Faith in God in the US is declining, according to a new survey. Today, less than 50 percent are convinced of God’s existence and 34 percent of Americans never attend church, the lowest recorded figures ever.
The General Social Survey, conducted by the University of Chicago’s NORC research group, has been measuring social trends in the US since 1972. The latest survey found that just under 50 percent of Americans are convinced of God’s existence, the UK’s Independent reports.
Faith in God is on a downward trend; in 1993, for example, two-thirds were convinced in their belief in God, while in 2008 it dropped to around 60 percent.
The survey also found that 34 percent of Americans never go to church, the lowest figure since the 1970s. In contrast, only seven percent said they do not believe in God at all, while three-quarters say they believe in an afterlife.
According to a Paw Research Center study from last year, about 90 percent identified themselves as Christians in the United States by 1990, a figure that has dropped to less than 70 percent, according to the research.
Today, about 13.6 percent of Americans consider themselves part of the Protestant evangelical Christian movement, down from 23 percent in 2008. 12.6 percent describe themselves as Catholic, down from 16 percent.
Around 15 percent say they are non-denominational Protestants, or ‘nons’. These people often report attending ‘megachurches’, i.e. huge churches with many members, often of a Protestant orientation.
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Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announces that the country will recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly later in September. At the same time, a series of sanctions are being imposed against the Israeli government, including import bans from illegal settlements and entry bans for two extremist ministers.
Belgium will formally recognize a Palestinian state when the UN General Assembly opens on September 9, according to the country’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot.
“Palestine will be recognized by Belgium during the UN session! And firm sanctions are being imposed on the Israeli government”, Prévot writes on platform X.
The foreign minister announces that Belgium will implement twelve sanctions targeting Israel at the national level. The decision comes as a reaction to what he describes as a “humanitarian tragedy in Palestine” and Israel’s actions in violation of international law.
“Belgium had to take strong decisions to increase pressure on the Israeli government”, Prévot explains. “This is not about sanctioning the Israeli people but about ensuring that their government respects international and humanitarian law and taking action to try to change the situation on the ground”.
Comprehensive package of measures
The sanctions package contains several concrete measures:
• Ban on imports of products from Israeli settlements
• Review of public procurement with Israeli companies
• Restrictions on consular assistance to Belgian citizens in illegal settlements
• Possible legal prosecutions
• Ban on overflights and transit
• Entry ban for two extremist Israeli ministers, Hamas leaders and several violent settlers
Although Prévot did not name the ministers, it appears to concern Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who have already been hit by similar measures from other EU countries such as the Netherlands.
La Palestine sera reconnue par la Belgique lors de la session de l’ONU ! Et des sanctions fermes sont prises à l’égard du gouvernement israélien. Tout antisémitisme ou glorification du terrorisme par les partisans du Hamas sera aussi plus fortement dénoncé.
Belgium will also work for measures at the EU level, including suspending the union’s association agreement with Israel and terminating research programs and technical cooperation.
The recognition of Palestine takes place within the framework of a joint initiative from France and Saudi Arabia.
“Belgium will recognize Palestine during the joint initiative of France and Saudi Arabia. A strong political and diplomatic gesture to preserve the chances of a two-state solution”, writes Prévot, who also states that Brussels is participating in the initiative to “mark the condemnation of Israel’s expansionist ambitions with its settlement programs and military occupations”.
Hostages must be released first
Prévot emphasizes that the measures are directed against Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and its actions during the 22-month-long offensive against Gaza – not against the Jewish people.
The government simultaneously states that it also intends to take measures against glorification of Hamas and combat what it describes as antisemitism.
The sanctions will take effect through royal decree, but only after the last hostage held by Hamas in Gaza has been released and when the group no longer has any role in the administration of Palestine.
Sky News economic analyst and editor Ed Conway warns that the Western world is drastically underestimating how significant the Eurasian alliance Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is becoming.
According to Conway, the Ukraine war and Western sanctions against Russia have accelerated a historic power shift where China, Russia and India are now forming an increasingly strong counterweight to the G7 countries.
While G7 countries’ exports to Russia have collapsed to almost zero, China’s exports have instead increased dramatically. India has gone from barely importing Russian oil to relying on the country for the majority of its crude oil imports. British analyst Ed Conway argues that the consequences of the Ukraine war extend far beyond Europe’s borders.
“The vast majority of policymakers in Westminster, let alone elsewhere around the UK, have never heard of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation”, Conway writes in his analysis from the summit in Tianjin, China this week.
He believes this grouping of ten Eurasian states – led by China, Russia and India – deserves significantly more attention in Europe.
The analyst identifies February 2022 as a watershed moment. Before the war, G7 countries exported roughly as much to Russia as China did, and Europe was then the largest importer of Russian oil. Today, the figures show a completely different reality. While Western sanctions have decimated G7 trade with Russia, China’s exports have instead exploded.
