The Real Reason Christianity Is Still in Decline

Friday 22, May 2015




By Christian Piatt
The most recent Pew forum study, which show that numbers of people identifying with any brand of Christianity is still in decline, should surprise no one. But as is the case any time such a study comes out, Christians are looking for reasons why.
By now we know a lot of the basic reasons: people are busier, they are more mobile, there's less social stigma about not going to church, folks don't trust us, etc. But I'm interested in looking at it from three different perspectives, rather than just from the inside of Christianity. After all, there's far more at play here than just Christians not practicing what they preach.

More Than 100 Charged In Mob Killing Of Christian Couple In Pakistan

Pakistani human rights activists condemn the killing of the Christian couple for alleged blasphemy during a demonstration in Islamabad, Pakistan, in November.

B.K. Bangash/AP 

 

Scott Neuma 

Prosecutors in Pakistan's Punjab province have charged 106 people in connection with the gruesome mob killing of a Christian couple who were incinerated in a brick kiln for allegedly desecrating a copy of the Quran.
In November, Sajjad Mesih and his wife, Shama — who was pregnant when the couple in their 20s was killed — were beaten and thrown into the kiln they tended as laborers.

Pope says environmental sinners will face God's judgment for world hunger

• Francis declares ‘powerful of the Earth’ have obligation to feed the world
• Pontiff to publish encyclical on environmental issues

 

 Pope Francis leads a mass in St Peter’s basilica before the opening of the general assembly of Caritas. ‘We must do what we can so that everyone has something to eat,’ he said. Photograph: Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty Images

the Guardian
Pope Francis has warned “the powerful of the Earth” they will answer to God if they fail to protect the environment to ensure the world can feed its population.
“The planet has enough food for all, but it seems that there is a lack of willingness to share it with everyone,” Francis said at a mass to mark the opening of the general assembly of the Catholic charitable organisation Caritas.

Masters of War: Pope Francis Calls out the $400 billion Global Arms Business as “the Industry of Death”

Not exactly storytime. Pope Francis at the May 11 event. (Reuters/Max Rossi)

Written by

Heather Timmons, Quartz

Pope Francis was sharply critical of the global arms industry in a speech at the Vatican this week, telling thousands of children in Rome that weapons manufacturers are money-hungry opponents of peace.

According to the Italian news agency AGI, the Pope said:

Some powerful people make their living with the production of arms and sell them to one country for them to use against another country … It’s the industry of death, the greed that harms us all, the desire to have more money.

From Obama to Castro, the Pope Has Pull

By Chris Jansing and Kristin Donnelly

 

It's being dubbed "the Francis effect" and it's hitting Washington, DC.

From 4500 miles away Pope Francis is exerting his influence on everything from foreign policy to summits on poverty. Pope Francis got a big shout out on Tuesday from the leader of the free world as a great example of someone who understands what's important. 

Franklin Graham Says Supreme Court's Gay Marriage Ruling Sets Stage for 'Persecution of Believers' in 'Most Historic and Far-Reaching Judgment of the 21st Century'

 

 Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, addresses the crowd at the Festival of Hope, an evangelistic rally held at the national stadium in Port-au-Prince, January 9, 2011.

By Stoyan Zaimov , Christian Post Reporter

The Rev. Franklin Graham has said that the U.S. Supreme Court's upcoming decision on whether to legalize same-sex marriage across America or allow states to continue to make their own decisions will "rank as the most historic and far-reaching judgment of the 21st century." He argued that it could pave the way for "persecution of believers," and said he would be praying for the nine Supreme Court justices.

'Stop Building Churches and Convert to Islam' or 'We Will Make a Horrible Example of You,' Muslims Threaten Christians in Pakistan

 

 

People from the Christian community hold candles while taking part in a protest rally to condemn the suicide bombings which took place outside two churches in Lahore, in Peshawar, March 18, 2015. Suicide bombings outside two churches in Lahore at least killed 16 people and wounded nearly 80 others during services on Sunday in attacks claimed by a faction of the Pakistani Taliban.

By Samuel Smith , CP Reporter
 

Christian leaders in the Pakistani city of Lahore are saying that they've received death threats over the past few months because of their involvement in the building of churches in the area.
In a Monday interview with AsiaNews, Javed David, a Pakistani Christian activist, explained that he and at least three of his Christian associates have been threatened by an unidentified group of Muslims in the midst of outrage stemming from the construction of Christian churches.
David, who is the president of Hope for the Light Ministries, and his associates have been helping poor Christian communities in Pakistan build places of worship since 2013.
He explained that one of the latest altercations occurred in April, where he was explicitly warned that if he continues his advocacy work for the construction of churches, he will be made an "example" of.