Unless otherwise indicated, quotations and info below are from Glenn T. Stanton in Citizen magazine, Oct. 2009.
One author is Catholic; the other a "secularist." They conclude that the news for neo-atheists is really dismal. In their words: "In America, the tolerant-to-a-fault Episcopal Church has been in relentless decline," while the conservative Christian denominations are thriving. They say that "people who seek liberation from liberation, do not turn to liberation theology." They tend toward the "serious, biblical kind" of theology.
Stanton says the authors tell how "God is an increasingly big deal in most countries" and they say "the growth of Christianity is nevertheless the most startling religious development" in growing powers like China, So. Africa, as well as most of the Global South.
The book recognizes, in the words of STanton: "when given a chance to do so, increasingly more countries are following the American model of practicing faith and freedom than the European model of secularism and state control. The book states, "The American model of religion--one that is based on choice rather than state fiat--is winning."
From the book: "Today an unsettling worry nags Western liberals: what if secular Europe (and for that matter secular Harvard and secular Manhattan) is the odd one out? They are right to be worried. It now seems that it is the American model [of religion and freedom] that is spreading around the world: religion and modernity go hand in hand,[unlike Islam and modernity,] not just in China but throughout much of Asia, Africa, Arabia and Latin America...The very things that were supposed to destroy religion--democracy and markets, technology and reason--are combining to make it stronger.
Nearly half of Africa identifies as Christian. Islam, too, is growing and they are the oppressors of Christians --except in Communistic Viet Nam where Christians are multiplying daily via "the running pastors" --who run ahead of the local police authorities who beat all converts and pastors when they catch up to them. One typical pastor there was converted at 15 through listening to Far East Broadcasting, a Christian network, via short wave radio. The pastors claim thousands of converts in the mountains. One got up at 4 am to lead a family to faith in Christ before he had to flee from the authorities.
To the neo-atheists' surprise, it's not merely ignorant people converting; it's the educated classes who are converting to Christianity around the globe.
Voice of the Martyrs is doing great work around the world. They have a worker who parachutes literature and short wave radios set to a Christian station into the jungles where rebel soldiers are located. They are helping the Viet Namese converts and the Chinese --by keeping the Christian world apprised so we can pray and send aid.
SAT7 television by the Middle-east to the Middle-east has a wonderful 24-7 tv ministry which is gaining in popularity with its joyous ministry to children and Bible studies for new believers.
So far, the tactic of our philosophical opponents, the atheists, is suppression and brutality as in Communist nations --and denial of free speech to their audiences in America. The tactic of the Muslims, is the same as the atheistic communists -- suppression, terrorism and brutality all over the world.
Even a blind man can see that Christianity is the salvation and light of the world, contrasting greatly with all its philosophical and religious competitors.
The authors of the book conclude, "GOD IS BACK, FOR BETTER!"
"God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and have eternal life."--the Bible
