76.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesThe Hemorrhage That’s Not Over

The Hemorrhage That’s Not Over

The former Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brazil recently said in reference to the tsunami wave of people abandoning Catholicism for various flavors of evangelical Protestantism, “It’s a hemorrhage, and it’s not over.”
His is just one voice in the chorus of laments rising from leaders of most institutional Christian bodies. Google “church decline” and you get scores of references to the weakening vital signs of Christendom worldwide.
“Experts” crank out books and articles explaining why this is so.
Terms like “post-denominational” and “post-Christian” turn up repeatedly. The first is usually viewed with concern, depending on the writers’ interest in the preservation of his or her tradition. The latter is viewed with alarm by those who believe that Christianity is the only Way. Objective views may be found, but they are not predominant. True objectivity rarely is.
Despite obvious huge differences, Judaism, Christianity and Islam share the same monotheistic roots and make the same exclusivist claim: There is one God, our God and only we properly understand, worship and serve Him.
All declare their God must prevail, will prevail; by triumphant Messianic return, aggressive conversion or the elimination of all infidels. American Jews are not vigorously expansive, Christians mount massive persuasive missionary efforts and Muslims engage in jihad.
I know, I know, those generalizations are not universally true and are inaccurate characterizations of some believers in each category.
But every Christian group in history came into being at the hands of those who thought everybody else was wrong. Some 16th Century English Catholics followed Henry VIII in denouncing the pope, giving birth to the Church of England (Anglicans). Followers of Anglican priest John Wesley found the C of E too spiritually decadent, and Methodism was born. In 1919, a breakaway pastor disillusioned with his Methodist church founded the Church of the Nazarene, which is currently grappling with internal divisive factions.
Geographic isolation no longer prevails on a national scale. Folks get around more, meet more people of different religious persuasions than their own — sometimes they even like them.
Mass education has raised the literacy level of the population. In general, the more years of education a person has, the more likely they are to question their inherited religious doctrines, to change denominations or simply to terminate active membership in any denomination.
The negative social and emotional consequences of abandoning ones’ religious group are diminishing.
Claims of absolute authority or doctrinal correctness are increasingly denied, doubted or ignored.
The result is a spreading decline of religious authority and an increasing tendency to question inherited faith. The percentage of the population whose religious beliefs are identical to their parents, grandparents — even their own 20 years ago — is rapidly diminishing.
Today church membership is more determined by geography, personal relationships, educational levels and the personality of leaders than by dogma or doctrine. Not many people join or attend church solely because of theology or because their parents belonged there.
Traditionally structured, theologically defined denominational churches are barely holding their own or losing ground. The only congregations really thriving are knee-jerk evangelicals with charismatic leaders, and the feel-good-don’t-have-to-think-believe-everything-or-nothing mega-churches.
What we have here, folks, is a major paradigm shift. Not just a change in which Christians manage the store, but a grassroots realignment of the way they think.
Conventional institutional religion is gradually becoming as obsolete as buggy whips and as dead as King Tut. Whether that is good or bad depends on one’s point of view and ability to adapt to change. That’s often more than the geriatric crowd can manage, and there will be much angst.
Spiritually is not dead; it is probably more openly lively than I’ve experienced in my lifetime. What the hemorrhage will do to the Body I won’t try to predict.
Editor’s note: W. Jackson “Jack” Wilson is a psychologist, an Episcopal priest, a sometime academic and a writer living in Colorado. He writes with humor, whimsy, passion and penetrating insight into the human condition. And in Pushkin, Russia, a toilet is named in his honor.

Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.