The coordinated effort to erase the foundation of the West is beginning to crack. How should Christians respond?
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THE DECLINE OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE WEST: WHAT HAPPENED?
The West was once a beacon of Christian faith, from its cathedrals that defined skylines to national holidays centered around Christian tradition. Even as recently as the mid-20th century, public expressions of Christianity were common, and societal norms reflected biblical values. New York City's skyline famously arranged lights into crosses during Easter, and prayers were a staple in public schools. But today, Christianity in the West has been pushed to the margins, replaced by a secular, multicultural framework that often appears openly hostile to the faith that built Western civilization.
The decline of Christianity in public life was not an organic evolution but a deliberate process fueled by various ideological, legal and cultural forces. The push for secularism, which began with the removal of prayer from schools in the 1960s, laid the groundwork for a broader erosion of Christian influence. Governments, influenced by globalist and Marxist ideologies, introduced laws that restricted Christian expression while promoting moral relativism.
Multiculturalism was used as a tool to diminish Christianity's dominant role in society, presenting it as one belief system among many, rather than the moral foundation of the West. Meanwhile, media, academia and corporate interests systematically worked to replace Christian values with progressive ideologies.
Today, the effects of this shift are evident: Christian holidays are stripped of their religious significance, traditional moral teachings are labeled as hate speech, and, across the West, believers face legal consequences for living out their faith. The transition from a Christian-majority culture to a post-Christian society was not accidental but orchestrated by those who view Christianity as a barrier to their vision of a globalized, secular world order.
A HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF ATTACKS ON CHRISTIANITY IN THE WEST
1. The Mid-20th Century: The Rise of Secular Humanism
Following World War II, Western nations saw a growing emphasis on secularism as societies sought to rebuild around humanist values rather than religious principles. In the US, the landmark case Engel v. Vitale (1962) ruled that state-mandated prayer in public schools was unconstitutional, marking the beginning of Christianity's legal marginalization in public education. The plaintiffs in the case argued that opening the school day with such a prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution as applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. The governments of twenty-two states submitted an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court urging affirmance of the New York Court of Appeals decision which upheld the constitutionality of the prayer. However, the American Jewish Committee, the Synagogue Council of America and the American Ethical Union (a secular humanist group founded by Professor Felix Adler, associated with the Fabian Society, as well as the American Humanist Association, which was behind almost all elements of "wokeism" as we know it today) each submitted briefs urging the Court to instead reverse and rule that the prayer was unconstitutional.
Similar attacks were taking place in Europe as the post-war restructuring of governance included a deliberate effort to secularize laws, emphasizing "universal" human rights over Christian moral frameworks. This led to the gradual elimination of Christian holidays and symbols in public institutions. Meanwhile, in Canada and the UK, public prayers and religious assemblies were steadily phased out of schools.
The rise of postmodern philosophy further eroded Christianity's role in Western life. Universities embraced moral relativism, and media narratives began shifting to portray Christianity as archaic and oppressive. Hollywood and mainstream media intensified their push for secular and progressive values, often ridiculing or distorting Christian beliefs.
2. The Early 2000s: Governmental and Corporate Suppression
By the early 21st century, laws across Western nations increasingly criminalized traditional Christian beliefs. The UK's Religious Hatred Act (2006)Â was initially introduced to prevent violence against religious groups, but it quickly became a tool for prosecuting Christian preachers who spoke against cultural shifts in marriage and gender identity.
In the US, faith-based organizations faced mounting pressure to conform to secular policies, especially following the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate (2012), which forced Christian employers to provide services conflicting with their faith.
The past decade has seen an accelerated effort to remove Christian influence from public life. Laws in several European countries have banned Christian symbols in public workplaces, while Canadian laws like Bill C-16 (2017)Â criminalized "misgendering," disproportionately affecting Christians who uphold biblical teachings on gender.
Big Tech corporations have further enforced anti-Christian bias by deplatforming Christian voices who oppose progressive ideologies. In 2021, Amazon banned Christian books that contradicted popular ideology around transgenderism, while YouTube and Twitter (now X) have frequently censored Christian content under hate speech policies.
THE ENEMY'S STRONGHOLD IS BEGINNING TO CRACK For Christians, none of this is new information. Generations of Christians have noted and have been pushing back hard against this subversive trend for decades (and against other similar anti-Christ trends since the time of Christ). However, we are finally beginning to see significant cracks forming in the foundations of this subversive ideology.
