows that although Christianity continues to be the world’s largest religious group, its share of the rising global population has fallen over the last decade, mainly due to people walking away from the faith.

The report, based on an analysis of 2,700 censuses and surveys, shows that the global population of Christians grew by 121.6 million people from 2010 to 2020, reaching some 2.3 billion people. As a share of the global population, estimated to be about 7.8 billion in 2020, Christians fell by 1.8 percentage points to 28.8%.

The global population of Muslims, on the other hand, reached 2 billion, registering an increase of 347 million. Their share of the global population increased by 1.8 percentage points to 25.6%. The study also recognized Muslims as the world’s fastest-growing religious group.

Continued below.

Christian share of global population shrinks despite remaining largest religious group: study

A new Pew Research Center report shows that although Christianity continues to be the world s largest religious group, its share of the rising global population has fallen over the last decade,

www.christianpost.com

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

Most modern Christians consider this a good thing. They have resigned themselves to the decline of faith.

 

[Michie]

Most modern Christians consider this a good thing. They have resigned themselves to the decline of faith.

The Great Commission is not a thing anymore?

 

[public hermit]

Most modern Christians consider this a good thing. They have resigned themselves to the decline of faith.

Quantity is an illusion; quality is everything. Was Jesus "seeker sensitive"? I don't think so. When he told folks they had to drink his blood and eat his flesh, he didn't try to help the masses make sense of it as they walked away. Instead, he looked to his disciples and asked, "Are you leaving, too?" Christ isn't looking for numbers but followers. Be they ever so few, which is apparently the case today, so much the better.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

Quantity is an illusion; quality is everything. Was Jesus "seeker sensitive"? I don't think so. When he told folks they had to drink his blood and eat his flesh, he didn't try to help the masses make sense of it as they walked away. Instead, he looked to his disciples and asked, "Are you leaving, too?" Christ isn't looking for numbers but followers. Be they ever so few, which is apparently the case today, so much the better.

And the quality that is emerging, especially among mainline Christians or Evangelical Protestantism isn't exactly making the case that Churches like your own are reinforcing quality.

But in general I lament the complete replacement of a Christian society with a non-Christian or emerging Islamic one. Where Christianity as a value is regarded as secondary to secular values or the values of other faiths.

 

[public hermit]

And the quality that is emerging, especially among mainline Christians or Evangelical Protestantism isn't exactly making the case that Churches like your own are reinforcing quality.

Please, say more.

But in general I lament the complete replacement of a Christian society with a non-Christian or emerging Islamic one. Where Christianity as a value is regarded as secondary to secular values or the values of other faiths.

Fear is a pitiful excuse for faith.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

Please, say more.

I already said what I had to say. Where is this quality you speak of?

Fear is a pitiful excuse for faith.

? Do you prefer we only fear secular and Islamic values? Should we not fear God?

 

[public hermit]

I already said what I had to say. Where is this quality you speak of?

? Do you prefer we only fear secular and Islamic values?

I know Christ. What do I have to fear? My faith is that God will succeed. I don't understand much, but that is my faith. If God can bring things into existence that did not exist and raise the dead, what am I worried about? Your fear of Islam belies faith. I understand what you are experiencing, but I have no respect for it.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

I know Christ. What do I have to fear? My faith is that God will succeed. I don't understand much, but that is my faith. If God can bring things into existence that did not exist and raise the dead, what am I worried about? Your fear of Islam belies faith. I understand what you are experiencing, but I have no respect for it.

Islam knows and understands power. They are a largely cohesive community that has managed to resist not only Christianization but secularization. They also have radically different values and are not above insisting on their own power. A reasonable amount of fear is warranted given the situation and your sort of lazy complacency that everything will be fine despite doing nothing is childish to the extreme. Not because it contradicts Christian values but because it contradicts the deeper values of this modern age that you hold dearly to, of equality, freedom and universalism.

It doesn't matter if you don't respect my belief that a Christian culture is a good thing and the atheistic secular culture we are creating is a bad thing. What matters is if it is good or not. I maintain a broadly Christian culture is good and it's fading away has lead to a kind of western decadence. Whereas you seem to like the current order.

 

[public hermit]

Islam knows and understands power. They are a largely cohesive community that has managed to resist not only Christianization but secularization. They also have radically different values and are not above insisting on their own power. A reasonable amount of fear is warranted given the situation and your sort of lazy complacency that everything will be fine despite doing nothing is childish to the extreme. Not because it contradicts Christian values but because it contradicts the deeper values of this modern age that you hold dearly to, of equality, freedom and universalism.

It doesn't matter if you don't respect my belief that a Christian culture is a good thing and the atheistic secular culture we are creating is a bad thing. What matters is if it is good or not. I maintain a broadly Christian culture is good and it's fading away has lead to a kind of western decadence. Whereas you seem to like the current order.

That's just it. They know the ways of this world: power, force, and fear. Christian institutions know that same power, as history shows. My disagreement with you is that you think the kingdom of God will somehow fit the ways of this world so that God's kingdom and the political realm are one. That will never happen. Dominion in this world is a fool's errand. Heaven and earth are two different ways of being in a world.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

That's just it. They know the ways of this world: power, force, and fear. Christian institutions know that same power, as history shows. My disagreement with you is that you think the kingdom of God will somehow fit the ways of this world so that God's kingdom and the political realm are one. That will never happen. Dominion in this world is a fool's errand. Heaven and earth are two different ways of being in a world.

