How has Christianity evolved over the last 50 years?

In my opinion, two things have evolved in Christianity more than anything. The first is in general opportunities to obtain Bible knowledge. With the advent of the world wide web, along with advances in cable television, and the general pervasiveness and availability of transportation, people now have more access than ever to the scriptures, explanations of the scriptures, and pastoral sermons. It isn’t like times past where a person had to be raised in a religious household, read the family Bible, and attend church every Sunday in order to attain a steady intake of biblical precepts. While such an experience is one that surely produces a sense of family unity, and responsibility, the life and times of the American family and American society have changed drastically to where the above described experience isn’t as feasible in 2017 as it was years ago.

Secondly, the goals of the teachers and preachers of the Christian cultural tradition and doctrine have changed. In times past, most people received their knowledge of the scriptures from local pastors that oversaw congregations of 50–200 members. Cassette tapes of pastoral Sermons from the more widely known pastors were popular as well. The goal of these evangelists was “soul winning” or converting people unto Christ via mechanisms such as baptism, and or a verbal confession of one’s belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. In times past, a pastor prided himself on how many “souls” he won over to Jesus Christ over the course of their pastoral career with many pastors keeping count of these achievements.

Nowadays, the scriptures are used by pastors as motivational tools for the masses, and as ways to establish a general presence in the community namely through community outreach programs. Furthermore pastors in 2017 exercise the presentation of more universally understandable explanations of Biblical precepts, namely through more-recent renditions of the 1611 King James Bible.

With the availability of internet access, and streaming videos on YouTube, as well as online books, movies, and interactive slideshows, the scriptures are less mysterious and more appealing than ever before, making the precepts that govern Christianity more appealing in the process.