The surveys about mainline Protestantism just keep coming and coming. And — this might not be news to you — the results of those surveys keep getting worse and worse. Ryan Burge‚ religious pollster extraordinaire‚ chimed in with one last week. It seems that in the denominations traditionally labeled mainline Protestant‚ according to samples collected by the General Social Survey‚ the percentage of members in the 18-to-35-year range is 1.7 percent. READ MORE from Tom Raabe: The Supreme Court Could Save Blue Cities From Their Own Idiocy That is‚ members in the prime baby-making years constitute less than 2 percent of the membership of seven historic Protestant denominations — American Baptist Church‚ United Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)‚ United Methodist Church (UMC)‚ United Church of Christ (UCC)‚ Episcopal Church‚ Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)‚ and Disciples of Christ. That’s down from nearly 10 percent in 1975‚ 7.5 percent in 1990‚ and 3.5 percent in 2004. Compare that with the beyond-baby-making quadrant of two of those church bodies — the Episcopal Church and the PCUSA. Half of the Episcopal membership is over 65 years old; as for the Presbyterians‚ 58 percent are 56 or older (one-third are over 70). I think it’s safe to say the back pews of those old churches won’t be filled with fussy‚ crying babies anytime soon. Neither will those denominations be growing themselves organically out of their historic membership malaise. I doubt it’s even crossed their mind as a church-growth strategy. Unlike my church‚ the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS)‚ which recently paid a consultant big bucks to do a survey and recommend that the answer to the church’s declining membership problem was to encourage its members to have more babies. I’ll keep you posted on how that’s working. Make no mistake: More babies would help all U.S. churches‚ especially the mainline. But the nation as a whole is already trailing the 2.1-child-per-woman replacement rate as it is (we’re at 1.7 kids per woman). And the traditional liberal disenchantment with repeopling the planet isn’t helping that number one bit. The Mainline Slump Opinion varies on whether‚ and how‚ the Seven Sisters of the Mainline‚ as they’ve been called‚ can reverse their slump. But there is no denying that mainline membership is dropping — it’s falling off the table like a Sandy Koufax curveball. The numbers are cataclysmic. According to the Ready to Harvest YouTube channel‚ the Disciples of Christ leads the way‚ dropping a staggering 57.25 percent in membership from 2000 to 2020. But the other six sisters are almost as anemic — from 2000 to 2020‚ the PCUSA plummeted 50.68 percent; the UCC‚ 43 percent; the ELCA‚ 38.6 percent; the Episcopal Church‚ 32.42 percent; the UMC‚ 24.4 percent; and the American Baptist Church‚ 21.7 percent. By contrast‚ the Amish‚ who double in population every 20 years‚ had in 2022 exceeded the Disciples of Christ‚ numbering 373‚000 members to the Disciples’ 350‚000. All manner of reasons has been proffered for this stark decline. These churches‚ like all others‚ are suffering a hit from the secularization of society. The new generations‚ millennials and Gen Z‚ hold much less interest in organized religion than do their elders‚ as the dramatic rise of the “nones” attests. The number of people with no religious affiliation in America has jumped from 16 percent in 2007 to 29 percent in 2021. Fewer people joining churches in general means fewer people joining mainline churches. And the ones they are joining eschew the denominational label. Said Daniel Silliman in Christianity Today in 2022‚ “If ‘nondenominational’ were a denomination‚ it would be the largest Protestant one‚ claiming more than 13 percent of churchgoers in America.” Another reason for the mainline decline is simple demographics — members in mainline churches are older than those in other groups‚ and more of them are going out the door (into the cemetery) than are coming in. Commented Burge‚ about the PCUSA situation: 10‚000 coming into adulthood‚ 25‚000 dying in the PCUSA in an average year. Of course there are other ways to join or leave a denomination‚ but these two figures are pointing toward a future where the denomination has to “find” an additional 15‚000 members a year just to offset the losses from death. That’s a whole lot of headwinds. The Gay Ordination Effect Apart from demographic loss‚ there’s no denying the pews started emptying when these mainline churches jumped with both feet onto the gay agenda. When the mainline began ordaining non-celibate