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In the past three years, the number of people with no religious affiliation has tripled. Atheists are now the largest religious group in the United States. Those with no religion have a greater amount that Catholicism and Evangelicalism. As the number of people without religion is growing, they are also seeking for a community. In Nashville, Tennesse there is a group doing just that. Patrick Horst, whose father and grandfather were pastors, is the executive director of the Nashville Nones Convention (NaNoCon.). The Nashville Nones Convention is an event held annually for people who aren’t religious. 

According to the article, one in four people consider themselves non-religious and one in three people of the younger generation do not consider themselves religious. As the number of people that are religious decreases, it makes me wonder why they are stepping out of their religion. It also raises the question if the number of non-religious people will continue to increase. In United States politics, religion is still heavily mentioned when making decisions about LGBTQ rights or reproductive health.

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With the 2020 elections for a new president coming up, Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana announce he will be running for office. Mayor Pete Buttigieg is the first openly gay man to be running for the nation’s highest office and if elected the first openly gay president. Buttigieg also speaks openly about his Episcopalian faith. The article states, “In media interviews, campaign stump speeches and town halls, Buttigieg uses his deep connection and commitment to his faith as a cornerstone of his candidacy, and in the process, is seeking to reclaim the Republican Party’s hold on religious values.”  He recently sparked a controversial discussion when he addressed the idea of being gay was a choice.

“That's the thing I wish the Mike Pences of the world would understand. That if you got a problem with who I am, your problem is not with me -- your quarrel, sir, is with my creator." - Mayor Pete Buttigieg

Buttigieg challenged Vice President Mike Pence for using his Christian faith to defend anti-LGBTQ decisions but working under a president who faces multiple sexual misconduct allegations.

Buttigieg as mayor has already pushed many boundaries that are set by politics. He has already sparked the conversation of seeing sexual orientation and faith together. Running for president is pushing even more boundaries that have never been pushed before. 

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The pledge of allegiance has been part of normal school days for children all over the country, who attend public elementary school. As children, you do not really think about what you are saying. You do as you are told, following directions from teachers or parents. The passage that includes “under God” causes controversy on whether students should be forced to stand for it. This passage is one of the few ways the United States has religious references.

 “The Pledge of Allegiance is not the only American expression that contains religious references: Judicial, military, and political oaths end with “so help me God,” and the official national motto of the United States is “In God We Trust.” These references have become commonplace and ubiquitous. For instance, few people, regardless of their religion or lack thereof, will bat an eye at passing around coins inscribed with “In God We Trust” on a daily basis.“ 

 The excerpt above from the article “One Nation ... Indivisible” states how the religious references are now seen with a sense of normalcy because they have been around for so long. The words “under God” were only added to the pledge during the Cold-War. In 2004, a California attorney argued against the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance for his daughter. “Newdow claimed that even though students were not forced to participate in the recitation, compelling students to listen to the phrase “under God” still violated their rights. Yet instead of issuing an opinion on the pith of Newdow’s complaint, the Supreme Court dismissed the case, ruling that Newdow’s status as a non-custodial parent did not give him legal standing to bring the case on behalf of his daughter.” He is one of the many people who want the aspect of religion to not be forced upon those who do not believe in God.

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On many college campuses in the United States, students are being stopped and asked if they know about “God the Mother”. Those who believe in God the Mother are part of the World Mission Society Church of God and have received backlash for being cult-ish and for being aggressive when approaching others to speak about their religion. 

The basis of the religion is that like there is God the Father, there is also God the Mother. God the Mother is a living woman from South Korea, who gave herself this title. Those members who are evangelizing on college campuses are using the Bible and specific bible verses to show where God the Mother is mentioned in it. Below is an excerpt from their website http://usa.watv.org/truth/truth_life/content_mother.asp

Former members of the World Mission Society Church of God have spoken out about the cult-like behavior. According to former members, those who are involved with the church are constantly encouraged to go through extreme measures to have eternal salvation.

I have been approached at least twice on campus by these missionaries who preach about God the Mother. I have seen them multiple times on campus and they are usual stopping students at night. Based on my experience, they are a little aggressive when talking to students. They tend to continue walking with you until you actually reach your destination on campus. It was interesting to hear about the religion and when I continued to say no, the woman ended the conversation by saying, “I’ll be praying and hoping you find God the Mother.”

