Christian denominations are losing followers quicker than a cat loses interest in a laser

基督教教派失去追隨者的速度比貓對激光筆失去興趣的速度還快

pointer, at the meantime, the conservative and stricter denominations like Evangelicals

，與此同時，保守派和更嚴格的教派如福音派

are holding strong or even growing.

保持強勢甚至成長。

So why this is happening, let's find out with PAA.

那麼為什麼會這樣，讓我們通過 PAA 找出答案。

Hi, I am Shao Chieh Lo, welcome to what people also ask, where I search something seemingly

你好，我是 Shao Chieh Lo，歡迎來到Ｗhat People Also Ask，我在這裡搜索一些看似顯而易見的東西

obvious and share with you some of its PAA, aka People Also Ask, which is a feature telling

並與你分享它的一些 PAA，又名 People Also Ask，這是一個告訴

you what other people are searching on Google that relates to your query Today's query is

你其他人在谷歌上搜索的相關 內容的功能 今天的問題是

“strict church theory”, a theory that suggests that strict religious are stronger.

“嚴格教會理論”，該理論表明嚴格的宗教信仰組織會比較強盛。

We will also explore if this theory can explain the decline of liberal-leaning churches in

我們還將通過相關研究和在線文章探討這一理論是否可以解釋

the United States with relevant research and online articles.

美國自由主義傾向教會的衰落。

So let's start with our first question What is strict church theory?

那麼讓我們從第一個問題開始 什麼是嚴格教會理論？

According to an article titled “The Power of the Mustard Seed-Why strict churches are

根據 Slate 發表的一篇題為“芥菜種的力量——為什麼嚴格的教會很強大”

strong.”published by Slate, the strict church theory, as explained by economist Laurence

的文章，經濟學家勞倫斯·伊納科內 (Laurence Iannaccone)

Iannaccone in his 1994 essay "Why Strict Churches Are Strong," suggests that people choose to

在他 1994 年的論文“為什麼嚴格的教會很強大”中解釋了嚴格的教會理論，該理論認為人們選擇

join strict religious communities because of the quantifiable benefits their piety affords

加入嚴格的宗教團體是因為他們的虔誠

them.

給他們帶來了可量化的好處。

Laurence Iannaccone is an American economist who has extensively studied the economics

Laurence Iannaccone 是美國經濟學家，廣泛研究

of religion.

宗教經濟學。

He, alongside other scholars, has developed a theory called the "supply-side theory of

他與其他學者一起發展了一種稱為“宗教供給側理論

religion”, which suggests that religious groups can be analyzed like other economic

”的理論，該理論表明宗教團體可以像其他經濟組織

organizations, such as firms or markets.

（例如公司或市場）一樣進行分析。

According to Iannaccone, the devout person is willing to pay a high financial, social,

根據 Iannaccone 的說法，虔誠的人願意 為參與嚴格的宗教付出高昂的經濟、社會

and emotionally price to participate in strict religion because he believes he buys a so-called

和情感代價，是因為他相信他購買了所謂的

“better religious product”.

“更好的宗教產品”。

A better religious product, as Iannaccone defined, is one that is more costly to produce

更好的宗教產品，正如 Iannaccone 所定義的，是一種

and consume.

生產和消費成本更高的產品。

He argues that higher costs can signal a stronger commitment to the group and its beliefs, and

他認為，較高的成本可以暗示其對團體及其信仰的更強烈的承諾，因此

therefore result in greater participation and loyalty from members.

會導致成員的更大參與和忠誠度。

For example, a religious group that requires members to attend frequent meetings, make

例如，一個宗教團體要求成員經常參加會議，做出

significant financial contributions, and adhere to strict behavioral guidelines may be seen

重大財政貢獻，並堅持嚴格的行為準則可能被視為

as offering a "better" product than a group that has few requirements and little commitment

提供了一個“更好”的產品，而一個沒有要求和

from its members.

成員貢獻的團體則不是較好的產品。

The rules discourage free riders aka the people who undermine group efforts by taking more

嚴格的規則不鼓勵搭便車者，也就是那些因索取多於回報

than they give back.

而破壞團體努力的人。

The strict church is one in which members with weak commitments have been weeded out,

在嚴格的教會中，委身不力的成員被剔除，

resulting in a community of passionate members who are deeply involved in one another's lives

結果形成了一個由熱情的成員組成的社群，他們深深地投入到彼此的生活中

and more willing than most to come to one another's aid.