LGBTQ clergy and performing gay weddings‚ they launched an exodus in members‚ many of those fleeing to new‚ spinoff‚ reactive denominations within their theological tradition. The PCUSA approval of ordaining non-celibate homosexuals in 2010 spawned a new conservative Presbyterian denomination. The ELCA approval of the same in 2009 also resulted in the formation of the North American Lutheran Church in 2010 and pumped new blood into the already-existing Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ‚ which was up to 960 congregations by 2020. The Episcopal Church has its own spinoff body‚ caused also by the sexual adventurism of the old church. And the Methodists‚ more even than the other groups‚ spent four long years in contentious argle-bargle and eventually split‚ losing about 25 percent of its member churches‚ over the LGBTQ question. The gay agenda may not have precipitated the decline in these bodies‚ but it certainly pummeled them on the slide down. (RELATED from Tom Raabe: Conservative Methodist Exit Nears End Point) As much as liberals attempt to universalize the decline by pointing to membership drops in conservative church bodies — the Southern Baptist Convention has shrunk by 11.7 percent from 2000 to 2020‚ and the LCMS by 27 percent — they can’t avoid the fact that some conservative bodies have gained members. The Assemblies of God have jumped by 26.5 percent from 2000 to 2020‚ and the Presbyterian Church in America has risen by 25 percent in the same time period. No mainline church can boast growth of any degree in that time span. One other survey presents even more troubling data. According to a survey by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) from September of last year: More than seven in ten mainline clergy (72%) say they are optimistic about the future of their church. The rate of optimism is similar across denominations‚ including 78% of PCUSA‚ 74% of Episcopal‚ 72% of UM‚ 70% of ELCA‚ 69% of ABCUSA‚ 69% of DOC‚ and 67% of UCC clergy.  Based on those numbers‚ the mainline churches have more to worry about than the lack of babies. The post Mainline Protestantism Is Heading Toward Its Grave appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

This week‚ America received more proof that we have a two-tiered justice system. Michael Cassidy‚ a Navy veteran and former congressional candidate‚ has been charged with a hate crime after beheading a Satanic statue in the Iowa state Capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa.  READ MORE: Which Way‚ Western Man? Satanic Idols or Christian Morality? Announced publicly on Tuesday‚ the decision from the Polk County prosecutor’s office was quickly met with backlash. “What has become of America?” queried Elon Musk on X‚ after many pointed out the apparent ideological targeting of Cassidy. Since the charges were first announced on Dec. 15‚ support for Cassidy has exploded. “Michael Cassidy is now elevated to sainthood for doing the right thing. Who on earth authorized the erecting of this crap?‚” argued one X user on Feb. 2. “To do so is to endorse the wickedness of Satan and to celebrate the moral decline in America.” A campaign to help fund Cassidy’s legal defense has raised over $120‚000.  “All donations in excess of what is directly related to my defense shall be donated to a Christian legal fund‚” Cassidy announced‚ before thanking all who donated. Liberals’ Double Standard Over the last few years‚ attacking or vandalizing statues has become a popular tactic for leftist protesters and politicians‚ both of whom have made it a personal crusade to remove as many as possible. Many conservatives have been quick to point out the blatant hypocrisy between Cassidy’s case and that of the protesters. “Violent activists tore down dozens of statues including Columbus‚ Thomas Jefferson‚ and George Washington. None were held accountable or charged with a hate crime‚” Libs of TikTok‚ a popular social media account‚ wrote on X. “Michael Cassidy knocks over a Satan statue made out of household items and gets charged with a hate crime. Welcome to America’s 2-tier-justice system.” In place of the statues they’ve torn down‚ liberals have raised so-called modern art. Many have pointed out the apparent Satanic influences of these replacements. In June‚ for example‚ New York City placed a golden statue of a horned woman on top of the state courthouse. “This is a statue of a demon. Not only that‚ it’s OBVIOUSLY a demon‚ horns and all‚” said Christopher Bedford of Common Sense Society on X. This is a statue of a demon. Not only that‚ it’s OBVIOUSLY a demon‚ horns and all. It’s like