The biggest news of the 21st century
By James A. Haught
640 words
What’s the most significant occurrence so far in the 21st century?
Worsening weather calamities caused by global warming?
Endless suicide bombings and massacres by religious fanatics in the Islamic “cult of death”?
Snowballing acceptance of gays as equal humans?
Kakistocracy (government by the worst) under a ludicrous president who has told 10,000 countable lies?
Recurring U.S. gun massacres?
All of those are important, and I nominate another: The remarkably rapid collapse of religion in advanced democracies. It’s major news with far-reaching impact.
Sociologists are stunned by the abrupt downfall of supernatural faith in Western civilization. The swift cultural transformation gained recognition in the 1990s and then accelerated.
For example, more than half of United Kingdom adults now have no church identity, according to the latest British Social Attitudes survey. The Guardian of London reported:
“Fifty-two percent of the public say they do not belong to any religion, compared to 31 percent in 1983 when the BSA began tracking religious belief…. One in four members of the public stated, ‘I do not believe in God,’ compared with one in ten in 1998.”
The London Telegraph added that 26 percent of Britons labeled themselves “confident atheists,” up from 10 percent in 1998. It quoted researcher Nancy Kelley as saying the surprising retreat of religion is “one of the most important trends in postwar history.”
Similar findings are reported across western Europe, Scandinavia, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the like. Secularism has soared since the 1990s. Europeans spent centuries killing each other over religion, but now it elicits a mere shrug.
America traditionally was an exception, a faith stronghold, but the United States is joining the secular tsunami. A recent Gallup poll found that church membership fell twenty percent in the past two decades. One-fourth of American adults now say their faith is “none” – and the ratio is one-third among those under thirty.
In fact, this country has more nonreligious adults than any other nation except China, according to a 2015 book, American Secularism.
However, like many profound culture shifts, the change is barely noticed in daily life. Television still teems with big-money evangelists who buy air time to beg for cash to buy more air time. Politicians (especially Republicans) still invoke the holies daily and demand public displays of the motto “In God We Trust.”
Speaking of Republicans, the GOP relies heavily upon white evangelicals as its political base. As religion shrinks, the future power of the conservative party is thrown into doubt.
Polls show that born-again whites were 27 percent of America’s population in the 1990s, but now they’ve slipped as low as 13 percent. Southern Baptists have lost 1.5 million members since 2006. But those who remain are intensely active in politics. They gave 81 percent of their votes to Donald Trump in the 2016 election.
Why do fundamentalists embrace a vulgar, shallow, obnoxious, juvenile, self-worshiping racist who abuses women and boasted that he can “grab ‘em by the pussy”? Why do they want the extreme opposite of Jesus? Wake Forest University church historian Bill Leonard says white evangelicals flock to Trump because they’re in “panic at the precipitous decline of Christianity.”
In other words, conservative Christians feel their dominance of America’s culture evaporating, and they’re desperate. For example, they spent centuries demonizing “evil” gays – yet most Americans now accept homosexuals cordially, and the Supreme Court allowed same-sex marriage. It was a crushing blow to the “religious right.”
In fact, repulsive political activity by white evangelicals is a strong reason why many tolerant young Americans renounce religion.
Of course, faith remains strong in Muslim lands (where several nations decree death for ”blasphemy”) and in the tropics (where millions of Africans and Latin Americans are Pentecostals who “speak in tongues”).
But in Western civilization, profound demographic change is happening in this 21st century. It's major news, although not fully recognized.
–end–
James Haught, syndicated by PeaceVoice,is editor emeritus of West Virginia’s largest newspaper, The Charleston Gazette-Mail.
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The Statistics
Premiere New Video
"Maryanne"
Watch Now on Parade
The Robson Street Hymns
Out September 6th, 2019
Available for Pre-Save: http://bit.ly/2LJIXln
Recently Featured on PureGrainAudio
"With Elvis Costello-like overtones and a sweet video full of
exploration and inspiration, "Maryanne" showcases a solid
Americana Indie vibe with a bit of throwback defiance." - Parade
Prince George, BC, Canada - August 9, 2019 - Fresh off releasing their latest single "Maryanne," indie rock duo The Statistics is thrilled to share a brand new video for the track. Fans can check it out now, exclusively on Parade. "Maryanne" originally premiered on PureGrainAudio and is the latest track from the band's forthcoming album, The Robson Street Hymns. Produced by Elisa Pansaeng, The Robson Street Hymns is set to be released on September 6th, 2019. To pre-save the album, please visit: http://bit.ly/2LIT9ev.
On the new video, Darby Yule shares: "We are so excited to release the video for Maryanne! It's a story about growing up and exploration. We feel like it really compliments the song since it's about becoming the person who you want to be but still recognizing your roots. Please enjoy! We are sure you're going to love it!"
Born in an industry town, 800 kilometres from anything, The Statistics created their own unique style of Americana-Indie Rock. Comprised of Darby and Erin Yule, these two brothers accomplished more in 5 years through pure-grit and a love for the craft than most do in a lifetime. True singer-songwriter personalities mixed with an early love for punk rock helped Darby and Erin create a style that they can truly say is their own.
The Statistics started their journey with the release of their first EP Haunts (produced by Paul Boechler), to a sold-out crowd in a church basement with a blown out PA system. Being the restless hearts that they were, the Yule boys started expanding out of their home-town of Prince George, BC and playing road shows, as well as opening for bands such as Bend Sinister, Birds of Bellwoods, Kingsfoil, and Illscarlett.
By the time they released their single "Jealous Heart" (produced by Elisa Pangsaeng) in 2016, they were doing full tours and headlining festivals such as UBC Goosehunt Festival, Canadian Music Week, and Parks Alive!.
In November 2016, they released their country inspired, regretful single "Old Habits feat. Amy Kirkpatrick" (produced by Elisa Pangsaeng. They were also nominated for "Best Out of Province Act" at the Toronto Independent Music Awards. They finished the year with placing in Semi-Finals at Indie Week Toronto's "Best in Fest" award.
In the spring of 2017, The Statistics went back into studio to start recording their new record The Robson Street Hymns. Produced by Elisa Pangsaeng and The Statistics, the album features an all-star line up of members from Said the Whale, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Colin James, and Wide Mouth Mason. Though it has taken over a year to release, The Statistics first single off the new album, "True North," reached 40,000 streams in the first month and 86,000 streams to date. In late, 2018 The Statistics teamed up with Redwoods and The Fallaways to co-headline the popular WTF Tour across British Columbia.
The Statistics are eagerly preparing to share their new album, The Robson Street Hymns, out September 6, 2019. To pre-save the album, please visit: http://bit.ly/2LJIXln.
For More Information, please visit:
Website: www.thestatistics.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/statisticsband
Twitter: www.twitter.com/statisticsband
Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_statistics
The Robson Street Hymns Tracklisting:
1. Maryanne
2. True North
3. Turn Up The Radio
4. Sparks In The Night
5. Girls My Age
6. Rainy City
7. Run Run Run
Upcoming Tour Dates:
October 12 - Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo Distilling
October 18 - Washington, DC @ Seasons and Sessions
