Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

He went to where the audiences of the day were to deliver his sermons, didn't he?

And so it has indeed come to pass.

This decline doesn't surprise me but I disagree with the original quote. I don't believe it is a judgement from God on the church but a judgement of the world on the church's. As church became more of an entertainment and a place to be seen. Couple that with a lot of church doctrine that doesn't go along with the text that the church is based on and you have a problem. Then add in the tendency of many church groups to say "our way is the only way" while discounting the reality of humans and science and you have a bigger problem. Then add in the increasing tendency for the church to involve itself in politics for its own good and yes many people in America are disenchanted with the whole thing. Additionally due to things like the internet people are finding that there are other ways out there and perhaps one of those would resonate more with a given person.

I will admit to some amusement that the quote is from an interview with Playboy and many branches of the church would condemn him for having anything to do with that magazine which focused on lust rather than procreation.