Christianity and Culture Sift: Part 1

In the current climate of the surrounding culture, we live in a Western society (America and Europe), many would characterize the environment is now post-Christian. The church, Christians of all denominations, traditions, and backgrounds are in the midst of an ongoing cultural paradigm shift and a great struggle identity and relevance. The current president, Barack Obama, in June of 2006 emphasized the pluralist formulation of the culture, he said, “Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation - at least, not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.” Many have jumped onto the notion he is attempting to dilute the Christian heritage of America. Maybe this is true or maybe not. At best it is a matter of opinion. Either way, I am neither defending nor opposing his statement here. What his statement does do for this dialogue gives it a call towards reflection about Christianity’s relationship with and in American Society and the World.

    The environmental changes within American society are due to the fact we live in a what is a called, Free Religious Market Economy. People can consume religion or not to as they decide to freely and individually. There exists no establishment of a national religion. Religion is not perceived as a political system but as a matter of personal preference (religion as a political movement and system are another conversations that do need to take place). Freedom of or even from religion exists and is encouraged in and through our countries founding documents and profession of individual rights. Freedom is a core value of American society.

    Christianity is still the dominant religion within Western Societies, even amidst those who claim to be holistically a secular society (though the existence of an accurate or apparent secular society is questionable). The Pew Research on Religion in May of 2015 noted in the article, America’s Changing Religious Landscape: Christians Decline Sharply as Share of Population; Unaffiliated and Other Faiths Continue to Grow, Christianity’s share of societal adherence dropped to 70.6 % down from 78.4% from 2007 to 2014.

    The landscape of Christianity has not always been so robust in the U.S.A. Concerning America’s Free Religious Market Economy, Finke, and Starke, directed a statistical investigation of the official census data after 1850, and the Atlas for 1776, to approximate the number of Americans who were adherents of a particular denomination. In 1776, the estimated percentage of Christian followers was only 17%. In the late 19th century, 1850-1890, the rate increased from 34% to 45%. From 1906 to 1952, the rate grew from 51% to 59% (p.16) In the 1960’s to 1980’s the approximations place Christian followers at about 79-82%, depending on various studies. What Finke and Stark demonstrate is the issue of historical dissonance existing in the American myth of a robust Christian foundation for the beginning of the nation. It was not until post-World War I and II that Christianity hit its stride and grew robustly into the dominant position it now occupies (Douthat - Bad Religion).

     Finke and Starks's findings challenge the perspectives held as the assumed history of Christianity in America. Many have objected and pushed back against their conclusions, but when examined Christianity still hold a predominant position in American culture, at least according to the numbers presented in the research, that is at least for now. The position Christians came to cherish in the mid to late 20^th century has and is dwindling. The reasons for the declining prestige are complex and are not the result of one particular issue, but involve internal and external forces exerting influences for polar opposite conclusions or calls for action.

    As a Christian myself, the trend has prompted a sifting of American culture to gain a grasp of the dominant ideologies present toward Christianity. In general, I have perceived the presence of five predominant postures assumed towards Christianity. In the next few blogs, my intent is to explore the five uppermost attitudes relating from culture to Christianity. It is my intention to stepping outside of the comfortable confines of a Christian Worldview perspective to join an outsider or others worlds view. I use others world view because world views may be broad and difficult to define when one was not immersed, bathed in it. By doing this, I hope to foster the ability to dialogue better with and interact with non-Christians of all backgrounds. I hope you will join me in this journey. Please, subscribe to this blog and follow the journey of exploring “Christianity and Culture Sift.”

Douglas