Despite decades of decline in religious affiliation across Western nations, several indicators suggest a resurgence of Christianity in regions such as the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
1. Increased Youth Engagement in Faith
Notably, Generation Z is exhibiting a renewed interest in faith. Many young individuals are turning to faith communities, seeking purpose and connection and association in a world increasingly fragmented due to multiculturalism and relativism. This trend is evident in the rising number of young people participating in church activities and expressing a belief in a higher power.
2. Growth in Church Attendance and Baptisms
Several Western countries have reported an uptick in church attendance and baptisms. For instance, France experienced a significant rise in adult baptisms during the 2024 Easter vigil, with over 7,000 adults baptized – a 32% increase from the previous year. This surge indicates a growing interest in Christianity, even in self-acclaimed "secular societies."
3. Emergence of New Christian Movements and Conferences
The formation of new Christian movements and the organization of large-scale conferences reflect a revitalization of Christian thought and community.
The Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in London attracted over 4,000 attendees, including conservative politicians, theologians and business leaders, to discuss themes centered around traditional Christian family values and ways to combat the perceived decline of Western civilization. The Financial Times headline for the event called it "London's 'rightwing Davos,'" in reference to the annual WEF meetings that take place in Davos, Switzerland; as well as "Part megachurch, part political rally" showcasing the important intersection of Christianity with new conservative politics.
The ARC conference highlighted a growing movement among conservative thinkers to reaffirm the role of Christianity in public life, viewing it as essential to the cultural and moral fabric of the West. Other mass gatherings and revival events have seen substantial participation across the West, signaling a collective desire to reconnect with Christian roots. In Brisbane, Australia, the "Awakening Australia" rally drew thousands of Christians, resulting in over 1,000 reported conversions and numerous baptisms conducted in public settings. Asbury University in Kentucky saw a spontaneous and continuous worship service commence in February 2023, drawing approximately 50,000 to 70,000 visitors over several weeks from more than 200 academic institutions and numerous countries. The revival has been compared to similar revivals at Asbury, notably one that took place in 1970, which had far-reaching consequences in the Methodist culture of the United States, and the growth of the Jesus movement. Notably, the participants were mainly members of Generation Z. In 2024, in Hungary and Italy, massive gatherings saw thousands of people pack into stadiums across those two nations, with more than a thousand individuals committing their lives to Christ. 4. High-Profile Conversions and Public Figures Embracing Faith
Prominent individuals publicly embracing Christianity have brought renewed attention to the faith. The conversions of popular figures such as Candace Owens and Russell Brand, as well as influential politicians such as Vice President J.D. Vance, have renewed the discussions about the role of devout Christians in contemporary society
These developments suggest a multifaceted resurgence of Christianity across the Western world, characterized by increased youth involvement, growth in church participation, the rise of new movements, large-scale revival events, and influential public figures embracing the faith.
It is very clear that there is a surge of momentum behind a resurgence of faith and a desire for the restoration of a Western Civilization that is founded in Christ. It is now a matter of whether we as Christians can come together and create the political momentum, the same organizations and political action, and put forward the legislation to reverse the tide and restore our nations.
Part 2 is scheduled for publication Friday, March 7, 2025.
Arthur is a former editor and consultant. Born in India to missionary parents, he spent his early career working in development for NGOs in Asia, Central America, and Africa.
Arthur has an educational background in history and psychology, with certifications from the University of Oxford and Leiden in the economics, politics, and ethics of mass migration and comparative theories in terrorism and counterterrorism. He is currently launching CivWest, a company focused on building capital to fund restorative projects and create resilient systems across the Western world.
HOW SOULS AND LIBERTYÂ WILL MOVE FORWARD THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
There can be no doubt we have witnessed an extraordinary moment in the history of the United States and the world. The election of Donald Trump to a second Presidential term is a great victory for Christian patriots, but it is not a complete or final victory. Rather, it is a reprieve from the ceaseless assaults on life, liberty and faith we have had to endure for four years.
Donald Trump is president once again, and his decisions, Cabinet selections, and force of personality are shaping the United States and the world in ways we could only dream of.
We have a Heaven-sent opportunity to step up and ensure this victory is not merely a one-off, but the first of many and the foundation of a lasting legacy of patriotic, Christian, pro-family policies.
Souls and Liberty will be part of that effort, but we cannot do it without you. It will require reporting and activism that YOU can be a part of.
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Stephen Wynne
Editor-in-Chief, Souls and Liberty