something terrifying from an archeological dig of a civilization that practiced human sacrifice. It is designed to unsettle &; spread ugliness. It’s on top of a New York City court house. https://t.co/npeLPgUjZ4 — Christopher Bedford (@CBedfordDC) January 25‚ 2023 The artist who designed the statue claimed that there is an “urgent and necessary cultural reckoning underway as New York reconsiders traditional representations of power in public spaces and recasts civic structures to better reflect 21st-century social mores.” Cassidy Charged With Hate Speech The “cultural reckoning” didn’t end in New York City. After the statue of the pagan idol Baphomet‚ which Cassidy called in an interview an “icon to Satan‚” was erected in the Iowa Capitol in December as a holiday display‚ Cassidy decided to make the trip from where he lived in Mississippi to destroy it. “I felt called to come to Iowa‚” Cassidy said. “I knew that it couldn’t stand‚ and so I took it down…. I wasn’t littering; [I was just] taking down that evil.” The man who beheaded the Satanic statue in the Iowa State Capitol‚ @Mike_Cassidy_MS‚ explains why he destroyed the idol. pic.twitter.com/UK6RtnSqiT — Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 28‚ 2023 Cassidy removed the head of the statue and threw it in the trash‚ before turning himself into the Capitol police. He was released‚ but he received a citation for “fourth-degree criminal mischief‚” according to the Deseret News. That has since been upgraded to “felony third-degree criminal mischief.”  The Polk County Attorney’s Office told the Des Moines Register that it charged Cassidy with a hate crime because the “evidence shows the defendant made statements to law enforcement and the public indicating he destroyed the property because of the victim’s religion.” Cassidy argued that the statue is not protected as free speech under the Constitution. “The people who wrote our Constitution would be shocked to think of defending Satan‚” he told the Christian Post. The post Satan Over Jefferson: Cassidy Charged With Hate Crime for Beheading Satanic Statue appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

I read that the New York Post has internationalized the controversy over the “gay Christ” poster (so named by the media) that announces this year’s Holy Week in Seville. The poster truly is as awful as the excessive controversy that has arisen. I will try to explain. The artist has defended himself‚ labeling old-fashioned those of us who think that the majestic Sevillian Holy Week‚ which revolves around Crist‚ does not deserve such a distasteful poster‚ which revolves around a singular artist‚ who perhaps should never have taken on the commission to do it. He might have been trying to offend us‚ but I’m quite happy to be called old-fashioned. It’s true: We Christians are ancient‚ as ancient as his poster’s protagonist‚ and we do just fine. Nothing scares me more than a Christian who presumes to be modern. READ MORE from Itxu Díaz: Stop the Press! Joe Biden Didn’t Lie. The artist says that the Christ of his poster has all the elements that have been used for centuries in works of sacred art. And that is true. But neither should he take us for fools: Along with those elements‚ there exists a note of erotic realism that is not only inappropriate but also a complete departure from the figure of the bruised and suffering Christ of the Passion. The hand gesture‚ pointing toward himself‚ is even more unfortunate‚ although I am not sure if this is another crude attempt at provocation or if the artist is simply unaware of the most elementary religious concepts‚ in which case he should have turned down the offer to take charge of the poster. Even so‚ what angers me most about this matter is that more is being said about the painter than about the protagonist of Holy Week: Jesus.  ‘Gay Christ’ poster sparks outcry in Spain as some say depiction of Jesus looks ‘homoerotic’ https://t.co/Qz7uSpQmYR pic.twitter.com/AQeqJ1XAyL — New York Post (@nypost) February 2‚ 2024 The poster was commissioned by the Consejo General de Cofradías de Semana Santa (General Council of Brotherhoods of Holy Week)‚ so we can’t even blame it on any politician — although the mayor of Seville (pertaining to the PP‚ the main center-right party in Spain) has already hastened to say that he “like[s] the poster.” There are people who insist on squandering the best opportunities to exercise the noble art of keeping their damn mouths shut. Otherwise‚ there is nothing more boring and predictable than an artist who thinks there is something artistic in mere provocation. Most