The Reason Christianity is Dying in the West

Have you ever noticed that there is a correlation between the amount something has cost you and the value you place on it? Let me give you an example. I own two pairs of shoes that are almost identical. I had been looking for this exact style for a long time but I couldn’t find it until one day I was walking through a department store and there they were hanging on a rack as if they were a clearance item. I went to take a look at them and then checked the price tag. They were selling them for $20. I was shocked and instead of excitement at what a great find this was, my reaction was to immediately start wondering what was wrong with them. Was this some sort of attempt to appeal to a lower end market with crappy quality or something? I never did get my answer so I just went ahead and bought them, but the feeling that I was getting something cheap and unworthy was nagging me.

After using the shoes for a couple weeks, I found that they were holding up well and were comfortable so I decided to go back to the store and buy like a life time supply of them because they were almost too good to be true. When I got there I was startled to discover that they were selling them now for $80.
I couldn’t make sense of it. Maybe someone had mislabeled the pair I had originally bought or something. So, I decided to pick up another pair that was almost the same but slightly different for that same $80 price tag.
Since then, I’ve noticed something strange. Of the two pairs of shoes I’ve been really diligent in the way I take care of the ones that cost me $80 and the ones that cost me $20… not so much. I wore them camping and got caught in a rain storm, I dropped a piece of juicy watermelon on them about a week ago, and just before that I wore them for a visit out to my Aunt and Uncle’s farm and if you’ve never been to a farm before, let me just say… there’s a lot of pooping that goes on there.

The reason for this disparity seems pretty obvious to me. Because this pair only cost me $20, I’ve carried an unshakable sense that they are only worth $20 even though I later found out that they were worth a lot more. That hasn’t influenced my behaviour towards them, however; because at the end of the day, they only cost me $20.

I think that stands as a powerful analogy for why Christianity has been on such a dramatic decline in western culture. The last 50 years have been characterized by a trend of relaxation in practices and teachings of the faith by it’s leaders. We’ve seen some dramatic examples, especially in mainline Protestantism, in which there have been complete reversals on moral teachings. While that hasn’t happened in the official teachings of the Catholic Church, we’ve seen a disregard for the disciplines and practices.
For example, in Canada, we used to be expected to attend mass on feast days of the liturgical calendar but they’ve since just moved those all over to the nearest Sunday. Many churches don’t even have kneelers any more because, I don’t know, we don’t want to be uncomfortable? Pro tip, that was the entire point of having kneelers. And instead of fasting during Lent, we’re often encouraged to just do something nice for somebody. I can understand the instinct for doing this. I think well intentioned pastors believed that aspects of the faith were too difficult for the faithful and so if we compromise and accommodate, we’ll retain members but what they essentially did, was reduced the cost of what it means to be a Christian. So the result has been a startling decline in affiliation and practice. In Europe, it’s even worse. They’re anticipating the complete disappearance of some denominations within the next few decades.

My investment in my faith has cost me so much and transformed me in undeniable ways that it would be really hard for me to let go of because I’d have to admit that it was all for nothing. But had I not felt the need to invest myself as much as I have, I’d likely be able to walk away from it quite casually and easily.

In the case of Christianity, this makes sense. After all, the symbol of our faith is an ancient method of torture and execution and Jesus said that following him would be like picking up your own cross as he did. Being a Christian isn’t supposed to be easy so if we continue to attempt to draw people in by reducing the cost of what it means to be a Christian, we’ll continue to set people up for disappointment by a counterfeit religion that does little to impact their lives.

Please comment with your ideas about the video and if you find it interesting, please share it and subscribe.

[doctoryowan]

Partially true: however, sexual and financial scandals too have played a dramatic role in eroding Church membership. The clergy ( especially Catholic) has lost much of its previous prestige. Not even the most traditionalist groups seem scandal- free nowadays

[nicholasdefilippis]

I know I'm late to the game on this, but here is my input. My family is Catholic. I grew up Catholic. But my family didn't take it all that seriously. The church I went to didn't do a good job of educating children about what Catholics actually believe. When I was 16 I fell away. I didn't set foot in a Catholic church for 12 years at least. I didn't even really know what Christians believed. Why? Because the loudest Christian voices I heard weren't educated, theologically trained people. No, no. They were the type of people who would show up on college campuses waving signs about how you're going to hell if you don't believe EXACTLY as they do. All I heard was "so and so musician sold their soul to the devil, their music is Satanic." That sort of crazy stuff. And because I wasn't properly educated, I thought pretty much all of Christianity was the same and they only really differed on the Pope or Purgatory. It wasn't until my mid 20s that I realized "Protestant" was an umbrella term for all kinds of different churches. I honestly thought there was a leader of all the Protestants and there were church buildings that just said "Protestant Church" on them.

If you want to stop the decline of Christianity, start educating people better. Then get a larger megaphone for the theologically trained and educated types so they can drown out the crazies who keep telling everyone they're going to hell for dying their hair.

[michaelfisher]

It might also be pointed out that when churches run their operations in a corporate manner, concerned with the bottom line, like any large business, that for some of us creates an enormous gulf from what we expect a church to actually be.

[Steven-sejd]

I went to a Christian private school as an international student in Chicago from 2008 - 2011. I had a horrible experience. For me, they are just a bunch of hypocrites. They can do all the big talk they want, but at the end of the day, action speak louder than words.