This is pacifist nonsense which neglects the duty we as Christians have in having a part in dominion. When Christ said his Kingdom was not of this world he did not expect Christians to live as serfs for the sake of others to exploit but he gave us the capacity and capability to rule and actually resist things like Islam. Christians are not Dhimmis by nature and we do not have to subordinate our Christianity to other values you consider as higher.

Christendom was not a fools errand and we are Christians as a result of it. Maybe you would have preferred it if Christians were snuffed out? You wouldn't be the first to fight against the interests of Christians and advocate collective suicide. But here's the thing, where is your quality Christian culture? Can you point to me a Church which has your values that is actually thriving? That can actually resist the secularization and Islamization of it? Doesn't exist and churches of your progressive bent are dying faster as a whole than more authentic churches. Thank God there were no Christians like you during the Reconquista or the East Roman defense of Christian society.

 

[public hermit]

Can you point to me a Church which has your values that is actually thriving?

I know so many people who follow Christ with love, with quality, and it is amazing. Thriving begins with the individual heart, where one is free in Christ to love others without distinction, and it radiates out from there. Christians have one purpose, and it's not to get to heaven. Christians are to reflect the love of Christ. In so far as they do that, in so far as we love as he loved us, it's good. Would you say that kind of quality is evident in the vast number of Christians? Does the quantity reflect the quality? I don't know, but I do know what matters.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

I know so many people who follow Christ with love, with quality, and it is amazing. Thriving begins with the individual heart, where one is free in Christ to love others without distinction, and it radiates out from there. Christians have one purpose, and it's not to get to heaven. Christians are to reflect the love of Christ. In so far as they do that, in so far as we love as he loved us, it's good. Would you say that kind of quality is evident in the vast number of Christians? Does the quantity reflect the quality? I don't know, but I do know what matters.

Will those people have a church community that outlives them? Or do they fall into the statistical category I suspect they fall into? Where they will be gone within 2 to 3 generations?

Your individualism will not preserve Christianity and quite frankly, if this brand of Christianity dies with people like you it will be for the best because it does not deserve to survive. You don't care about the inculcation of Christian values. You don't care about contending with the culture to establish Christian values and as a result it's more likely than not your children and those you know will be subsumed into a culture that does. Why is your brand of Christianity worth preserving?

 

[public hermit]

Will those people have a church community that outlives them? Or do they fall into the statistical category I suspect they fall into? Where they will be gone within 2 to 3 generations?

What are we talking about, an institution or God? Please don't take offense, but you are more modern/secular than you allow for. You see what I mean? You are worried about the church, as if God doesn't exist. God can raise stones and so on. What is a remnant, for instance? Don't you know about the mustard seed and the way God works?

Your individualism will not preserve Christianity and quite frankly, if this brand of Christianity dies with people like you it will be for the best because it does not deserve to survive.

What is it that should survive? That is a good question. If what currently exists does not survive, then all the more glory to God. Don't worry. God is fine.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

What are we talking about, an institution or God? Please don't take offense, but you are more modern/secular than you allow for. You see what I mean? You are worried about the church, as if God doesn't exist. God can raise stones and so on. What is a remnant, for instance? Don't you know about the mustard seed and the way God works?

Well I'm convinced the Church and good forms of Christianity will survive. These will be groups like my own Orthodox Church or more strict groups like the Amish. In the latter case they will outnumber regular Americans if given enough time. Mainline Church denominations on the other hand are dying as they become indistinguishable from the culture around them. Your churches aren't growing and liberal forms of Christianity die the fastest because they are the least substantive and worth investing in.

What is it that should survive? That is a good question. If what currently exists does not survive, then all the more glory to God. Don't worry. God is fine.

God is fine but that's quite apart form the passive Christianity you advocate for Christians. The early Christians deserved to survive because they were willing to go against the hegemonic and dominant culture. Your Christianity is not and instead bends down in submission to it and grants it all power and legitimacy and dares not challenge it. Hence it's death. You think this glorifies God, i guess it does in a way, in that a more authentic Church may survive that is willing to actually follow Christian precepts and not submit to other ideologies.

 

[John G.]

the global population of Christians grew by 121.6 million people from 2010 to 2020, reaching some 2.3 billion people.

Of that number, how many are true born-again believers who put Jesus first in their lives?
There are too many nominal "Christians" in this world.

 

[RileyG]

Lord have mercy! Praying for the conversion of all Muslims!

 

[rebornfree]

Of that number, how many are true born-again believers who put Jesus first in their lives?
There are too many nominal "Christians" in this world.

I agree. Not that I'd prefer nominal Christians to be atheists because, if they are attending Church, at least they are hearing the word of God. However I wouldn't count them in the number of Christians. As the Lord said, you must be born again to see the Kingdom of God. I think there is an increase in those numbers, especially in Pentecostal churches.

 

[RileyG]

Of that number, how many are true born-again believers who put Jesus first in their lives?
There are too many nominal "Christians" in this world.

Very true. Only God knows for sure.