，並且比大多數人更願意互相幫助。

In this way, religion is seen as a "commodity" that people produce collectively, and the

這樣，宗教被視為人們集體生產的“商品”，

benefits of strict religious observance are thought to extend beyond the afterlife and

嚴格遵守宗教信仰的好處被認為不只提供來來世的好處，

into secular day-to-day life even the participant might not aware of its secular value.

好處也擴及到世俗的日常生活，即使參與者可能沒有意識到其世俗價值.

However, it's important to note that Iannaccone's theory has been subject to debate and criticism

然而，值得注意的是，Iannaccone 的理論一直受到

from other scholars in the field of religious studies, who argue that it oversimplifies

宗教研究領域其他學者的爭論和批評，他們認為它過分簡化了

the complex nature of religious experience and community.

宗教經驗和社區的複雜性。

Which we will discuss later.

這我們稍後會討論。

But before that, let's talk about What are some examples of “strict churches”?

但在此之前，讓我們談談“嚴格的教會”有哪些例子？

Here are some real-life examples of how the theory applies to different religious groups:

以下是該理論如何適用於不同宗教團體的一些現實例子：

Amish: The Amish are a Christian denomination known for their traditional, conservative

艾美許人：艾美許人是一個基督教教派，以其傳統、保守的

lifestyle.

生活方式而聞名。

They live in tight-knit communities and adhere to strict moral codes, such as dressing modestly

他們生活在關係緊密的社區，遵守嚴格的道德準則，例如衣著端莊

and abstaining from modern technology.

、遠離現代科技。

The Amish church demands a high level of commitment from its members, including regular attendance

艾美許教會要求其成員做出高度的貢獻，包括定期參加

at church services and adherence to strict behavioral guidelines.

教堂禮拜和遵守嚴格的行為準則。

The high cost of joining and remaining in the Amish community may be seen as a reason

加入和留在艾美許社區的高成本可能被視為

why the Amish have been able to maintain a strong and cohesive community over time.

艾美許人能夠長期保持強大和有凝聚力的社群的原因。

Hasidic Jews: Hasidic Judaism is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that emphasizes the importance

哈西德猶太教：哈西德猶太教是正統猶太教的一個分支，強調

of spiritual growth and religious observance.

精神成長和宗教信仰的 重要性 。

Hasidic Jews are known for their distinctive dress, their emphasis on prayer and study,

哈西德猶太人以其獨特的著裝、強調祈禱和學習而聞名，

and their strict adherence to Jewish law.

以及他們嚴格遵守猶太法律。

The Hasidic community demands a high level of commitment from its members, including

哈西德社區要求其成員做出高水平的貢獻，包括

regular attendance at synagogue services and strict adherence to dietary laws and other

定期參加猶太教堂服務以及嚴格遵守飲食法和其他

religious practices.

宗教習俗。

The high cost of membership in the Hasidic community may be seen as a reason why the

參與哈西德社群的高成本可能被視為該

community has been able to maintain its distinctive identity and a strong sense of community over

社群能夠隨著時間的推移保持其獨特的身份認同和

time.

強烈的社群意識的原因。

Jehovah's Witnesses: Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian denomination known for their evangelistic

耶和華見證人：耶和華見證人是一個基督教教派，以其傳福音的

zeal and their emphasis on door-to-door preaching.

熱情和強調挨家挨戶傳教而聞名。

The Jehovah's Witnesses church demands a high level of commitment from its members, including

耶和華見證人教會要求其成員做出高度的貢獻，包括

regular attendance at meetings, adherence to strict behavioral guidelines, and a willingness

定期參加會議、遵守嚴格的行為準則以及願意

to devote time and resources to evangelism.

投入時間和資源傳福音。

The high cost of membership in the Jehovah's Witnesses community may be seen as a reason

加入耶和華見證人社區的高昂代價可能被視為

why the community has been able to maintain a strong sense of identity and purpose over

該社區能夠長期保持強烈的認同感和使命感的 一個原因

time.

。

What are some criticisms of strict church theory?

對嚴格教會理論有哪些批評？

There are many criticisms and discussions that challenge the assumptions of strict church

有許多批評和討論挑戰嚴格教會

theory, for example, one study titled “Are strict churches really stronger?

理論的假設，例如，一項題為“嚴格教會真的更強大嗎？

A study of strictness, congregational activity and growth in American Protestant churches”

西弗吉尼亞大學 2010 年發表的

published by West Virginia University in 2010 examines the relationship between strictness,

《美國新教教會的嚴格性、會眾活動和增長研究》 探討了嚴格性、

congregational activity, and church growth.

