Hip-Hop, and Other Things the Right Blames for Declining Christianity

[cbayer]

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/hip-hop-and-other-things-the-right-blames-for-declining-christianity-20150519

BY AMANDA MARCOTTE May 19, 2015


Conservatives think hip-hop and gay people are somehow behind falling rates of American Christianity. Thinkstock; Tim Macpherson/Getty

Christianity's demographic death grip on the United States continues to loosen its hold, new polling data from the Pew Research Center shows. The percentage of Americans who self-identify as Christian dropped from over 78 percent of the population in 2007 to 70 percent in 2014 – a decline of five million people. Most of this shift is attributable to people abandoning religion entirely; the percentage of Americans who have no religious affiliation grew, over the same time period, from 16 percent of the population to nearly a quarter of it. And this trend shows no sign of slowing down: Millennials represent the most non-affiliated demographic of all, with more than one in three young adults saying they don't have a faith.

This shift is inciting panic among conservatives, particularly those who like to argue that ours is a "Christian nation." After the release of the latest data, right-wing pundits immediately started casting around for anyone – anyone but themselves, of course – to blame.

So whose fault is it, according to the right?

Hip-hop. Bill O'Reilly has long been consumed by apparent anger over the fact that music has changed since his youth, and that so many black people make money off it. But even for him, this one was a stretch: "There is no question that people of faith are being marginalized by a secular media and pernicious entertainment," he whined on his Fox News show. "The rap industry, for example, often glorifies depraved behavior, and that sinks into the minds of some young people: the group that is most likely to reject religion."

(No one tell him about "I Am a God." He'll never stop talking about it.)

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/hip-hop-and-other-things-the-right-blames-for-declining-christianity-20150519#ixzz3alr5zMxH

[TexasProgresive]

1. The homily last Sunday mentioned a recent poll

that showed a decline of Christianity, a slight increase in non-Christians and an increase in nones, which included atheists, and agnostics. The homily stressed that this wasn't bad news but an opportunity to continue carrying out the command that Jesus gave us to preach the Gospel to all creatures. The emphasis was to do that by living the Gospel as St. Francis said, "Preach the Gospel always, when necessary use words."

While having coffee afterwards on man said the reason for the decline was, are you ready for this,
OBAMA!

They hear what they want to hear. The homily offered up a positive and this person and probably others twisted it to make it negative and worst put the blame on a political figure. Go figure.

[Human101948]

2. When I learned that Jesus hated the poor, the sick, the gays and those unable to work...

and said that Caesar should be denied what is Caesar's, I decided that I could no longer consider myself a follower.

[cbayer]

4. Yeah, who wants to be like that, lol?

Welcome to the religion group, Human. I don't recall meeting you before.

[Human101948]

7. Thanks! I've been ressurected in a sense...

Have been around a long time watching and waiting.

[cbayer]

3. "Preach the Gospel always, when necessary use words"

That is a great message.

What was the reasoning behind blaming Obama for the decline? Are people flocking to Islam because they want to be just like him, lol?

[TexasProgresive]

9. That discussion was halted by one of the clergy

who said not to discuss politics or politicians on church property.

[cbayer]

10. Is that the standard in you church?

I grew up in a church that never stopped talking politics, lol.

[TexasProgresive]

11. One can talk about issues but not politicians

Sort of like a polling place.

[cbayer]

12. That's probably a reflection of the IRS rules.

Non-profits are permitted to advocate for issues but not specific candidates.

Perhaps it's hard to draw that line between discussion and advocacy, so the rule just keeps things clear.

[TexasProgresive]

13. It had the great effect of stopping the insult in its tracks. n/t

[safeinOhio]

5. Not far from my house a

gay Christian church meets every Sunday.

I think Lucy has some splaining to do.

[cbayer]

6. That's great. I agree that GLBT issues have caused some of the

decrease in christian numbers. A lot of people can't stomach the anti-GLBT rhetoric anymore.

[trotsky]

8. Well, they're right, in a way.

The expansion of secular values and secular culture has chipped away at people's need for religion. The conservative mindset thinks you need religion to be a good person. Exposure to other ideas and people helps you realize that no, anyone can be a good person, religious or not.

But people are leaving liberal churches more than they are conservative/evangelical ones. I wonder if the right is upset about that?