provocative artists end up being provocateurs but not artists. The news spread by the New York Post and also by the Associated Press does a lot of damage to the Holy Week of Seville‚ which is a cultural heritage for all of humanity and one of the most beautiful celebrations of popular religious fervor in the Western Catholic universe. Obviously‚ the celebration is also a worldwide tourist attraction‚ but if you have ever been‚ you’ll have seen clearly that there is no imposture: People travel from all over the world to attend because the Sevillians themselves experience it with active and sincere faith. (READ MORE: The Whole Ugly Hustle of Globalism: Itxu Díaz’s I Will Not Eat Crickets) In times like ours‚ in the midst of a full pandemic of Western de-Christianization‚ it is more important than ever to preserve these strongholds from ages past‚ when the simple faith of the people could be plainly expressed in the streets‚ when both the most and the least faithful kneel to the passage of beautiful images parading in procession through the neighborhoods of Seville‚ a city with which I am in love.  The poster‚ in essence‚ is garbage‚ and the proof is that it has offended the sensibility of many good people. But it is unfair that the artist’s eagerness to draw attention to himself‚ and the incompetence of those who gave approval to the poster‚ should end up overshadowing the wonderful Sevillian Holy Week. Throughout all of Spain its processions are celebrated with great popular fervor. Seville is the biggest‚ but many other towns and cities keep religious and popular Holy Week programs where art‚ faith‚ tradition‚ and beauty shine‚ at least for seven days‚ on every corner and in every street. No sectarian politician‚ nor communist government‚ nor idiot reformer has been capable of ruining the Spanish Holy Week. Neither will a crappy poster.  Just like when we were children‚ as always‚ this year we will once again experience‚ even if it is in our hearts‚ even if it is far from Seville‚ a beautiful Holy Thursday of light and prayer‚ an exciting procession of the Madrugá (daybreak)‚ to give glory to Christ the King‚ and also to remember what we were‚ what we are‚ and what we will be‚ always at the feet of the venerated image of Our Lady of Hope Macarena.  Translated by Joel Dalmau. Buy Itxu Díaz’s new book‚ I Will Not Eat Crickets: An Angry Satirist Declares War on the Globalist Elite‚ here today! The post The Regrettable ‘Gay Christ’ Poster vs. the Magnificent Holy Week in Seville appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Rhode Island’s North Kingstown School Department is under fire following a board member’s statement of desire to “never” inform parents if a child changes his or her so-called gender expression during school hours and activities. She expressed this belief during a Jan. 25 board meeting‚ during which transgender and non-binary policy was discussed.  The board member explained‚ “[M]y point would be that we never notify a parent with these issues.” She then doubled down‚ saying‚ “I don’t think we should notify parents on many issues that we notify them on.” “I don’t think parents should be notified‚ simply because society assumes that every child has a well-meaning family culture that is accepting of this‚” she stated. “Sometimes the worst thing you can do is involve a parent in some of these issues‚ based on their own beliefs and their own culture. And that would cause that student to commit suicide.” These bold statements against parents rights led Judicial Watch to send a letter to the school department questioning the grounds of the comments and asking for the referenced public records to be provided. Megan Reilly‚ the mother of three students in the district and a regular substitute teacher for the school system‚ objected strongly to the board member’s comments‚ labeling them “creepy” and “harmful.” “What kind of a message are you sending the children when you say ‘don’t tell your parents?’” She continued‚ “I feel like they’re assuming that all families are bad until proven good.”  