“Exports of Chinese transportation equipment are up nearly 500%”, Conway notes.
A future without the US?
In parallel, India has undergone a dramatic change in its energy purchases. The country has gone from importing “next to no Russian oil to relying on the country for the majority of its crude imports”.
This development has led the US to consider drastic measures. Conway points to how Washington has threatened to impose “secondary tariffs” against India, which would double the tariff level on Indian goods to 50 percent – “one of the highest levels in the world”.
“The upshot of Ukraine, in other words, isn’t just misery and war in Europe. It’s a sharp divergence in economic strategies around the world”, he states.
The analyst identifies a deeper structural change taking place. Asian nations have begun to “envisage something they had never quite imagined before: an economic future that doesn’t depend on the American financial infrastructure”.
Putin, Modi and Xi Jinping during the SCO summit this week. Photo: Kremlin/CC BY 4.0
“Once sworn rivals”
Conway explains that Asian countries have traditionally been the largest buyers of US government bonds, partly to secure dollars for oil purchases. But since the war in Ukraine escalated, Russia has begun selling oil without pricing it in dollars, while many Asian nations have reduced their purchases of US government bonds.
“Part of the explanation for the recent rise in US and UK government bond yields is that there is simply less demand for them from foreign investors than there used to be”, he notes.
A particularly concerning trend for Western leaders is the growing economic weight of SCO countries, and Conway points out that when adjusted for purchasing power, these nations’ share of global GDP is now approaching the combined share of advanced economies.
But perhaps the most surprising development is the rapprochement between China and India, which for long periods have had a very strained, and at times almost openly hostile relationship.
“Something that would have seemed completely implausible only a few years ago”, Conway writes, is that these “once sworn rivals” are now approaching economic reconciliation.
As India now faces harsh US tariffs, the country hardly sees any risk in approaching China through this rare journey to strengthen relations with Beijing, according to the analyst.
Had a fruitful meeting with President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. We reviewed the positive momentum in India-China relations since our last meeting in Kazan. We agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility in border areas and… pic.twitter.com/HBYS5lhe9d
Conway calls the development “a seismic moment in geopolitics” and concludes his analysis with a warning:
“For a long time, the world’s two most populous nations were at loggerheads. Now they are increasingly moving in lockstep with each other. That is a consequence few would have guessed at when Russia invaded Ukraine. Yet it could be of enormous importance for geopolitics in future decades”, he states.
The economic analyst’s conclusion is clear: the Ukraine war and sanctions against Russia have had an unexpected effect. Instead of isolating Russia, it has welded together Asia’s superpowers and accelerated the West’s economic decline.
The SCO was founded in 2001 and has ten member countries: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus. The organization started as a security policy cooperation but now also encompasses economic and political issues.
The member countries represent over 40 percent of the world's population and when adjusted for purchasing power, SCO countries account for nearly half of global GDP. The organization's secretariat is located in Beijing and the chairmanship rotates between member countries.
G7 (Group of Seven)
The G7 consists of the USA, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada. The group was formed in the 1970s as a forum for economic coordination between industrialized liberal democracies. The G7 countries account for approximately 30 percent of global GDP and have long played a central role in the international financial system.
The EU participates in G7 meetings as an observer. Since 2022, the G7 has coordinated economic sanctions against Russia following the war in Ukraine.
Chinese President Xi Jinping launched a frontal attack against Western “hegemony and power politics” when he opened the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.
Before 20 world leaders, he demanded a new world order free from Western dominance and called for a multipolar world with a more equal distribution of power.
At Monday’s opening speech before more than 20 world leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and India’s Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping urged member countries to continue resisting what he described as bullying behavior within the international system.
— The global situation remains volatile and turbulent. We must reject bullying, oppose external interference, and safeguard the legitimate development rights of all countries, Xi warned.
The Chinese leader invoked what he called the “Shanghai Spirit” – principles that according to Xi are based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation and respect for different civilizations. He also praised the progress SCO has made since its founding in 2001 and presented new priorities for the organization.
— We should advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and make the global governance system more just and equitable, the Chinese president continued.
At the #SCO Tianjin Summit, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), highlighting five principles:
adhering to sovereign equality
abiding by international rule of law
practicing multilateralism
advocating the people-centered approach
and… pic.twitter.com/frNLeexGPI
He emphasized that members must “oppose the Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation, and bullying practices” – terms that Beijing often uses to criticize US and Western policies.
— We uphold justice and fairness, and oppose hegemony and power politics. Constructive participation in international affairs must be based on respect, not domination, he continued.
Summit amid tariff crisis
Xi described all SCO members as “friends and partners” and called for forms of cooperation that benefit all parties while respecting national differences. He also called for strengthened cultural and social exchange between peoples, evidence-based decision-making within the organization and improved strategic communication.
