The "Bible Production And The Decline of Christianity" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reviewing some of my notes that I recently scribbled on a note pad during a visit with the assistant minister of Trinity Lutheran Church in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  We had a very interesting conversation about a few extraordinary manuscripts, if I dare call them that, before I departed his office.  The Christian manuscripts, which I will share with you tomorrow, were amazing, but they made me think of the variety of religions that exist on our globe.  About 83% of the world are faithful followers of one of the classical religions: Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism and Zoroastrianism.  These religions are the most prominent spiritual traditions that still exist, and "NO", I did not make any of them up if that's what you're thinking.  About 65% of those living in the United States consider themselves Christians, but sadly that figure was 12% higher ten years ago.  During that same ten year period of time those who consider themselves atheist, agnostic or having no religious affiliation has grown by 9%.  Could it be due to the Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention being plagued with clergy sex-abuse scandals as well as the United Methodist Church and Anabaptist denominations facing a schism over LGBT churchgoers.  And, it seems that more Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials are rethinking religion.  A recent telephone survey says that about a quarter of the population in the United States does not value religion as in the past.  Rural America hasn't been affected as much as areas that are more mobile, but what can be done...if anything.  

Another problem that has arisen due to the lack of churchgoers is the production of Bibles.  Seems that the company known as LSC Communications has had to lay off most of its workers in nearby Philadelphia due to the decline in Bible sales.  They have printed more than a billion since they first began production, but the Bible business has gone soft.  The Gideon Bible has been a fixture in many hotels and motels, but with more travelers from non-Christian countries and the decline in U.S. church-going customers, Bibles are not in as much demand as in the past.  Many Baby Boomers drifted away from organized religions and many of their offspring are part of the same movement.  Europe experienced the same drop in religion a century ago and that trend is now part of American society.  I can remember when I wanted to become a member of St. James Church in Lancaster so that I could partake of the bread and wine in communion, I was required to memorize the names of all the books in the Bible.  Why, I'm not sure, but I did it because I wanted to become a member as were my mom and dad.  To this day I can still reel off most of them.  But, people got sick of having to do things such as this, so they strayed away from religion.  Today, many newer members to different religions are growing up in a society that has been more open to LGBT types of concerns.  And, if the church shuns those members of society, the younger members will also leave the church.  Today's churches must come up with a different way to articulate the message of Christianity in a way that makes sense to all.  I, for one, believe that will happen, but how long will it take?  Only God knows.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.