Is Christianity Being Cancelled?
Though it is the most popular religion in the world with over two billion adherents globally, Christianity has lately become a target of censorship and cancel culture. People are of the opinion that longstanding Christian traditions, which are deeply embedded into western culture, are at the risk of being declared obsolete and no longer relevant.
Recently, a school in a U.K. city banned wearing cross necklaces after a pupil was asked to remove her jewelry. Similarly, in 2019, two teachers in a U.S. state were fired for praying at an after-school event and an entire Catholic school staff was threatened with job termination for an alleged ‘conference on Christianity’.
According to experts, such exclusionary practices of Christian speech amounts to religious discrimination and is completely unconstitutional given the First Amendment’s promise of religious liberty. They claim that the mere presence of a cross, a crucifix or a Bible cannot be considered as an affront to other religions and that individuals have the right to express their faith, as long as it does not interfere with the rights of others.
Furthermore, religion should not be judged by the exposure it gets in the media, which is often biased. People are quick to form opinions about Christianity based on individual opinions, selectively targeting certain beliefs and behaviours, instead of looking at it in its entirety. Christianity is much more than what it is depicted in the media, especially in comparison to other major religions, so to unjustly portray it as a ‘non-inclusive’ religion is neither accurate nor fair.
My own analysis is that Christianity might not be cancelled in its entirety, but it’s certainly being threatened and questioned, particularly when it comes to the beliefs and practices of the church. The church needs to be more open to change in order to stay relevant and affirm its core values as it continues to evolve with the times. Modern society, particularly the West, is largely a secular-driven environment, so there must be a heightened focus on spiritual, moral and philosophical development, through continued conversion and an increased focus on divinity. The church must adapt to the world and culture around it in order to stay relevant and respected.
Rising Secularism
The rise of secularism has been a major contributing factor in the perceived decline of Christianity. Secularism is the philosophy of removing religion and spiritual beliefs from civil affairs and public education. This has led to a decrease in the religious practice of Christians and belief in Christian doctrine, making it increasingly difficult for them to be taken seriously by those who do not share the same faith.
The list of secular, anti-Christian practices includes the removal of all religious symbols and references from public spaces, government, and education. Examples include removing crosses from public parks and schools, barring students from talking about their religious beliefs in the classroom, removing prayer from public meetings, or changing school curriculums that refer to religion in any way. All these activities contribute to a greater environment of secularism and division between people.
Secularists tend to believe that religion has no relevance or purpose in our society, and that there is no place for it in our education and government. As such, they are constantly trying to push their agenda onto the public and ensure that religious expression is erased in all areas of life. This is not only detrimental to religious freedom, but it also has a psychological impact on young people, as they can be deprived of a sense of belonging if they are not allowed to freely express their faith.
Therefore, even though the prevalence of secularism may not be Christian-specific, it is having a major impact on the practice and understanding of faith in our society. It is important to recognize that while religious freedom is an essential part of our society, it should not be used as an excuse to push religion onto those who do not share the same beliefs.
Progressive Movements
In recent years, a wave of progressive movements have emerged which argue for the reform of Christian practices and teachings. Movements such as AOC and Justin Welby have been vocal in making the case for a more progressive approach to Christianity, embracing social change, environmentalism and issues of inclusion and diversity.
These movements are often championed by young people who are particularly disillusioned with the traditional Christian Church, claiming it is a source of outdated, oppressive and exclusive values. It is argued that by becoming more contemporary and relevant, the church can remain a positive force in society and continue to grow despite the decline in its membership.
There is no question that these progressive movements have helped to energise the Christian faith, although there is much debate about whether the Church should embrace such changes or whether it should remain true to its traditional values. On the one hand, changing with the times is vital for the church to stay relevant; on the other hand, there is a worry that the church will lose its sense of identity and purpose if it simply tries to respond to the trends of the current moment.
Ultimately, it is a difficult balance to find, and the Church must ensure that it works with progressive movements, while also maintaining its own identity. The challenge therefore is to continue to evolve and adapt, while still retaining its core values and beliefs.
The Impact of Social Media
Social media provides an effective platform to spread the word about Christianity but it also presents a double-edged sword, as it can be used to spread misinformation, intolerance and exclusivity. The internet has given rise to a heightened sense of public scrutiny, making it even easier to target Christianity, or any religion for that matter.
Furthermore, it has been proven that algorithms used by such sites as Youtube and Facebook are skewed towards providing sensationalised and partisan content. In this way, anyone with an anti-Christian agenda can quickly and easily promote their opinions, regardless of the accuracy or validity of those opinions.
This is not to suggest that all content about Christianity on social media should be avoided, rather there should be an emphasis on more accurate and informed sources. Christianity should not be portrayed as a monolith, as there are various denominations, sects and differences of opinion within the faith. It is also important to remember that while some members may be vocal in their rejection of certain aspects of the Church, it is unfair to generalise that same opinion to the billions of people who do indeed follow those same faith.
Christians must therefore take responsibility to counter the negative connotations which can be attached to the faith through social media, whilst also embracing positive conversations about their beliefs.
The Challenge of Change
It is clear that there is a current domineering perception that Christianity is outdated, oppressive, and out of touch. This view has indeed been fuelleby justified mockery and slander, but in order to remain relevant in today’s society, the church must engage in meaningful change and development while not compromising on its core beliefs and principles.
The church must also be honest and open about its failings and shortcomings. It must act as a beacon of guidance and acceptance, not just for its own members but for society at large. That said, it must be careful not to alienate its members by overindulging in progressive politics to the detriment of its traditional values.
Ultimately, the future of Christianity lies in its ability to adapt and evolve in order to stay relevant in an increasingly secular world. The church must strive to utilise its immense power and influence in order to promote an atmosphere of inclusion, acceptance and understanding in the modern era.
The Declining Foothold of Christianity
Recent reports suggest that there has been a steady decline in the number of people identifying as Christian in both Europe and North America. This could be attributed in part to the high levels of immigration over the last decade, as well as the increasing prevalence of secular values and the general resistance to religion in western culture.
For many, their decision to leave the church is due to the way it has been perceived in the media – as oppressive, insular, and hostile to modern values. This could perhaps be addressed by increasing the level of acceptance and diversity within the church, while also striving to paint a more realistic picture of the faith in the media.
Furthermore, it is necessary to emphasise the fact that Christianity should not be judged by the mistakes of its followers. It is important to remember that the religion was founded on principles of love and mercy, and which have the potential to positively influence society. Overall, there is a need for the church to reconnect and show those who may have strayed from the faith that it is based on meaningful and noble beliefs – instead of the misguided opinions of individuals that are often portrayed in the media.
The War on Words
More recently, the ‘cancel culture’ agenda has extended to language as aspects of Christian terminology and phrases are deemed offensive, disrespectful or simply unwanted. An example is the use of ‘Christmas’ instead of the more inclusive ‘winter holiday’, as the word is deemed offensive to those of other faiths. This has led to a war on words, as the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ is regularly avoided in favour of more inclusive alternatives.
At the same time, there is a worrying trend of censorship when it comes to Christian terminology and phraseology – some of which is due to people feeling uncomfortable with the language, while others are simply unwilling to practice tolerance and accept others of different faiths. It is therefore essential that Christians do not become complacent and are willing to defend their faith in public and private settings and engage in respectful, meaningful dialogue with those of different beliefs.
Ultimately, the key to successful interfaith dialogue is listening and learning from one another, instead of trying to impose our own beliefs and opinions upon others. If this is possible, then it is much more likely that we can reach a common consensus and understanding about the different beliefs that exist in the world.
