Vocal Point-Dr. Byron Johnson

Topic: The Social Impact of Faith.

Is Christianity dying in America? At the end of 2021, the Pew Research Center reported that the percentage of American adults who say that religions is important to them dropped from 56% in 2007 to 41% in 2021. Meanwhile, objective studies are showing that the Christian faith overall has a positive impact on society. Harvard University’s Human Flourishing Project states: “The empirical research suggests that religious community, in particular religious service attendance, really does powerfully shape health and well-being….Religious service attendance tends to increase, on average, levels of happiness and purpose in life, reduce loneliness, improve social support, increases civic participation, volunteering, and generosity.” A faculty affiliate of Harvard’s Human Flourishing Project is Dr. Byron Johnson, primarily of Baylor University. Johnson, a former Ivy League professor (the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton), is the Director of the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor. Dr. Byron Johnson joins Jerry Newcombe on Vocal Point to discuss that state of the church in America and its social impact. www.baylorisr.org