Christian Cultural Heritage 2/23/2019 Christian Cultural Heritage Christianity’s Status in the World 2/23/2019

Christian Cultural Heritage “Christianity is the main foundation of Western civilization, the root of our most cherished values.” Dinesh D’souza 2/23/2019

Christian Cultural Heritage In the 1970s sociologists and academics were predicting the decline of religion and a great growth in secularism in the U.S. much like in Western Europe. 2/23/2019

Christian Cultural Heritage Reality has turned out differently! Peter Berger notes the “myth of secularization” where he points out that inevitable secularization has lost credibility. 2/23/2019

Christian Cultural Heritage The global revival of Religion Christianity in the southern hemisphere Christianity is a growing force in many parts of the world Islam reformation In the 20th century Islam grew from 12% to 21% of the worlds population 2/23/2019

Primary Locations of Muslims 2/23/2019

Primary Location of Christians 2/23/2019

Christian Cultural Heritage The World is Primarily Religious It is primarily among the wealthy and intellectual elites that atheism, agnosticism, and secularism is prominent. 2/23/2019

Our Religious World 1. Christianity: 2 billion 2. Islam: 1.3 billion 3. Hinduism: 900 million 4. Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 850 million 5. Buddhism: 360 million 6. Chinese traditional religion: 225 million 7. Primal-indigenous 190: million 8. Sikhism: 23 million 9. Yoruba religion 20 million 10. Juche 19 million 11. Spiritism: 14 million 2/23/2019

Our Religious World 12. Judaism: 14 million 13. Baha’I: 6 million 14. Jainism: 4 million 15. Shinto: 4 million 16. Cao Dai: 3 million 17. Tenrikyo: 2.4 million 18. Neo-Paganism: 1 million 19. Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand 20. Scientology: 750 thousand 21. Rastafarianism: 700 thousand 22. Zoroastrianism: 150 thousand 2/23/2019

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Christian Cultural Heritage Christianity ‘s Dichotomy Mainline Substantial decline in members Evangelical Continues to grow High growth in southern hemisphere 2/23/2019

Major World Religions % of World Population 1900-2000 2/23/2019

Christian Cultural Heritage Mainline Christianity Presbyterian Church 1960 had 4.2 million members 2008 has 2.4 million Episcopal Church 1960 had 3.4 million 2009 has 2.3 million United Churches of Christ 1960 had 2.2 million 2008 has 1.3 2/23/2019

Christian Cultural Heritage Evangelical Christianity Southern Baptist Convention 1960 had 8.7 million 2008 has 16.4 million Pentecostalism 1960 had 20 million 2008 has 68 million Church of Christ 1960 had 750,000 2008 has 1.2 million 2/23/2019

Christian Cultural Heritage Secularism in the West There has been growth in secularism Primarily in Europe and to a lesser degree in the U.S. One in five Europeans say religion is important in life However many would say they are spiritual Growth of Non-religious in last century Decrease in church attendance 2/23/2019

Religious Change – 20th Century Religion 1900 Pop. % Pop. 2000 Pop. % Pop Christians 558,056,300 34.5% 1,973,000,000 32.5% Muslims 200,102,200 12.4% 1,279,000,000 21.1% Nonreligious 2,923,300 .2% 938,000,000 15.5% Hindus 203,033,300 12.5% 820,000,000 13.5% Buddhists 127,159,000 7.8% 400,000,000 6.6% Chinese Tra. 450,000,000 27.8 383,000,000 6.3% Ethnic Rel. 106,339,600 176,000,000 2.9% Other 21,364,000 1.3% 95,000,000 1.6% 2/23/2019

Christian Cultural Heritage Secularism and Belief in the West Secularism and the U.S. 14% of population (an increasing %) 86% believe in a supreme being 60% say their faith is important to them 40% attend church The U.S. is the most religious in the Western World 2/23/2019

Christian Cultural Heritage Christianity - Southern Hemisphere In 1900 more than 80% of Christians lived in Europe Now 60% live in developing countries Two out of three evangelical live in Asia, Africa and South America In 1900 less than 10% of Africa was Christian Now 50% are Christian 2/23/2019

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Christianity in America 2/23/2019 Christianity in America Challenge #1 The late 20th century generation of churches is declining U.S. churches are losing over 3 million people a year to non-religious lifestyles 50% of U.S. churches did not record 1 conversion the previous year 2/23/2019

Christianity in America 2/23/2019 Christianity in America Growth/Decline 1990-2005 2/23/2019

Christianity in America 2/23/2019 Christianity in America Attendance Growth Percentage of Protestant Churches 1994-2004 2/23/2019

Christianity in America 2/23/2019 Christianity in America 400,000 Churches in America 2/23/2019

Christianity in America 2/23/2019 Christianity in America Challenge #2 Each American generation since WWII has become less churched 2/23/2019

1977 - 1994 1965 - 1976 1948 - 1964 Before 1948 2/23/2019 Thom Rainer, Sept. 2005

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National Study of Youth & Religion By Christian Smith and Melinda Denton 2/23/2019

Christianity in America 2/23/2019 Christianity in America Generational Church Attendance I believe I can have a good relationship with God without being involved in a church. 2/23/2019 Ed Stetzer, Lost and Found, 2009

Christianity in America 2/23/2019 Christianity in America Generational Church Attendance The church is the only place to learn what it means to be a Christian. 2/23/2019 Ed Stetzer, Lost and Found, 2009

Christianity in America 2/23/2019 Christianity in America Generational Church Attendance 2/23/2019 Ed Stetzer, Lost and Found, 2009

Churches of Christ in the U.S. 2/23/2019 Churches of Christ in the U.S. Churches of Christ have been a plateaued movement since 1985 1980-1990 gain of 415 new churches 1990-2000 loss of 126 churches 2000-2012 loss of 585 churches 2/23/2019

Church of Christ Membership– U.S. 2/23/2019

Church of Christ: U. S. 1980 1990 1994 1997 2000 2006 2012 Churches 12,762 13,174 13,013 13,080 13,032 12,963 12,447 Members 1,240,820 1,284,056 1,260,838 1,255,834 1,264,152 1,265,844 1,209,259 Adherents 1,601,661 1,684,872 1,651,103 1,647,078 1,645,645 1,639495 1,554,579 2/23/2019

Church of Christ: U. S. 2/23/2019

Church Planting Emphasis 2/23/2019 Church Planting Emphasis Africa - The number of churches and Christians continue to grow – 1,400,000 of a population 850,000,000 (1 to 600) – 14,669 churches U.S. Membership – 1,300,000 of a population of 300,000,000 (1 to 230) – 12,963 churches in 2006 2/23/2019

Religious Groups by Churches - 2000 Members Adherents Attendees Southern Baptist 41,514 15,922,039 19,881,467 5,535,891 United Methodist 35,721 8,326,616 10,350,629 3,487,039 Catholic Church 21,791 62,035,042 Churches of Christ 13,027 1,264,808 1,645,584 1,256,845 Assemblies of God 11,880 1,489,281 2,561,998 1,623,889 Latter-day Saints 11,515 4,224,096 Presbyterian Church 11,106 2,516,816 3,141,566 1,303,216 Evangelical Lutheran 10,739 3,798,370 5,113,418 1,560,712 Episcopal Church 7,314 2,314,756 836,143 Lutheran Church - Missouri 6,077 1,922,763 2,521,062 968,073 Eleventh in size for membership Fourth largest number of churches 2/23/2019