CSM - The Coming Evangelical Collapse

[onager]

Article from Christian Science Monitor a few days ago. The author, Michael Spencer, is an evangelical Xian himself. I think the part about "a new vitality and integrity" is just wishful thinking, but I'm a grumpy atheist.

The coming evangelical collapse

An anti-Christian chapter in Western history is about to begin. But out of the ruins, a new vitality and integrity will rise.

By Michael Spencer / March 10, 2009

We are on the verge – within 10 years – of a major collapse of evangelical Christianity. This breakdown will follow the deterioration of the mainline Protestant world and it will fundamentally alter the religious and cultural environment in the West.

Within two generations, evangelicalism will be a house deserted of half its occupants. (Between 25 and 35 percent of Americans today are Evangelicals.) In the "Protestant" 20th century, Evangelicals flourished. But they will soon be living in a very secular and religiously antagonistic 21st century...

Why is this going to happen?

1. Evangelicals have identified their movement with the culture war and with political conservatism. This will prove to be a very costly mistake. Evangelicals will increasingly be seen as a threat to cultural progress. Public leaders will consider us bad for America, bad for education, bad for children, and bad for society...

7. The money will dry up.



Yeah, #7 will do it every time...

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2009/0310/p09s01-coop.html

[HowHasItComeToThis]

1. Bad for America, bad for education, bad for children, and bad for soceity

bad for soceity

[Lint Head]

2. They left out the part about

using God and Jesus as a corporate money cow.

[Booster]

3. And we all know how "right on" their past predictions have been.

[Vincardog]

4. The Coming Evangelical Collapse can't happen soon enough for me.

[MANative]

8. Amen to that!

[cbayer]

5. I think it's already happening to some extent.

A lot of evangelicals are angry and feel that they were used by the Republican party. The things that strengthened them and built a strong coalition have been degraded to some extent.

Then there is all the scandal which is loathsome to many.

However, I think this will lead to a resurgence of mainline Protestant churches as they seek out something more tempered.

But there will always be the strong anti-choice, GLBT hating group that will stay with their own ilk. I just think their influence will grow smaller and smaller.

[kestrel91316]

6. With evangelicals leading the charge to send women's rights

back to the 9th century, no one could have forseen this..........

[Xipe Totec]

7. #7 - Beware of false profits...

[Joe Bacon]

16. No, that should be "Beware of false PROFITS"!

Because the only thing every TV Preacher does is whore for money!

[knitter4democracy]

9. #4 is certainly true

I went to an evangelical Christian college. Almost none of us are still members of the parent church--many have left faith entirely, more of us switched to Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy (like I did) or something more liturgical, and others went even further into Pentecostalism or whatever. The college was a hellhole, and I can't go back to that kind of faith, not after seeing what they did to people in the name of the faith.

[Permanut]

10. As a member of a progressive church, I hope he's right.

We're trying to get an early start on the "viltality and integrity" part by using our collective efforts to feed the hungry, clothe the ragged and house the homeless. We are disgusted by everything the right wing wackos represent. I haven't taken a poll, but I'd bet the farm that 99% of our members are progressive Democrats.

[RKP5637]

12. I'm not a religious person, but I view what you are saying very favorably. There is a lot

religion could be doing to pull this country together, and I sincerely applaud what you said!!!

[RKP5637]

11. They have become so obnoxious and generally all you hear from them is

persecutory and discriminatory stances against some individual, group, religion, etc. I just find them totally obnoxious. Anyone tells me they're an evangelist and all the red flags go up! I view them as far RW operatives.

[Joe Bacon]

18. I'm sick and tired of hearing, "God Hates You"

When I was a kid, I remember church after church saying "God Loves You". But then the Republicans infected the churches one by one and the message became, "God Hates...blacks, latinos, gays, lesbians, the poor, anyone who isn't rich, white and Republican".

As long as those so-called "preachers" keep reciting GOP talking points in the pulpit, I won't set a foot in their churches. I'd rather sleep in my bed on a Sunday than sleep in a pew while a pulpit pimp pushes the Three Stooges (Mitt, Newt and Frothy) endlessly!

[RKP5637]

20. Well said! I agree so much. I really question the character of one that sits in the pew and

endures that bullshit as the word of god. I never heard all of this bullshit either as a kid.

[longship]

13. I generally like the CSM

but this article is basically rubbish. The writer has an evangelical agenda and, although he has some very good points, his conclusions come right out of his ass.

However, when the CSM doesn't dip into theology, they are a bastion of liberal policy. I've been an atheist for decades and I used to subscribe when the CSM was still a daily (weekdays only). Recently they've withered like many of the print media, but I've always liked their politics.

(Now if it wasn't for their philosophy on medicine --- no, reality --- I might embrace them more strongly. How many Christian Scienctist children have needlessly died?)

But their newspaper has generally been a bastion of good, secular news.

[NAO]

14. I hope they don't conjure a Santorum presidency as a final desperate act -nt

[Thats my opinion]

15. Among other thing, it is a geat opportunity for something authentic to be born.

It has already started.

[SCVDem]

17. Growing up we were taught

Not to discuss religion and politics.

Nobody cares what your beliefs are until you try to convert them. Thus the Hare Krishnas were mocked along with the bike riding Wittnesses. Now it's the Christians who are attempting to convert America and are also going to piss people off!

Get in my face and I will vote to tax your ass! Non profits should be silent but helpful to society to maintain that status.

What's the old joke line? Have you heard the word of the Lord today?

[johnnyplankton]

19. This Ran Three Years Ago...

But I still hope it's true. How can anyone read the Bible and vote Republican?

[2banon]

21. this article is 3 years old, not a few days old, and unfortunately it's analysis is flawed.

I'm no evangelical, and I struggle mightly to consider evangelicals in a kindly manner, because too many are simply unthinking, brainwashed sheep imo.

25-35 % evangelical in this nation. really? where does that stat come from?
Is that number include or exclude children/minors?

that said, I am concerned that we're going to see a crazed evangelical general election considering last night's results..

why would this article be posted at this particular time? Is it to disuade progressives from being too concerned?

I think we should be very concerned, despite progressives misgivings wrt to our guy failing to live up to most of his campaign rhetoric.

I think last night's election results is a wake up call..