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There has been a rise in celebrities being more open about their faith. Kanye West, who regularly mentions God and Jesus in his music, is a celebrity who is always in the public eye for his controversial comments. Kanye has also previously referred to himself as “YEEZUS” and posed as Jesus for a magazine cover. As of January 2019, Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian West have been hosting Sunday Services. His services have been described as healing experiences and all people of different faith are encouraged to participate. There is also no sermon or “teaching” in the services, it is solely based on music. The choir, that is led by Kanye, sing gospel songs and some of his music as well. In his song “Jesus Walks”, there is a lyric that states, “But if I talk about God my record won't get played, huh?” This lyric is a great example of how the secular community is not really looking for music that mentions God or Jesus.

Kanye, as a cultural elite, has a great influence on the secular community. Many fans actually worship him as an artist and make him an idol. He is bringing his Sunday service on Easter day to Coachella Music Festival and fans are excited to be part of it.  Last year Justin Bieber was the celebrity who led the festival in worship on a Sunday morning. I found it interesting to see a celebrity who causes so much turmoil, have a Sunday service. I also did not really understand if it was Christian or what it actually consisted of. It definitely makes me wonder if he is doing it as part of his faith or if it's just another concert or show for him.

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This article discusses how there are Catholic students evangelizing on college campuses, these students are committed to bringing other students to Catholicism. As the number of nones is rising, these missionary students are different because being Catholic is the most important part of their identity. 

“These missionaries follow church teachings with an adherence more common with the baby boomers and the Silent Generation. They attend Mass every week, go to Confession frequently, memorize Latin prayers and are devoted to saints. As college campus missionaries, they spend their days inviting college students to be similarly committed to Catholicism.”

They are part of Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). FOCUS started in 1998 when students saw a decline in Catholicism on college campuses and wanted to encourage others to take part by showing an attractive version of Catholicism. They are reaching out to a specific population on campus which is students who identify as spiritual, not religious. They are trying to be more relatable to millennials who do not affiliate with a religion. 

This article caught my attention because I was raised Catholic and I have never heard of Catholics evangelizing. I was never taught to evangelize as a Catholic, I did not know what it was or how to do it. I think it is interesting how these students are trying to show a different perspective on Catholicism. 

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This article discusses a controversial policy that was set in 2015 that labeled Mormons in same-sex marriages apostates and did not allow their children to be baptized. The church was making the decision for Mormon’s in a same-sex marriage to abandon their religious beliefs and taking away their children’s rite of passage for membership in the LDS Church and eternal salvation.

This past month the LDS church reversed this policy, where married LGBTQ Mormons are no longer labeled apostates and their children can be baptized. Although their children can now be baptized in the LDS faith, the teachings about same-sex relationships will remain the same. 

“they are put on slightly more even footing with straight couples: “Immoral conduct in heterosexual or homosexual relationships will be treated in the same way,” Oaks wrote in the announcement. Children living with these couples can be baptized, as long as parents know that they will be taught that LGBTQ relationships are wrong.”

The LDS church is known for having more conservative views on marriage and family values. I found it interesting that they would reverse the policy based on what I knew about their views on same-sex marriage. I was also interested in how the LGBTQ community reacted as some had left the church because of the policy. Tom Christofferson, an openly gay member from the LDS church stated, “For other LGBTQ Mormons, “my hope is, now that [the policy has] changed, they will consider rejoining and worshipping with us and help us to keep moving forward.” 

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 This article discusses modern day evangelicals and how celebrities are now openly discussing their faith despite being in the public eye. It discusses how more celebrities are part of “progressive” churches rather than the traditional evangelical churches. Churches like Hillsong and Zoe are becoming more popular because of celebrities becoming members and the “cool and modern” vibe they have. By doing so the churches attract more of a secular crowd and the lead by emphasizing a relationship with Jesus rather than an organized religion. 

“...churches like Saddleback and Willow Creek — that sought to make church more attractive to nonbelievers by playing songs that weren’t hymns, offering preaching that was relevant to daily life, and designing churches that didn’t look particularly religious, including no crosses or stained-glass windows, no pews, and pastors wearing street clothes instead of collars.” (Turner 2019)

The theology of these churches continue to be conservative although they come off as progressive and liberal. In class we discussed the different kinds of Christianity and the different forms of evangelicalism. These types of churches (ex. Hillsong, Zoe) fall under the pentecostal form of evangelicalism. They really focus on that relationship with God rather than focusing on the aspect of religion. 

I found this article interesting because for a long time I didn't know the difference between the many denominations. I also think its interesting how there are more celebrities and influencers that are using their platform to do some form of evangelism.