會眾活動和教會增長

While some indicators of strictness and congregational activity are positively associated with growth,

之間的關係 。 雖然一些嚴格和會眾活動的指標與增長呈正相關，但

most do not have strong associations with it.

大多數與增長沒有很強的關聯。

The study suggests that other factors or church characteristics may be better predictors of

該研究表明，其他因素或教會特質可能是

church growth, but strictness and congregational activity are indeed correlated with growth.

教會增長的更好預測指標，但嚴格和會眾活動確實與增長相關。

However, it appears that a strong sense of purpose and mission is more important for

然而，對於成長來說，強烈的使命感似乎

growth than strictness itself.

比嚴格本身更重要。

Overall, strictness appears to be associated with growth, but promoting solidarity may

總的來說，嚴格似乎與增長有關，但促進團結可能

be more important than strictness in particular.

比嚴格本身來的更重要。

There are also many logical criticisms of this theory, and I have compiled some of them

對這一理論也有很多邏輯上的批評，我將其中的一些批評整理

as follows: Causal ambiguity: It is not clear whether the success of strict religious communities

如下

is due to their strict practices or other factors, such as their geographic location,

：

historical context, or the specific beliefs of their members.

歷史背景，或其成員的特定信仰。

Selection bias: The strict church theory tends to select successful religious communities

選擇偏差：嚴格的教會理論傾向於選擇成功的宗教團體

and attributes their success to their strict practices while ignoring the many unsuccessful

，並將其成功歸因於嚴格的作法，而忽略了許多

communities that also have strict practices.

同樣具有嚴格規章卻的不成功的社群。

Ethnocentrism: The strict church theory tends to focus on Protestant communities in the

種族中心主義：嚴格的教會理論傾向於關注美國的新教社群

United States, ignoring other religious traditions and communities around the world.

，而忽視世界各地的其他宗教傳統和社群。

And even if the strict church theory does hold water to some degree, it's obvious

即使嚴格的教會理論在某種程度上確實站得住腳，很明顯

strict churches do have some limitations.

嚴格的教會確實有一些局限性。

So When would a strict church fail to attract followers?

那麼什麼時候一個嚴格的教會無法吸引追隨者呢？

The strict church theory suggests that strictness in religious practice can be beneficial to

嚴格的教會理論表明，嚴格的宗教規條可能對

a religious organization.

宗教組織有益。

However, this theory has its limitations.

然而，這一理論有其局限性。

One limitation is that strictness can be counterproductive if a church fails to provide acceptable substitutes

一個限制是，如果教會未能為其要求其成員放棄的東西

for what it asks its members to give up.

提供可接受的替代品，那麼嚴格可能會適得其反。

For example, cults that lure their followers into the wilderness but provide them with

例如，將追隨者引誘到荒野但

no livelihood soon fade into history.

不為他們提供生計的邪教很快就會淡出歷史。

A good example of the strictness of a church backfiring is Scientology.

教會適得其反的嚴格性的一個很好的例子是山達基教。

Scientology has a reputation for being highly controlling and strict, with strict codes

山達基以高度控制和嚴格著稱，有嚴格的

of conduct, intense levels of surveillance, and an emphasis on discipline.

行為準則、嚴密的監視和對紀律的強調。

While strictness can foster group loyalty, in Scientology's case, it may have pushed

雖然嚴格可以培養群體忠誠度，但就山達基而言，它可能會把

some followers away, who found the level of control suffocating or invasive.

一些追隨者嚇走，他們發現控製程度令人窒息或具有侵略性。

Scientology is known for its high financial demands on its members, including expensive

山達基以對其成員的高財務要求而聞名，包括昂貴的

courses and donations required for spiritual advancement.

課程和靈性升級所需的捐款。

The financial burden placed on members may have discouraged some followers from continuing

加在成員身上的經濟負擔可能使一些追隨者不願繼續

their involvement with the church.

參與教會。

While the overly-strict policies of a church could be counterproductive, a certain degree

雖然教會過於嚴格的政策可能會適得其反，但一定程度

of strictness can be beneficial in the spiritual marketplace, as it provides an advantage by

的嚴格在宗教市場上可能是有益的，因為它提供了一個優勢

attracting enthusiastic and committed followers.

吸引熱情和忠誠的追隨者。

In America, where there is no state religion and is a truly open market in religion, there

在沒有國教、真正開放的宗教市場的美國，存在著

are many varieties of fundamentalism and orthodoxy, including the explosive growth of conservative

多種原教旨主義和正統派，包括保守的

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and the slow decline of more liberal denominations

基督教、猶太教和伊斯蘭教的爆炸式增長，以及較為自由的教派

such as Episcopalianism.

