Isaiah Said That Would Happen

Less Nuns, More Nones   As  the Wall Street Journal reported  recently, Americans continue to leave religion behind in large numbers.  According to Pew Research , the percentage of American Christians has fallen about 12 percent over the last ten years, from 75 percent in 2011 to around 63 percent today. The number who pray every day is even lower, at 45 percent. The demographic rising in its place are the so-called “nones,” those who identify religiously as “nothing in particular.” This group grew to about 20 percent of the US population in 2021, up from 16 percent in 2017.    The surprising thing here  isn’t  that Americans are leaving organized religion behind. That’s been happening at about the same rate for a while now  (In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace) . However, it is newsworthy that this trend continued unabated in the face of a global pandemic.  Historically, catastrophic events that bring uncertainty, stress, or political chaos tend to draw people to

Thomas Jefferson, third U.S. President and drafter and signer of the Declaration of Independence, understood as well as anybody the critical need in society for God and His laws to always have standing; status in society, a position and good reputation among humanity from which rights and duties of citizens may be affirmed and guided.     He avowed , “God who gave us life gave us liberty.”  He further questioned,  “And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their  only  firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the Gift of God?  That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever…”   [1]  If that was Jefferson’s thought in the early 1800’s, he lived from 1743 to 1826, then imagine his reaction if he could observe us today.  He did not say, “I  would  tremble,” he said “I tremble,” implying that he could see the current