Bad Theology Is at the Heart of Declining Numbers

Although no one cause alone explains the decline seen in the Pew data, one explanation should be highlighted: a lack of orthodoxy. Stated simply, those who—whether due to poor catechesis or being surrounded by a culture increasingly hostile to the teachings of the Church—hold theological views at odds with the Church’s teaching are less likely to remain in the Church in the long term than those adhering to orthodoxy. While this point seems commonsensical to those reading this, it is important to remember just how many others have tried (some well-known names continuing to try) to operate contrariwise. Moreover, when looking at how faith and the content of that faith interact, we see that the degree to which people adhere to orthodoxy predicts whether they will disaffiliate, cease attending, and cease believing in God in the future—net of other factors thought to undermine religion. Read Full Article »