如聖公會的緩慢衰落。

This may represent the natural outcome of religious competition.

這可能代表了宗教競爭的自然結果。

So does that means the religious landscape will gradually be dominated by conservatives?

那麼這是否意味著宗教領域將逐漸由保守派主導？

That is our next question: Would the religious landscape be gradually dominated by conservatives?

那就是我們的下一個問題：宗教領域會逐漸被保守派所主導嗎？

Assuming that the strict church theory holds true, it is possible that liberal churches

假設嚴格的教會理論成立，自由主義的教會可能會

may diminish over time, while conservative and strict churches thrive.

隨著時間的推移而減少，而保守和嚴格的教會會蓬勃發展。

The crucial question to consider is what impact this shift could have on the present and future

需要考慮的關鍵問題是這種轉變會對當前和未來的政治

political and religious climate.

和宗教氣候產生什麼影響。

An article titled “Why IS liberal Protestantism dying, anyway?”

一篇題為“無論如何，自由新教為什麼將死？”的文章

published by Patheo argues that conservative churches tend to be better at forming communities

Patheo 發表的文章認為，保守派教會比自由派教會

than liberal churches.

更善於建立社群。

The reason for this, according to the author, is that conservative churches tend to have

作者認為，這是因為保守派教會往往對

more rigorous membership requirements, which helps them build a stronger core of committed

成員資格有更嚴格的要求，這有助於他們建立更強大的忠誠信徒核心

believers and eliminate people with weaker commitments.

，並淘汰那些委身較弱的人。

If a church demands that members tithe 10% of their income, arrive on time each Sunday

如果一個教會要求成員奉獻收入的 10%，每個星期天都準時到達

without fail, and agree to believe seemingly crazy things, only those who are really sure

，並且同意相信看似瘋狂的事情，那麼只有那些真正確定

they want to stick around will stay.

要留下來的人才會留下來。

This theory has been tested empirically.

這個理論經過一些證據檢驗。

For example, anthropologist Richard Sosis and psychologist Eric Bressler conducted a

例如，人類學家理查德索西斯和心理學家埃里克布雷斯勒

retrospective study of American communes in the 19th century titled “Cooperation and

對 19 世紀美國宗教社群進行了一項回顧性研究，題為“合作與

Commune Longevity: A Test of the Costly Signaling Theory of Religion” published in Cross-Cultural

社群壽命：對宗教的昂貴信號理論的檢驗”，發表於

Research in 2003 found that religious communes whose membership requirements were strict

2003 年的跨文化研究發現，宗教公社其成員資格要求嚴格

and demanding survived, on average, many years longer than those without strict demands.

且要求嚴格的人，平均比沒有嚴格要求的人存活多年。

Overall, the article suggests that conservative churches tend to have stronger communities

總的來說，這篇文章表明，保守派教會往往

than liberal churches because they have stricter membership requirements, which helps them

比自由派教會擁有更強大的社群，因為他們有更嚴格的會員要求，這有助於他們

build a stronger core of committed believers.

建立更強大的忠誠信徒核心。

But are conservatives actually gradually dominating the religious landscape?

但保守派真的在逐漸主導宗教領域嗎？

At least in America, not really.

至少在美國，不盡然。

One thing to notice is that almost all the previously mentioned articles and research

需要注意的一件事是，該視頻中幾乎所有先前提到的

in this video that support strict church theory are mainly citing data from before 2010.

支持嚴格教會理論的文章和研究都主要引用 2010 年之前的數據。

But if you look into more recent data, it paints a totally different trend.

但如果你查看最近的數據，它描繪了一個完全不同的趨勢。

According to an article titled “The 2020 Census of American Religion” published by

根據公共宗教研究所發表的一篇題為

the Public Religion Research Institute, the religious landscape in the United States is

“2020年美國宗教普查”的文章，美國的宗教格局正在

undergoing a gradual transformation but is not being overtly dominated by conservatives.

經歷逐漸轉變，但並沒有被保守派公然主導。

And notably, White mainline protestants have actually rebounded in recent years.

值得注意的是，白人主流新教徒近年來實際上有所反彈。

For those who don't know, mainline churches refer to a group of moderate Protestant denominations

對於那些不知道的人，主流教會是指美國的 一群溫和的

in the United States, which typically hold more theologically and socially liberal views

新教教派 ，與福音派或原教旨主義的同行相比

compared to evangelical or fundamentalist counterparts.