— Joint cooperation makes it possible for all cultures to flourish in prosperity and harmony, he assured.
The statements come after China’s sharp condemnation of Trump’s recently imposed tariffs against several countries, including India.
Had an excellent meeting with President Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin. Discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in all sectors, including trade, fertilisers, space, security and culture. We exchanged views on regional and global developments, including… pic.twitter.com/DhTyqOysbf
The US and China currently have a fragile ceasefire in the tariff conflict after Trump postponed the reintroduction of high tariffs against Beijing by 90 days. Last week, however, Trump threatened 200-percent tariffs if China restricts exports of rare earth magnets to the US.
Xi also emphasized the need for strengthened multilateralism and that the UN’s role as well as the global trade system must be preserved.
Growing economic influence
The SCO countries’ combined GDP approaches €27 trillion and the organization’s global influence is expanding at a corresponding pace, noted the Chinese leader who also established that members today work together to handle challenges within security, environmental issues and innovation.
China’s trade with the organization’s member states has exceeded €2.1 trillion, and Xi particularly highlighted projects within Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative and how Chinese investments in member countries have already passed $84 billion.
During the summit, which gathered representatives from over 20 nations in Asia, Europe and the Middle East as well as from the UN and ASEAN, China presented several concrete proposals. They called for rapid creation of an SCO development bank and a new regional center for various types of security challenges. Additionally, Xi Jinping announced 100 small-scale livelihood projects to be implemented in member states.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in connection with the SCO summit in Tianjin, China. Photo: MEAphotogalleryCC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Xi also promised additional investments in education and training of scientific and technical skills to support future growth within the region.
— The organization has set a model for a new type of international relations, he said and promised to work to lift SCO to new heights.
The summit in Tianjin shows according to analysts how China is systematically building alternatives that can challenge Western institutions, and analysts point out that SCO’s growing economic weight gives Xi’s vision of a multipolar world increasingly greater impact.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an economic and security alliance founded in 2001. The organization encompasses over 20 nations from Asia, Europe and the Middle East, including the major powers China, Russia and India. The combined GDP of SCO countries approaches $30 trillion, making the organization one of the world's largest economic blocs.
Originally, the SCO focused on security issues and counter-terrorism in Central Asia, but has expanded to include economic cooperation, trade and cultural exchange. China views the organization as a counterweight to Western alliances such as the G7 and NATO, and under Xi Jinping's leadership, the SCO has increasingly positioned itself as a platform for a "multipolar world order" free from Western dominance.
European leaders are working on what European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calls “quite precise plans” for troop deployments in Ukraine following a potential peace agreement.
However, how this would be financed and what powers the troops would have remains unclear.
In an interview with Financial Times, von der Leyen claims the plans have full American support and that President Trump has promised American presence as backup.
— Security guarantees are paramount and absolutely crucial. We have a clear road map and we had an agreement in the White House and this work is going forward very well, states the European Commission President.
According to the EU leader, the troop deployment could involve tens of thousands of European soldiers, supported by American command and control systems. However, exactly how many countries would participate or what their mandate would be is not clear at present.
The plans are said to have been discussed at last month’s meeting in Washington between Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders. The same group is expected to meet again in Paris on September 4th, this time at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Sudden confidence in Trump
After European leaders spent months worrying about Trump’s statements about quickly ending the war and reducing American support to Ukraine, von der Leyen now presents him as a reliable partner.
— Putin has not changed, he is a predator. Trump wants peace and Putin is not coming to the negotiation table. He has a negative experience with Putin, more and more Putin does not do what he says, she claims.
Defense ministers from the so-called coalition are said to have met last week according to von der Leyen and “worked out pretty precise plans”. At the same time, she acknowledges that troop deployments are among the most sensitive decisions a nation can make.
— Deploying troops is one of the most important sovereign decisions of a nation, but the sense of urgency is very high. It’s moving forward. It’s really taking shape, says von der Leyen.
Who will pay the bill?
The EU leader signals that EU taxpayers will have to bear a significant part of the financing of Ukraine’s defense even after a peace agreement. The European Commission will examine new funding sources for what she calls “sustainable financing of the Ukrainian armed forces as a security guarantee”.
— After any peace deal, Kyiv would need quite a sizeable number of soldiers and they need good salaries and of course, modern equipment it’s for sure the EU that will have to chip in, she continues.
In addition to existing support, according to von der Leyen “an extra payment” will be provided for the Ukrainian armed forces. Member countries are also urged to use a loan fund of €150 billion for continued weapons purchases for Ukraine.
Despite the ambitious plans, there are still no answers to fundamental questions about how long a potential deployment would last, under what legal framework it would take place, and what happens if not all EU countries want to participate.
