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Max's avatar

There are two recent books arguing pretty much the same thesis, one by a Christian, the other by a very secular individual: https://www.amazon.com/Fertility-Faith-Demographic-Revolution-Transformation/dp/148131131X

And Ronald L. Inglehart‘s https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com//mobile/view/10.1093/oso/9780197547045.001.0001/oso-9780197547045.

Both argue that growth and decline in religion is inextricably linked to fertility. The data seems difficult to deny. Not to make Christianity into a math game, but as the world population rapidly declines, we’re going to see efforts by governments and others to increase birth rates for economic reasons. When this happens, Christianity will start increasing again in more westernized nations. Until then, as as someone who is Eastern Orthodox, Catholic Bishop Robert Barron’s recommendations seem to be the best bet I know of to keep churches functioning on a level above collapse. Yes, the Church will endure, I believe in providence, but speaking based on stats, that’s the best I can do. And though there might be some good things suggested in The Benedict Option, I don’t think getting rid of markets, and technology, and democracy is the answer here, as some Christians seem to think. The Amish are cool but I don’t think they hold they keys to Christianity’s survival.

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F Vruggink's avatar

Yes and yes again. The church, the body of Christ presently on earth, it’s not going to fade away. In the US cultural Christianity is very mixed in with Trumpism. Worship of a political figure is idolatry.

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