Here is what a university website states:
QUOTE
Despite its American roots, creationism has now “flooded the world”––it is an international phenomenon along with its associated religious world view, fundamentalism.
taken from: http://www.biol.andrews.edu/issues/Hist.Creat.Lec
taken from: http://www.biol.andrews.edu/issues/Hist.Creat.Lec
I believe the above is true.
A QUICK VIEW OF THE US
First, let us take a look at the USA. Theologically liberal churches are generally losing members and theologically conservative churches are growing ( I believe part of the reason is that theologically liberal Christianity has a lot of errant ideas: http://www.home.earthlink.net/~gbl111/liberalism.htm ). In general, I believe theologically liberal churches would be more prone to the macroevolutionary position and theologically conservative churches would be more prone to having creationist ideas more dominant (I say this because theologically conservative churcher rightly believe there is excellent historical evidence given in the Bible: see: http://www.home.earthlink.net/~gbl111/historical.htm and Bible evidence at: http://www.christian-forum.net/index.php?showforum=15 ).
With the aforementioned said, I cite:
Why Are Conservative Churches Growing? :
http://www.albertmohler.com/commentary_rea...date=2005-05-19
Denominations: Conservatives Grow, Mainlines Decline, Study Concludes Written by Art Toalston :
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_pa...3D50011,00.html
A New Exodus? Americans are Exiting Liberal Churches:
http://www.albertmohler.com/commentary_pri...date=2005-06-06
AUSTRALIA
PBS (WHICH I BELIEVE SOME VIEW AS VERY LIBERAL AND PRO-MACROEVOLUTIONARY IN POSITION, see: http://www.arn.org/docs/pbsevolution/withamwp092701.htm ) REPORTS THAT CREATIONISM IS SPEADING WORLDWIDE
QUOTE
c. 1980-1990: Global Spread of Creationism
(Evolution Challenged)
Creationism spreads worldwide. A movement born in the U.S. -- and for many years exclusively American -- now has converts around the globe. Australia is a particular stronghold; one of the three largest centers for creation research lies in Queensland. And leaders of the creationist movement claim that five percent of the Australian population now believe that Earth is thousands, rather than billions, of years old. The movement also gains ground in New Zealand, Korea, Russia, and even among Muslims in Turkey and the Middle East.
TAKEN FROM: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/religion...ution/1980.html
(Evolution Challenged)
Creationism spreads worldwide. A movement born in the U.S. -- and for many years exclusively American -- now has converts around the globe. Australia is a particular stronghold; one of the three largest centers for creation research lies in Queensland. And leaders of the creationist movement claim that five percent of the Australian population now believe that Earth is thousands, rather than billions, of years old. The movement also gains ground in New Zealand, Korea, Russia, and even among Muslims in Turkey and the Middle East.
TAKEN FROM: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/religion...ution/1980.html
Here is what I found that was posted in October 2004:
QUOTE
More than a quarter of Australians believe the Bible offers a more likely explanation of the origins of life than evolution, an opinion poll says.
More people - 43 per cent compared with 28 per cent - preferred science to religion, another 12 per cent were inclined towards a combination of both, while 17 per cent were undecided whether the earth was made in six days or billions of years.
The poll, by UMR research for Hawker Britton, found that women, older people, Liberal voters and Queenslanders were less inclined to believe in evolution. People from NSW, people living in the inner cities and those earning over $80,000 preferred evolution as an explanation of how we got here …
taken from: http://badanalysis.com/catallaxy/?p=352
More people - 43 per cent compared with 28 per cent - preferred science to religion, another 12 per cent were inclined towards a combination of both, while 17 per cent were undecided whether the earth was made in six days or billions of years.
The poll, by UMR research for Hawker Britton, found that women, older people, Liberal voters and Queenslanders were less inclined to believe in evolution. People from NSW, people living in the inner cities and those earning over $80,000 preferred evolution as an explanation of how we got here …
taken from: http://badanalysis.com/catallaxy/?p=352
At around 1990 about 5% of the Australians believe in creationism according to my PBS source. My newer source in 2004 says about 25% of Australian's believe in creationism more than the macroevolutionary position? Did creationism grow significantly Australia in about 15 years?
IN THE NON-WESTERN WORLD CREATIONISM/EVANGELICISM/FUNDAMENTALISM/THEOLOGICALLY CONSERVATIVE CHURCHES ARE OFTEN EXPLODING
Also, the same is happening outside the Western world.
I cite:
QUOTE
As Penn State professor Philip Jenkins writes in The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity, predictions like Huntington’s betray an ignorance of the explosive growth of Christianity outside of the West.
For instance, in 1900, there were approximately 10 million Christians in Africa. By 2000, there were 360 million. By 2025, conservative estimates see that number rising to 633 million. Those same estimates put the number of Christians in Latin America in 2025 at 640 million and in Asia at 460 million.....
And these changes will be more than demographic. Jenkins points out that who he calls "Southern Christians" -- those living in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia -- are far more conservative, theologically and morally, than their counterparts in the West.
taken from: http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/BibleStud...olson020722.asp
For instance, in 1900, there were approximately 10 million Christians in Africa. By 2000, there were 360 million. By 2025, conservative estimates see that number rising to 633 million. Those same estimates put the number of Christians in Latin America in 2025 at 640 million and in Asia at 460 million.....
And these changes will be more than demographic. Jenkins points out that who he calls "Southern Christians" -- those living in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia -- are far more conservative, theologically and morally, than their counterparts in the West.
taken from: http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/BibleStud...olson020722.asp
I also cite:
QUOTE
About 25 percent of the world's Christians are Pentecostal or charismatic, historian Vinson Synan, dean of the Regent University School of Divinity in Virginia Beach, told the triennial Pentecostal World Conference (PWC) in Seoul in September. An estimated 450 million are charismatic or Pentecostal.
"The continuing explosive growth of Pentecostalism indicates that the renewal will continue with increasing strength into the next millennium," Synan declared. "Not only is growth occurring in eye-catching megachurches, but in tens of thousands of small local churches that are planted each year in big cities and remote villages."
taken from: http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/1998/nov16/8td28a.html
"The continuing explosive growth of Pentecostalism indicates that the renewal will continue with increasing strength into the next millennium," Synan declared. "Not only is growth occurring in eye-catching megachurches, but in tens of thousands of small local churches that are planted each year in big cities and remote villages."
taken from: http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/1998/nov16/8td28a.html
EUROPE
In Europe creationism/fundamentalism/evangelicals are facing a lot of opposition especially in France it appears.
I cite:
The Coming Underground Church in EuropeBy Wendy Griffith
CBN News Reporter :
http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/ChurchAnd...ory/021206a.asp
Personally, I believe that there are definite signs though the Europe is on the decline in terms of population and economics which tells me they will likely have less influence at least in the near term.
I agree with the economic and political columnist Robert J. Samuelson who believes Europe is on the decline in general and will continue to slide.
I cite:
The End of Europe By Robert J. Samuelson:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...5061401340.html
If anyone wishes to see what is happening in Europe somewhat recently in regards to creationism here is a resource:
Creationism in Europe
http://www.fsteeman.dds.nl/europe/euroframe.html
If anyone wishes to make further comments on Europe it would be most welcome.
SUMMARY
I believe that creationism has a lot of merit scientifically (see: CREATIONISM at:
http://www.christian-forum.net/index.php?showtopic=180).
I also believe there is definitely a resurgence in evangelical/fundamentalism/Pentocostal thought throughout the world and that atheism and theologically liberal ideas are losing favor.