I'm in a strange position. I'm a lifelong atheist and am married to a woman who works in a church. It is a very liberal denomination or this would never work, but our core beliefs are pretty close. Occasionally, if she has something special going on, I'll attend to see her work. I did so this weekend. I took note of the crowd and was stunned by how OLD most of the people were. Very few middle agers or young parents. Even the ones that come for their kids quit coming once their kids graduate from high school. The church is a dying organization.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.I do think religion is weakening a little bit. It's not necessarily dying out but I know that among my generation there is less of us that are tied to an organized belief system. I have plenty of friends that promote themselves as religious but do not attend Church, temple or anything.
MightyJebus
Level 4
Dec 17, 2018
0
Interesting because someone just did a poll here & it seems that most of us on Agnostic are on the old side.
One institution that does seem to be dying are the Catholic nuns. When I had to go to Catholic school in the 70s, all but 2 or 3 teachers were nuns. My friends sent their son to Catholic school several years ago & there were no nuns teaching at all. My friends were even surprised that I asked. Same with my nieces back in the late 90s. No nuns at all.
Carin
Level 8
Dec 17, 2018
1
I am not sure about the underlying dynamics, but it's important to note that some groups are not dying simply because they are graying. Some of them are acquired tastes that more mature people are simply drawn to. A sea of "hoary heads" is not a problem so long as new ones are "aging in" at the same rate that the oldest ones are dying out.
I used to be into theater pipe organs and people have been worrying literally since the 1950s that there "aren't enough young people" in that group but the numbers and active participation have held steady and even grown a bit over the ensuing three generations. It's older people who tend to have the money and free time to devote to such hobbies. Similar things can be said about people who own sailboats or big houses, etc.
That said, the absence of young people suggests that the multigenerational reinforcement that churches used to benefit from has diminished, and that also hollows out the sense of community and refuge that churches are supposed to provide. I get the sense churches aren't nearly so much in demand to celebrate the births of infants or are even to solemnize new marriages (to the extent that people still get officially married); they are mostly presiding over funerals. So while the absence of the young isn't necessarily a decisive death blow, it's not good news, either.
mordant
Level 8
Dec 17, 2018
0
It's even more obvious in France. A friend of mine told me that if you go into a church for any service, there won't be anyone under 70. He also told me that French Catholics are in a church about 4 times in their life: baptism, confirmation, wedding, and funeral. I guess they attend the weddings and funerals of others over the years.
shayne69
Level 6
Dec 17, 2018
1
I’m so excited for this!!!
I have dreamed forever about owning a church and making it my house!
Can’t wait!!!
darthfaja
Level 7
Dec 17, 2018
1
A church of the same denomination as my wife's in our town dissolved a couple years ago. The building is now a tattoo parlor.
I knew a couple that bought a small church, and remodeled it into a home. Their bedroom was the former alter - up several steps from the rest. It was great !
I bet you are talking about either a Unitarian or United Church of Christ church. And yes, most mainline Protestant churches are dying out. The denominations that are growing seem to be Catholic and evangelical, at least in the US.
TomMcGiverin
Level 8
Dec 17, 2018
0
I think it's mostly evangelical; if the Catholic church is growing, it's because of the immigrants coming into the US. Also, from what I hear, even when Catholics leave the church, the church keeps counting them as members. If true, their numbers are artificially inflated.
@shayne69 Both true. With the Catholics, I was referring to all the immigrant members they are getting.
Yes it is. People are starting to wise up to the truth of religion.
helionoftroy
Level 7
Dec 17, 2018
0
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