1. Christian Cultural Heritage
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Christian Cultural Heritage
Christianity’s Status in the World
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2. Christian Cultural Heritage
“Christianity is the main foundation of Western civilization, the root of our most cherished values.” Dinesh D’souza
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3. 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.
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4. 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.
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5. 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
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6. Primary Locations of Muslims
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7. Primary Location of Christians
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8. Christian Cultural Heritage
The World is Primarily Religious
It is primarily among the wealthy and intellectual elites that atheism, agnosticism, and secularism is prominent.
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9. 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
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10. 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
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11. 2/23/2019

12. Christian Cultural Heritage
Christianity ‘s Dichotomy
Mainline
Substantial decline in members
Evangelical
Continues to grow
High growth in southern hemisphere
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13. Major World Religions % of World Population 1900-2000
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14. 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
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15. 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
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16. 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
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17. 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%
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18. 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
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19. 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
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21. 2/23/2019

22. 2/23/2019

23. Christianity in America
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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
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24. Christianity in America
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Christianity in America
Growth/Decline
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25. Christianity in America
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Christianity in America
Attendance Growth Percentage of Protestant Churches
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26. Christianity in America
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Christianity in America
400,000 Churches in America
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27. Christianity in America
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Christianity in America
Challenge #2
Each American generation since WWII has become less churched
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28.
Before 1948
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Thom Rainer, Sept. 2005

29. 2/23/2019

30. National Study of Youth & Religion
By Christian Smith and Melinda Denton
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31. Christianity in America
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Christianity in America
Generational Church Attendance
I believe I can have a good relationship with God without being involved in a church.
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Ed Stetzer, Lost and Found, 2009

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

33. Christianity in America
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Christianity in America
Generational Church Attendance
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Ed Stetzer, Lost and Found, 2009

34. Churches of Christ in the U.S.
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Churches of Christ in the U.S.
Churches of Christ have been a plateaued movement since 1985
gain of 415 new churches
loss of 126 churches
loss of 585 churches
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35. Church of Christ Membership– U.S.
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36. 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
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37. Church of Christ: U. S.
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38. Church Planting Emphasis
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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
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39. 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
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