Come what may, God will take care of those who love Him. But it is written that all things work together for good to those who love God. This means that no matter what happens in the world, God takes care of His children. But as Christians, a happy life is promised to us! Isnt that the very best for us? So maybe Christianity shouldbe evaluated from a new, more pragmatic perspective. Michael Wear and Amy E. Black. Many churches have pastors or staff members who are trained and gifted in the art of listening to people, helping them understand the dynamics behind their situation and offering sound, practical and biblical advice toward a solution. Fear of death can be the cause of much worry and anxiety. The Corporation for National and Community Service a government institution estimated that Americans volunteered about 8.1 billion hours of service. Clearly, the cost of crime in the United States runs into hundreds of billions. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:16-17. It is the source of great tensions and movements that ripple through our society and our politics. Nothing can happen to us that isnt for our absolute best. One of the best kept secrets in most communities is the fact that churches regularly provide free counseling, not only to their members, but often to virtually anyone who desires it. They further reported that church attendance has the greatest positive impact, but other factors, both personal (e.g. Required fields are marked *, 2023. I am not just talking about husbands and wives who agree to remain married under difficult circumstances, but also about couples who discover a deeper and more lasting love for one another because of their relationship to God. Christianity promises that if anyone desires to find God, God is willing to be found. This role was rightly described by a Chinese economist studying democracy in America. Studies of the behavior patterns of North Americans and Europeans in the early Twenty-first Century show that when making important decisions, most people think, not in terms of Christian values, but of personal fulfillment and well-being. These findings are also consistent with considerable recent literature on charitable donations. Thriving Through Anxiety 8. They give more, not just to their religious communities but to their society in a variety of ways, in all sorts of ways that even secular people would grant. About six-in-ten say that when someone disagrees with them about religion, they try to understand the other persons point of view and agree to disagree. (For more, see. Share Negative Effects of Christianity Essay (Critical Writing) Exclusively available on IvyPanda Updated: Oct 6th, 2021 Christianity has been a controversial issue ever since. Among both groups, most say they are unsure of the political leanings of their clergy, or say that there is a mix of both Republicans and Democrats in the religious leadership of their congregation. If so, in what ways? The data also show that about 30 percent of Americans have been unemployed at some time, while about 38 percent of those who do not attend church have been unemployed in the past. Many of the questions in the survey were asked only of U.S. adults who attend religious services a few times a year or more often; results for that group have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points. When people get tired of the materialism and the seemingly endless chasing of personal fulfillment, many crave something more substantial. Had he never come, the hole would be a canyon about the size of a continent. A person may be welcomed into relationship with God simply by putting their trust in Jesus. Dr. Horwitz discusses some of the social benefits including a sense of community, a shared outlook on life and the presence of trusting relationships and adult role models that religion can have for young people. Some critics argue that religion causes harm, while believers naturally think that God helps them in life. There are stark racial differences among Democrats and those who lean toward the Democratic Party in views on religions role in society: Black Democrats consistently express more positive views of religious institutions than do white Democrats. (3) Literacy and education for the masses. The survey asked those who attend religious services at least a few times a year the extent to which religious leaders help inform their opinion about three social and political issues: abortion, immigration and global climate change. He was free to bless people in all things because He didnt have sin on His conscience to hold Him back. Many churches have pastors or staff members who are trained and gifted in the art of listening to people, helping them understand the dynamics behind their situation and offering practical, biblical advice toward a solution. helping people to be compassionate, forgiving and loving., And just this year, psychologist Jonathan Haidt summed up the relationship between religion and prosociality: members of religious communities are simply better citizens. When people get tired of the rampant materialism and the pursuit of personal fulfillment, many crave something more substantial. Impatience, anger, lust, jealousy these are not pleasant things to experience. Over the past decade, considerable research has emerged that demonstrates the benefits of religious practice within society. (17) The civilizing of many barbarian and primitive cultures. Other studies by universities in Boston and Illinois found the same link between religion and prosociality, reporting that religion tends to promote altruism and generosity, Andrew Newberg come to similar conclusions: religion serves an essential role by directing people into their deepest values concerning life . But as the Christian religion began to gain popularity and influence both in society and government, the Roman Empire allowed the religion to be practiced freely. Again, churches who teach the Bibles perspective on relationships tend to produce people who know how to befriend others and work through issues which could otherwise cause separation. Do you consider religion and religious faith to be important parts of your life? Who is right? The advantages noted of a Christian society in relation to government, the top three responses were: recognizing the primary biblical role of government to keep order in society (60%); maintaining individual rights, especially freedom of religion and expression (56%); and reducing corruption (54%). (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main This is a significant shift from much of the Twentieth Century, when a Christian decision-making grid was commonly accepted. Let me suggest a few of the positive outcomes of Christianity in society. He founded the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he was senior pastor from 1960 until his death in 2007. Used by permission. Catholics are consistently less likely than Protestants particularly evangelical Protestants to say they trust their clergy on all three issues. