What will they do now?
A Gallup poll relased this month finds shifts in what Americans find “extremely” or “very important” in their lives.
In a headline, “America used to have 2 religions: God and money. Only one of them is recruiting followers, and it’s not Jesus,” Forbes’ Chloe Berger reports:
Decades ago, money was listed as extremely important to 67% of respondents, whereas religion was only slightly less esteemed, at 65%. Now, money has surged in popularity, described as extremely important to 79% of those surveyed. Religion, on the other hand, has lost traction, as only 58% regarded it as a very important part of their lives.
Money increased in value across the board, and was slightly more important for younger generations than baby boomers (increasing by 14% for those aged 18 to 34 and 35 to 54, and only by 10% for those 55 and older).
Despite “In God We Trust” appearing on the coins, it’s buying power, not spiritual power, that average Americans value most these days.
Yet the religion was more part of the hegemony not all that long ago, as in 1972 and even the early 1990s, 90% of adults in the U.S. identified as Christains, a number that’s since dwindled to 64%, per Pew. While dwindling in numbers, some extremely religious individuals have exerted a demonstrable amount of power recently, as Evangelists gain speed and push anti-abortion and anti-trans laws that are not largely reflective of the nation’s beliefs.
John Lennon, 25 in 1966, told interviewer and friend Maureen Cleave, “Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I’m right and I will be proved right.” A half century later, Gallup seems to confirm Lennon’s prediction.
Lennon followed up by saying, “We’re more popular than Jesus now. I don’t know which will go first, rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me.”
The comments proved uncontroversial in England. But when they reached the U.S. in a teen magazine five months later, outraged American Christians burned their Beatles reords.
Now that money is more popular than Jesus, will Christians burn their cash?
(h/t BF)