What is the future of Christianity?

[China Cat Sunflower]

What is the future of Christianity?

If you're looking for a prediction, I'd say that it continues on pretty just like it is for as far as our eyes can see. I think that the big denominations will see a bit more balkanization, so to speak. There is a tension between the values of people in developed nations and people in the third world, particularly Africa, and the developing world, especially Central and South America where believers have much closer to the bone spiritual needs, and the Church plays an activist political role on issues of justice and civil rights. I think that micro religion will become more popular. Have your own Christian church in your living room with friends. Independent neighborhood churches will continue to do well, I presume.

As an aside: If you look at how Christianity breaks down into denominations and divisions, it's all along socio-economic lines. Really poor people believe and practice their faith in markedly differents ways than the affluent.

Chris

 

[juantoo3]

tweedle dom?...

LOL! Good one...but I was thinking more like what my Poli Sci Prof told me once: "It's hard to tell the extremists apart without a program."

IOW, I think my former self was far more of a reactionary. My current self is far more moderate, with reactionary tendencies.

Anybody here ever read the Unabomber Manifesto? Talk about ultra-conservatism! The thing is, I find myself in agreement with Kaczynski on a lot of his points...I just fail to see why he took those thoughts to the conclusions and actions that he did.

 

[juantoo3]

Kindest Regards, China Cat!

I think that the big denominations will see a bit more balkanization, so to speak.

Would that include Bohemianization?

There is a tension between the values of people in developed nations and people in the third world, particularly Africa, and the developing world, especially Central and South America where believers have , and the Church plays an activist political role on issues of justice and civil rights. I think that micro religion will become more popular. Have your own Christian church in your living room with friends. Independent neighborhood churches will continue to do well, I presume.

I can see this. I can also see how some of these "micro religions" seek "much closer to the bone spiritual needs" a la Thoreau. How ironic, a liberal minded philosopher of almost two hundred years ago finding himself and his avocation as the poster child for reactionary conservatives. My, how times have changed.

As an aside: If you look at how Christianity breaks down into denominations and divisions, it's all along socio-economic lines. Really poor people believe and practice their faith in markedly differents ways than the affluent.

I agree, but cultural lines were neglected is this assessment. Why would a member of an African Methodist Episcopalian church want to be anything like a member of the Church of G-d in Christ, or a member of a Southern Baptist church? Yes, the divisions are largely along socio-cultural and economic lines, by choice. The wealthy tend to be "stock, run of the mill" Episcopalians (as have the vast majority of US Presidents), the poorest of the poor tend to fend for themselves, or seek solace in the Salvation Army or a Catholic Charity. (Indeed, it seems to me, if any "denomination" can be said to span the spectrum, it is most likely the Catholic church.) This assessment, obviously, being of the US specifically. How it breaks down in Europe I do not know.