它們通常持有更多的神學和社會自由主義觀點。

These churches may support same-sex marriage within their congregations, express more inclusive

這些教會可能會在他們的會眾中支持同性婚姻，表達

ideas about eternal salvation, and prioritize social welfare and justice in their political

關於永恆救贖的更具包容性的想法，並在他們的政治

efforts rather than emphasizing strict and conservative moral doctrines.

努力中優先考慮社會福利和正義，而不是強調嚴格和保守的道德教義。

These denominations include the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the

這些教派包括聯合衛理公會、長老會（美國）、

Episcopal Church, among others.

聖公會等。

According to the data by PRRI, while mainline churches experienced a decline over the past

根據PRRI的數據，雖然主流教會在過去

few decades, recent data show that this decline has slowed down and even rebounded, indicating

幾十年經歷了衰退，但最近的數據顯示這種衰退已經放緩甚至反彈，表明

a shift in the trend.

趨勢發生了轉變。

After a decline from 19% of the population in 2007 to a low of 13% in 2016, mainline

在從 2007 年人口的 19% 下降到 2016 年的 13% 的低點之後，

churches' proportion has seen a steady increase, reaching 16% in 2020.

主流教會的比例穩步上升，到 2020 年達到 16%

Younger Americans also display a greater degree of religious diversity, with fewer identifying

。年輕的美國人也表現出更大程度的宗教多樣性，更少的認同

as Christians and a larger proportion identifying as non-Christian religions.

作為基督徒和更大比例的人認為是非基督教宗教。

In summary, while the religious landscape in the United States is evolving, it is not

總而言之，雖然美國的宗教格局正在發生變化，但它並不是

predominantly dominated by conservatives.

主要由保守派主導。

However, the recent developments in the American religious landscape do not necessarily defy

然而，美國宗教格局的最新發展並不一定會違背

the strict church theory but rather show a more nuanced and complex picture of religious

嚴格的教會理論，而是顯示出

dynamics in the United States.

美國宗教動態的更加微妙和復雜的圖景。

The rebound in more liberal-leaning mainline churches and the recent decline of more conservative

更自由主義傾向的主流教會的反彈以及最近更保守和嚴格的宗教的衰落

and strict religions might appear to challenge the strict church theory on the surface.

似乎在表面上挑戰了嚴格的教會理論。

However, it is essential to consider that these changes are part of a broader and more

然而，必須考慮到這些變化是更廣泛和更

complex religious landscape that is influenced by various factors such as demographic shifts,

複雜的宗教景觀的一部分，受到人口變化、

immigration, cultural changes, and intergenerational differences in religious beliefs and affiliations.

移民、文化變化以及宗教信仰和信仰的代際差異等各種因素的影響。

There may be instances where mainline churches adopt and implement certain practices or beliefs

在某些情況下，主流教會採用並實施某些

that resonate with their members, leading to a resurgence in their growth.

與其成員產生共鳴的做法或信仰，從而導致他們的增長復甦。

Additionally, the broader societal context, such as an increased focus on social justice

此外，更廣泛的社會背景，例如對社會正義

and inclusion, may attract individuals to more moderate religious groups.

和包容性的日益關注，可能會吸引個人加入更溫和的宗教團體。

In addition, one downside of the data in this article is that, except for white Christians,

另外，本文數據的一個缺點是，除了白人基督徒外，並

it does not divide Christians in other ethnic groups into more detailed categories, it simply

沒有將其他族群的基督徒進行更細化的分類，只是簡單地將

separates say “ black Protestants” into their own group, and then divides the white

“黑人新教徒”歸為一類，然後再劃分白人

Christians into various segments, so this trend might not be representative to other

基督徒分為不同的部分，所以這種趨勢可能不代表其他

minority groups.

少數群體。

In conclusion, recent data suggests that the religious landscape in the United States is

總而言之，最近的數據表明，美國的宗教格局並非

not predominantly dominated by conservatives, but rather presents a complex and nuanced

主要由保守派主導，而是呈現出

picture influenced by various factors, including societal context and demographic shifts, without

受各種因素影響的複雜而微妙的圖景，包括社會背景和人口變化

necessarily defying the strict church theory.

這不一定違背嚴格的教會理論。

If you made it to the end of the video, chances are that you enjoy learning what people also

如果您看到了視頻的結尾，您很可能會喜歡了解人們

ask on Google.

在 Google 上也提出的問題。

But let's face it, reading PAA yourself will be a pain.