Fall of Religion in USA

A recent study led by Professor Jean M. Twenge, author of Generation Me, looked at the changes in religious beliefs and practices of nearly 60,000 people between 1972 and 2014. “The results of the new study are striking, concluding that five times more Americans prayed in the early 1980s than in 2014 while nearly twice as many Americans believed in God in the 1980s than... do now” (Meta Science News, March 21, 2016). “The overall decline has been spurred by the changing demographics, and it’s most noticeable in the 18- to 29-year-old segment of the population that are least likely to have any religious ties. In fact, so few Millennials claim religious affiliation, regularly attend church, or believe in God that this generation is a contender for the title of the least religious generation in American history” (ibid.).

The Bible has long warned that turning away from God will bring serious consequences (see Deuteronomy 8:10-20). While intellectual critics may claim there is no God, the Bible states that only “fools” claim there is no God (Psalm 14:1). The Apostle Paul saw this same trend in ancient Rome before it fell, when he described a society that “exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25), and “professing to be wise, they became fools” (v. 22). Sadly, our modern societies are marching down this same tragic path. For more on this thought-provoking topic, see “Are Atheists Really ‘Fools’?”