[FriarJoe]

I think you’ve left out something important: the rise of a hyper-consumerist, work-obsessed culture. I think the church has given concessions precisely because this kind of lifestyle takes up so much time and energy in people’s lives, and they don’t even realize it. The church needs to articulate to people why this lifestyle is bad for them, and why their alternatives are better.

[stevenvelez]

I’m not Catholic, but this is exactly what Jordan Peterson brings up with Bishop Barron in their recent talk a couple of weeks ago. It’s so interesting but true.

[ekulio]

I think there is truth to this idea - as someone whose whole life was built around my faith for 33 years and was incredibly invested before losing my faith, I would say that yes, the more you're invested in a belief or practice the harder it is to walk away. I spent two years trying to convince myself it was true, begging God to reveal himself to me and show me he was there. However, I wouldn't say this is the reason people are leaving. I think the spread of information, especially via the internet, is really the root cause.

[angievalful]

Hello from Spain! You are absolutely right, I see this happening in Spain and I myself have experecied it...I love your channel, keep up the good work. Gld bless you!😇

[dimix]

Even though I'm Atheist, I don't like seeing some of the comments. I thought this was a great analogy and as a result a great video. A large part of a religion is tradition and repetition, so when that is taken seriously, its members will cling on to it more. I do believe, however, that there are more factors involved in the decline of christianity. The advent of modern day science is one of them. Anyway thanks for giving your perspective, it was interesting indeed.

[BigLewBBQ]

Wow! That was very insiteful. I'm a devout Baptist, . My mother is Catholic, my father Baptist. I went to Catholic school. As a young man I did a lot of study about what I should and shouldn't believe. I invested a lot of time and energy studying church history (and not just from my Catholic school religion class perspective), the Bible and various doctrines that separate Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Mainline protastant and Evangelical Churches. I knew and believed Christ's resurrection was indeed an historical fact. That his death was not in vain and his Resurrection prooved it. But why the divisions, schisms, and different doctrines that divide denominations? Because mankind is finite, and we try to comprehend the incomprehensible God. Also because mankind is fallen we are sinners in need of a sinless saviour. We are finite sinners trying to obey and follow, the best way our consciences will allow, an infinite and Holy Lord.
In the end, by my late twenties, I knew I would be Baptist, and lead my family and rear my children as Baptists. I'm now forty-eight years old I continue to study and learn. My faith is valuable to me, I have invested heavily in it, it is worth everything. You and I have different theological and denominational beliefs, . but you are oh so right on this point. I agree wholeheartedly with you here.
If one thinks that Jesus is risen indeed, then he/she needs to find out why. Jesus paid with his life and blood, therefore what should one's Christianity cost?
I so enjoyed this, thank you.

[KehindeAdeoya]

I just went to a church today, and appalled how empty it is. I presently live in Hilversum, Netherlands. This is not only happening in the West, it's creeping into Africa as well.

[teresagabriela]

I feel the same way. I am a cradle Catholic that only viewed my faith as just family tradition and until my late 20's I came back to the Sacraments, I use a veil at Mass and Adoration and I have been talked down for it. I had a conversion in my own faith and changed my life around, and them my lifestyle, my attire, etc. I wish my parish would not be so protestant and be more of what we are Catholics. They have told us not to kneel during consecration, and we should not be wearing a veil, etc. I pray for my parish and my priest every day. 🙏

[michaeljohnston]

What you’re talking about is the sunk cost fallacy, feeling you can’t just walk away from something you’ve invested a lot of time, blood, sweat and tears into. I have a Mormon friend who believes the church is a sham, but doesn’t leave because his entire life has been built on it

[JoeyGirardin]

It is indeed a sad thing that the Church changes for the converts, when the converts are supposed to change for the Church.

[Teal_Moon]

Very happy to have found this channel. Thank you for your insight and knowledge. God bless you and yours.

[jbdrizzle]

Totally agree! Investment breeds investment. You see this in every aspect of life yet the moment we start talking about spirituality we act like like this no longer applies. Thanks for making this video Brian!

[JulesFaraday]

I visited Belgium a few years back and we ate in a Chinese restaurant for dinner. The people beside us, the average Belgian adults (a few of them were old) began looking and staring at us as my family and I decided to recite a prayer before the meal. A lot of their facial reactions were both of surprise and bewilderment as if we were performing some strange or foreign religious custom. It's appalling that the lack of religiosity in the West has declined to such a state that prayer before meals appears weird and strange to the eyes of the same people who helped its spread.

[worldview_kyp]

The craziest thing is how people who have little knowledge of true Christianity blindly bash the faith. People who couldn’t cite a single parable or teaching of Jesus, try to refute the very foundation of the faith by pointing out flaws in the people who claim the faith. That’s like saying “I knew someone who was an atheist and he killed someone, therefore atheism can’t be true.” That doesn’t address the claim. Address the teachings of Jesus, and we may have a better conversation.

[bisvizstudio]

That's a really good analogy to be honest. So other conclusion might be "the churches did changes the rule to make it easy to be a Christian with the intention to retain followers, yet that effort seems to be a wrong decision causing a lot of people don't care about the religion."

The problem is at the church. Shouldn't change anything at the first place. Just preach whatever in the bible. That's basically what Islam teaches. Muslim scholars teach whatever the Qur'an say and whatever Prophet Muhammad said to the Muslims. Not adding or subtracting anything from it.

[PeterOldwood]

This is very precious what you said and very eye-opening. I myself am an example of this. Some years ago our former Pastor retired and the new one is very liberal and I had to leave the church as I couldn't agree such lenient approach to Jesus teaching. My faith is still strong but I don't belong to any church now. I read the Bible.