The percentage of Americans who call themselves Christians has dropped dramatically over the past two decades, and those who do are increasingly identifying themselves without traditional denomination labels.

The faithful have scattered out of their traditional bases: The Bible Belt is less Baptist. The Rust Belt is less Catholic. And everywhere, more people are exploring spiritual frontiers—or falling off the faith map completely.

The third largest “faith” group now are the “Nones,” those who do not affiliate with a denomination.  And, as the culture becomes to more hostile to religious beliefs, we seem to be “losing our home court advantage.” 

Ed Stetzer, who is a major player with the Southern Baptist and is featured in this report from Knoxville’s  WKRN News 2 recently shared this news report.  It’s 11minutes but worth the view.

I know that this is the second day in a row of less than uplifting news, but . . .

What if Starbucks marketed themselves like a church?

It’s the promises that we make.  Yesterday, it was a seat for every child in the land of ArchBalt.

This week, Archbishop Edwin O’Brien announced plans to revitalize Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The plan, detailed in a new report entitled, “Preserving the Tradition, Transforming the Future: The Rebirth of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore,”  is a culmination of more than 12 months of analysis and input from 1,500 individuals. The report announces the consolidation 13 schools, the creation of several new academic programs and initiatives, the enhancement of educator professional development, and the initiation of a new model for how Catholic schools are governed… and the promise that if a student was displaced in these moves that there was a seat waiting for them in a list of nearby “receiving schools.”

It offers the promises of resurrection and new life and new ways of living out the mission.  In the middle of a long Lent, it is the promise of Easter.  All that being said, it has also been a Good Friday experience for the staffs and students and alumni of 13 schools.  Your prayers are invited for all.

Sorry for the delay on this. As has been noted earlier, this has been a few weeks in the works.

In January, the Pope released the Message for World Communications Day.

“But this development (of the new technologies) likewise represents a great opportunity for believers. No door can or should be closed to those who, in the name of the risen Christ, are committed to drawing near to others. The new media offers us ever new and far-reaching pastoral possibilities, encouraging us to embody the universality of the Church’s mission, to build a vast and real fellowship, and to testify in today’s world to the new life which comes from hearing the Gospel of Jesus, the eternal Son who came among us for our salvation.”

The presentation runs slightly over four minutes. See other Soapbox messages.

Greg Thompson might be short in stature but he has casts an extensive shadow in utilizing media on behalf of Catholic Youth Ministry.  He serves as the coordinator of Youth Ministry at St John’s Catholic Church in Madison, Alabama.

As part of a National Association of Catholic Youth Ministry Leadership’s OnCourse program facilitated by the Ministry Training Source, he set up his long-running on-line GregCast series to take a look at Confirmation.Some of the issues that Greg addresses include people who drag their feet in preparing for the sacraments; the need to collaborate with Catholic School, our dependence upon the Bishop’s schedule as well as the kids’ social schedules (confirmation and prom on the same night???); and not underestimating the kids who actually take it seriously. Here is part two.

So, This is a delayed post as I have been trying to do a soapbox slideshare related to the pope’s encouragement to priests (and therefore, all of us) to use modern technology to communicate about faith (even if that means stuff like blogging.)

But, slideshare wasn’t really working for me in the past snow-bound days, and I tripped across video. (h/t to American Papist, Thomas Peters) This is a scene from a German movie about Hitler has been re-dubbed countless times for comedy’s sake.

While the video’s message does get ever so slightly jingoistic in a time and on a site where we have been encouraging spiritual bipartisanship, one does have to appreciate the humor found in that Pope Benedict has defied expectations.

You gotta love the Pope. I know I do.

He is a fascinating source of quotes – that really speak to the heart of the faithful.  He writes and speaks of complex thoughts in a simple manner.

Ultimately, one can see that he would have happily had chosen the life of a university professor. Teach on, your Holiness!

In 1948, 91% of Americans identified with a Christian faith. Twenty years ago, in 1989, 82% of Americans identified as Christian. Ten years ago, it was 84%. This year, Gallup Research indicates that 78% of all American adults identify with a Christian faith.

The fact that fewer Americans say they have a religious identity does not necessarily mean there has been a decrease in overall religiosity in America. It is possible that some proportion of those who don’t identify with a specific religion are still personally or spiritually religious. A Gallup survey conducted last year showed that 93% of all American adults said they celebrated Christmas.

But, Ed Stetzer of the Southern Baptist’s Lifeway Research, ponders: If three out of four Americans call themselves Christians, we’re all in big trouble – because three out of four Americans don’t live like Christians. Christianity becomes confused when everyone is a Christian but no one is following Christ… The story of American Christianity today, in Stetzer’s view, is that we are seeing the abandonment of nominal Christianity by some but the retention of a robust, authentic Christian faith by many.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, we turn to you who are the protectress of unborn children and ask that you intercede for us, so that we may more firmly resolve to join you in protecting all human life.

Encourage those who will be involved in the March for Life; help them to walk closely with God and to give voice to the cry of the oppressed, in order to remind out nation of its commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people.

O Virgin Mother of God, present our petitions to your Son and ask Him to bless us with abundant life. Amen. (Prayer from USCCB)

There was a (MTV sponsored) Youthtopia study conducted among 16-34 year-olds in seven European countries of the hopes and dreams that inspire youth today.  (h/t Marko and ypulse) Part of the study asked 100 European youths to “challenge, criticise and collectively re-write ‘The 10 Commandments’” as a way of illustrating generational shifts in values.

Now an automatic response might to review these and criticize how young people are not living up to their aspirations, but (as you remove the plank from your own eye) you might consider how well as a culture we are doing with the original ten.

Anyway, this list of ten promotes accountability, positivity and passion above all else. They reflect the declining impact of churches on young people in Europe, but each of these “commandments” can by quickly drawn into the Christian message:

1. Have faith in yourself.
2. Respect your parents.
3. Be honest.
4. Take responsibility for your own life.
5. Live life to the fullest and be passionate.
6. Keep your promises.
7. Work hard to succeed but not to the detriment of others.
8. Be tolerant of others’ differences.
9. Be happy and optimistic, even in adversity.
10. Create, don’t destroy

Is there one or more of these that you found surprising?

I Know, I know, I have pretty much beaten the Nation Catholic Youth Conference drum long and very hard.  Well, in a maybe last but certainly not least effort, here is one more.

Christopher Stefanick, Director of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry for the Denver Archdiocese, wrote about the experience of Catholic subculture at NCYC in Denver Catholic Register. He wrote:

“The Gospel isn’t communicated in a vacuum.  It’s communicated through culture.  When a Catholic culture is lacking, the Church organically creates subcultures, drawing in and redeeming aspects of the culture it’s in.  This is happening among our youth today.  Youth ministry has formed a redeemed culture born out of generation MTV with its own stages, its own rock stars and its own brand of rebellion.”

Wikipedia identifies a subculture as a group of people with a culture which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong. If a particular subculture is characterized by a systematic opposition to the dominant culture, it may be described as a counterculture.  And, Church…  Is this what discipleship is all about?

Stefanick concludes his article: “Generation MTV teens want to rebel and make a name for themselves.  What better way to do that than by being holy!  There’s no more profound rebellion than the one given by the saints and martyrs.  As I looked at the sea of teens, joyful to be standing for Jesus Christ and celebrating our ancient faith, I wondered, ‘If our Lord can change the world with 12, what can he do with 22,000?”

Watch next week. . . it happens all again at the March for Life.