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). A slew of articles over the past year depict a generation of men who feel lost, detached and lacking in male role models. Thriving Through Anxiety 7. There would be an increase of 91 percent if all Americans were picked up at the same rate as non-believers. The irony in this is that in putting faith in Jesus, a person actually finds the personal fulfillment which has eluded them for so long. The presence of churches that teach biblical family values results in more couples staying together. (19) Greater development of art and music. Your email address will not be published. Religious people contribute more than do the non-believers, give more to secular (and religious) charity, are in trouble less, have more stable marriages, are more educated, receive less welfare, are healthier and wealthier. Is there any hope for me? Sometimes it can be hard to do this, especially when you cant see the immediate benefits. Fewer place a high level of trust in family, professors of religion, friends, religious leaders with a large national or international following, or information found online. There are a few dissenting voices in this broad consensus, based on a smaller number of studies coming to negative or neutral conclusions about the role of religion. Yet one group is defying the odds: boys from working-class families who grow up religious. Smaller shares have a lot of trust in their clergys guidance about immigration (20%) or global climate change (13%). There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Most U.S. Christians perceive their religion as losing influence in America, and many go so far as to say that there is tension between their beliefs and the mainstream culture. Are you one of those people? Many recent studies have evaluated whether Christians are happier than their secular neighbors and compared the proportion of Christians happy with other religious groups. Christians benefit society because their religious beliefs inform their behavior. Religion and Mental Health: Theory and Research, Arthur C. Brooks, a professor at Syracuse University, Remarkable healing reported in medical journal. Among these U.S. adults who attend religious services, majorities express at least some confidence in their clergy to provide useful guidance not only on clearly religious topics (such as how to interpret scripture) but also on other matters, such as parenting and personal finance (see Chapter 2). Thriving Through Anxiety 8. For example, there is a causal significant association between Christianity and economic achievement. In addition, two-thirds of white Democrats say churches have too much political power, compared with only three-in-ten black Democrats and four-in-ten Hispanic Democrats who say this. (15) The condemnation of adultery, homosexuality, and other sexual perversions. The core Christian message is so simple and so accessible that some people object that it istoo good to be true. These views are particularly widespread among white evangelical Protestants, two-thirds of whom see at least some conflict . In Christian circles it is a rather routine thing to meet people who have remained friends over many years through some pretty difficult circumstances. With Jesus as our head and the Holy Spirit in our hearts, there is nothing that can stop us from living completely according to Gods will and becoming a completely and utterly joyful. A Profile of the Top-Ranked Podcasts in the U.S. More than half of states now recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday, Support for the Black Lives Matter Movement Has Dropped Considerably From Its Peak in 2020, Americans who attend religious services with any regularity express a lot of trust in the clergy or other religious leaders at their place of worship to provide advice about religious questions, such as growing closer to God or how to interpret scripture. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Similarly, among Democrats and Democratic leaners, 8% say their clergy are Republicans, while 20% say their clergy are Democrats. So maybe Christianity ought to be evaluated from this new pragmatic perspective. It is easy to be happy when everything in your life is going well but being a Christian means being happy even when things seem to be going against us. Whether they are simply tasked with holding a . The effects of Christianity upon the Christian's state of mind are not less important and happy than its influence upon his character; it restores him to peace with God, and to hope in Him . This indicates that one factor for reduction in welfare is church attendance and the societal benefits that go with it. And three-quarters of the public expresses the view that churches should not come out in favor of one candidate over another during elections, in contrast with efforts by President Trump to roll back existing legal limits on houses of worship endorsing candidates.1. What about now, as a teenager? This favorable behavior means Christians save society considerable money when compared to their secular counterparts. While some say this is a good thing, many more view it as a negative development, reflecting the broad tendency of Americans to see religion as a positive force in society. And in general, Catholics are less likely than Protestants to say they trust their clergy to provide advice on these issues. Far from being a narrow or exclusionary faith, Christianity is incredible inclusive. How many places can you go in Twenty-first Century Western Culture and have someone tell you the painful truth about yourself? Oh you know there's the whole going to heaven bit, but are there any benefits while you're on earth? Religious boys are not any smarter, so why are they doing better in school? Its not belief, its participation in a religious community [that] has an effect that reigns in selfishness and draws them out into community.. Your email address will not be published. Does it include family, friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, religious leaders or others? Just like Jesus, we are called to live this overcoming life and as we become freed from sin we become more and more transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, congregants tend to agree with their clergy when politics is discussed: Overall, about six-in-ten say they generally agree with their clergy about politics (62%), although Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say this (70% vs. 56%). And we will be a blessing and a help to the others as well. Empirical studies of many groups dealing with major life stressors such as natural disaster, illness, loss of loved ones, divorce and serious mental illness show that religion and spirituality are generally helpful to people in coping, especially people with the fewest resources facing the most uncontrollable of problems. Not only does religion teach virtue, it catalyzes moral action. While it is not the only voice in society encouraging people to become more than they are, the Christian church performs this role as well. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax They disagree, however, in their views about the Democratic Party; most Republicans and those who lean toward the Republican Party say the Democratic Party is unfriendly toward religion, while most Democrats and those who lean to the Democratic Party view their own party as neutral toward religion. The Christian gospel is so simple and so attainable that some people have found it almost too good to be true. For example, among those who attend religious services at least a few times a year and identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, just 4% say their clergy are mostly Democrats, while 23% say they are Republicans. In her recent Opinion essay, I Followed the Lives of 3,290 Teenagers. 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