Evangelical Leaders: Secularism a Greater Threat Than Islam

[IRONm@N]

The recent Global survey based on Evangelical Christian leaders from 166 countries and territories invited to attend the Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Cape Town, 2010) shows that Evangelical leaders in the Northern hemisphere consider secularism and popular culture a greater threat to Evangelical Christianity than Islam. However, 91% of those who live in Muslim-majority countries see Islam as the major threat.

The Pew Research Center survey indicated that 47% of Evangelicals surveyed think that Islam is the main threat to Christianity, but 71% say that secularism is the biggest threat to Christianity. Two-thirds (67%) also agree that "too much emphasis on consumerism and material goods" is a major threat and 59% place "sex, violence and popular culture" alongside consumerism and materialism as major threats. About 64% agree that there is a "natural conflict" between being an evangelical and living in modern society, implying that many of them still look to pre-scientific agrarian societies as ideal religious society.

According to Luis Lugo, a director of the Pew Forum, "…it is not as though it (Islam) is not seen as a threat, it is just that secularism in its associated practises tend to be seen as much more of a threat."

Compatible with their view that secularism is the major threat to Christianity is the result of the survey which shows that most of the Evangelical leaders do not rate conflict between Christianity and other religions high as threat to Christianity. 41% think it was a small problem, while 14% think it is not a problem at all in their coutries. Evangelical leaders from Middle East and North Africa, however, think the inter-religious conflict was a big problem (35%), and 37% think it was only a moderately big problem (as already stated, 91% of those who live in muslim-majority countries see Islam as the major threat).

The Evangelical leaders display a pattern of religious intolerance. Most are generally more favorably disposed to belivers in othe Judeo-Christian religions like Judaism, Catholocism and Eastern Orthodoxy. But most are very unfavorable disposed to Buddhists (65%) Hindus (65%) and Muslims (67%). Theyare most unfavorably disposed to atheists (70%).

The conservative character of invitees to the conference is shown by the fact that a total 96% of the leaders surveyed insist that abortion is wrong with 45% saying it is usually worng and 51% saying it is always wrong. About 85% of them think that homosexuality is wrong and should not be tolerated by society. Global South Evangelical leaders were shown to be even more conservative than those from the Global North on social issues: 67% of Global South Evangelical leaders agree that wives must always submit to their husbands while onlyn 39% of Global North Evangelial leaders agreed; 60% of Global South Evangelical Leaders think that all adults should get married and have children, while only 33% from the Global North agree; 84% of the respondents agree that religious leaders should express their views on political issues, while only 13% thought otherwise.

About 96% think Christianity is the one, true faith leading to eternal life, and 95% say that believing otherwise is incompatible with true Christian faith. The conflict between Evangelical Christians who think that the Bible should always be interpreted literally and those who don't think so reflected in the survey results: about 98% of the respondents agree that the Bible is the word of God, but only about 50% think that the bible should be interpreted word-for-word literally, and 48% think it should not. 49% think that one must believe in God to be a moral person but 49% don't think so