It is clear that the board member’s definition of “good” refers to those who enthusiastically affirm gender changes without question. Those beliefs and cultures that do not conform with her ideology are the problem. “We already have mandatory reporting laws‚ so … any adult in those buildings is required to report anything that they think would be harmful to the child‚ or if for instance‚ they think that their home life is abusive in any way‚” continued Reilly. Reilly explained that‚ like many across the nation‚ the district is facing bigger problems‚ such as those relating to absenteeism‚ enrollment‚ and declining academic proficiency. With this in mind‚ she continued‚ “it is to me [ludicrous] that they are so focused on DEI.” Proficiency in writing‚ reading‚ and math should be the priority in schools‚ and you’d think everyone would be in agreement on this. Instead‚ many districts are‚ as Reilly mentioned‚ focused on pronouns and the “spectrum of gender‚” with the scores to prove the lack of focus. (RELATED: VIDEO: Proficiency in Math and Reading at 30-Year Low) Reilly pointed out that the district has faced other incidents in the past that were made worse by the lack of transparency with parents. In 2021‚ North Kingstown High School basketball coach Aaron Thomas was investigated for the way in which he conducted “fat checks” in his office‚ as reported by the Providence Journal.  Following this scandal‚ parents and the community began paying closer attention to their children’s education and the schools’ programs‚ pushing for increased transparency from the district‚ Reilly explained. The district‚ however‚ has opted to continue the pattern of non-transparency‚ doubling down on the policy that upholds omitting information from parents. Watch the video to find out more! A contributor for The American Spectator‚ Grace Reilly is a senior at Grove City College‚ where she is a marketing fellow at the Institute for Faith and Freedom. In her role as a fellow‚ she is the host of the Post-Roe America Conference Series and Meet the Scholars and co-host of the Liberty Mail podcast. Grace has appeared on Fox News‚ Newsmax‚ and America’s Voice News‚ in addition to a variety of podcasts‚ radio‚ print‚ and television in her home state of Connecticut. Follow her on Instagram @conservativegrace and on Twitter @conservgrace. READ MORE: VIDEO: Satan Club to Convene at Connecticut Elementary School Dismantle USAID’s LGBTQ-Riddled Educational Programming School’s Out Forever The post Rhode Island School Board Supports Omitting Information From Parents: ‘They Should Never Be Notified’ appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Taylor Swift changes GDPs worldwide and has the whole world humming her tunes — but Spectacle host Melissa Mackenzie thinks she’s overrated. Swift‚ she protests‚ uses the same three chords and pairs them with mediocre lyrics to deliver a sappy product. Co-host Scott McKay agrees. On today’s episode of The Spectacle podcast‚ Melissa and Scott go on to discuss the Swifty phenomenon taking place in the NFL‚ and Scott speculates that the pop star and Kansas City Chief’s quarterback Travis Kelce’s relationship may be a bit contrived. The hugely unsuccessful entertainment industry is‚ he argues‚ trying to take advantage of the recent popularity of the NFL‚ and Swift is their ticket in. (READ MORE: Will the Taylor Swift Vote Save Biden?) Listen in to catch their discussion of the NFL‚ conspiracy theories‚ conservatives in music‚ and all things Taylor Swift. Order Scott’s new book‚ Racism‚ Revenge and Ruin: It’s All Obama‚ here. Read Scott’s and Melissa’s writing here and here. Listen to The Spectacle with Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay on Spotify. Watch The Spectacle with Melissa Mackenzie and Scott McKay on Rumble.  The post <;i>;The Spectacle<;/i>; Ep. 67: Taylor Swift Is Overrated appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

This Sunday’s television lineup may look a little bare without the customary evening NFL games‚ but that doesn’t mean you have to give up watching TV. Instead‚ tune in to EWTN’s popular show Franciscan University Presents to watch the editor of The American Spectator‚ Paul Kengor‚ join Scott Hahn‚ Regis Martin‚ and Franciscan University of Steubenville President Fr. Dave Pivonka to discuss his book The Worst of Indignities: The Catholic Church on Slavery. READ MORE: Nikki Haley Passes the History Test The show will air on Sunday‚ Feb. 4‚ at 10 p.m. EST and on Tuesday‚ Feb. 6‚ at 3 a.m. EST. Kengor will discuss his research and writing on the Catholic Church’s centuries-long condemnation of slavery and the scriptural reasons for its opposition to the practice. He will also consider the history of slavery in the United States and critical race theory’s role in fanning the flames of race-tensions. Watch the show on EWTN here! READ MORE:  The Kansas Prelude to America’s Deadliest War ‘A Simple‚ Humble Laborer in The Vineyard of The Lord’ The post The Catholic Church Was Always Anti-Slavery: Listen to Paul Kengor Discuss on EWTN This Sunday appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

'The Chosen' Carries a Valuable Message