Fewer Religious Americans

Status
Not open for further replies.
I applaud this sentiment. But more often than not, it feels like more of a loaded weapon. If most followers (at last the vocal ones;) ) expressed faith in your manner, the world would be a happier place.:thumbsup2

And yet, when you strip it all down, it's just about the relationship. I feel badly that for others it seems too constructed.
 
There probably has not been an actual decline in the number of religious people but only in the number of people who now publicly identify themselves as being religious. It is now politically incorrect to identify yourselves as part of a religious group since most religions are viewed as hateful and exclusionary. Furthermore, the media tends to portray most religous people as zealots or as ignorant. I would say 50 years ago more people identified themselves as part of a religious group only because of societal pressure to do so.

We are living in a society of anything goes. To actually say that something is morally wrong is detestable to alot of people. And as a few have already mentioned this is all a sign of the end times.
 
Got any documentation when the Pope or Rick Warren have been "sensitive" to the gays?

The Pope does not condemn homosexuality-he condemns practicing it.

BTW, I'm Catholic and I don't agree with his view of condemning the practice of homosexuality. All people should be able to love whomever they wish to love.
 
The Pope does not condemn homosexuality-he condemns practicing it.

BTW, I'm Catholic and I don't agree with his view of condemning the practice of homosexuality. All people should be able to love whomever they wish to love.

Are you sure about that last sentence?
 

There probably has not been an actual decline in the number of religious people but only in the number of people who now publicly identify themselves as being religious. It is now politically incorrect to identify yourselves as part of a religious group since most religions are viewed as hateful and exclusionary. Furthermore, the media tends to portray most religous people as zealots or as ignorant. I would say 50 years ago more people identified themselves as part of a religious group only because of societal pressure to do so.

We are living in a society of anything goes. To actually say that something is morally wrong is detestable to alot of people. And as a few have already mentioned this is all a sign of the end times.

Don't you think that you make the media's portrayal easier when you keep predicting the end of the world?

ford family
 
Don't you think that you make the media's portrayal easier when you keep predicting the end of the world?

ford family

I was referring to signs God gives in the Bible as to when Christ will reappear. His time frame could span one thousand more years. It is not known to us. Just because I believe that our time on earth is finite does not make me a radical. That is a huge part of my faith. It is also another basis for my faith- God's directions on what signs to look for.
 
Not to be rude (seriously not trying to be), but if your quoting scripture to make a point with non-believers, they may not have a Bible to read what those quotes are.

This atheist owns three bibles (different versions) and has read them several times. I just don't believe in what's there. That doesn't mean I'm not educated on the topic. ;)

However, you are right that quoting scripture to an atheist isn't a good way to defend your point. lol




Why do I get this feeling of deja vu?
 
This atheist owns three bibles (different versions) and has read them several times. I just don't believe in what's there. That doesn't mean I'm not educated on the topic. ;)

However, you are right that quoting scripture to an atheist isn't a good way to defend your point. lol




Why do I get this feeling of deja vu?

Hey, I am a Christian, and I'm too lazy to look up those verses. Spoiled with internet links, I guess. Regardless, I don't subscribe to 'we're in the end-times' thinking - not a literalist.
 
I was referring to signs God gives in the Bible as to when Christ will reappear. His time frame could span one thousand years. It is not known to us. Just because I believe that our time on earth is finite does not make me a radical. That is a huge part of my faith.

I know what you are referring to and I know my time on earth is finite.
I was pointing out that you bemoan the media characterising religious people as "zealots or as ignorant" but then reinforce their argument by saying that the current decline in the moral climate leaves you to think that the end of the world is nigh. Ironic?

ford family
 
Hey, I am a Christian, and I'm too lazy to look up those verses. Spoiled with internet links, I guess. Regardless, I don't subscribe to 'we're in the end-times' thinking - not a literalist.

Well laziness knows no religious boundaries. lol I'm not running to look them up either.
 
Hello everyone. I was reading this thread and I saw that some people were trying to guess why a majority of the youth is straying away from Religion. I'm in highschool and pretty much know how a lot of people feel towards religion now. I'm not going to speak for everyone but almost all of my friends share the same views as I do on it.
When someone is talking about Religion I automatically think hate, I automatically think of hate and closed-mindedness. I think of them because of what I see and what I am surrounded by. I know that in almost all of Religions homosexuality is looked down upon and not accepted. I have a friend who is a lesbian, she is 16. Her parents are pretty religious christians, attend church every Sunday, say grace at the table, and pray regularly. One day she decided she would try and tell them. When she did her mother screamed. She threatened to send her to her grandparents far away to straighten her out and distance their relationship. She told her that she was very dissapointed that she chose to do this. My friend was so upset she had to tell her mother that she was just kidding and was not a lesbian.
I have another extremely Religious friend who told me that if his child was a homosexual he would beat the homosexuality out of them. Isn't that nice. Something else that upsets me about Religion is how unaccepting it is and how differing Religions clash. It would be nice if differing religions could live in harmony. Hypocrisy and contradictions are another thing, many Religions claim to be very accepting. I have yet to see that. God loves you, you, you, you're going to heaven where it's beautiful and extravagant and great! You're a homosexual, you're going to hell where you'll burn and suffer. but remember, God loves you, too! That's what it sounds like to me.
Much of today's youth is turning to Atheism because of what we see. I do not believe in God because of all of the hate and destruction Religion causes, it's scary and pushes me away. I do not want to be part of it. My grandmother tried to teach me about Religion but it just sounded silly to me. Even at a young age. I just can't bring myself to believe a man rose from the dead, parted water, made some rules to follow, a virgin gave birth, a man created the Earth? It makes no sense. There's also more options nowadays other than God. For example, the Big Bang Theory. In my opinion this makes more sense and there is proof.
Basically, I am not Religious because of what it does to people and what it does to this world. Once again, I am not speaking for all of today's youth. This is how I see it and how I feel and how a lot of my friends see it the same way.
I understand that Religion is not going anywhere and is here to say. It would be nice if they wouldn't try to dominate and could peacefully exist in harmony with eachother.
 
Young people I think see the hipocracy of the homophobia promoted by most religions. Many kids believe that a religion that promotes hate simply can't be true. Unfortunately most religions promote hate of homosexuals. And mark my words, all this hate will destroy the religions themselves, not homosexuality.

This is exactly why I stopped going to church. I attended Catholic school all my life, and one day my religion teacher pulled me aside (in 12th grade) and said she overheard me telling my friend that I was in love (with the woman who is now my wife). She told me to never say that again, that is is not possible for a woman to be in love with another woman. That kind of turned me off to being Catholic and I no longer consider myself Catholic.

The church near our home had a big sign out front the other day that said "To God, there is no such thing as same sex marriage, no matter what the state says." :sad2:
 
Hello everyone. I was reading this thread and I saw that some people were trying to guess why a majority of the youth is straying away from Religion. I'm in highschool and pretty much know how a lot of people feel towards religion now. I'm not going to speak for everyone but almost all of my friends share the same views as I do on it.
When someone is talking about Religion I automatically think hate, I automatically think of hate and closed-mindedness. I think of them because of what I see and what I am surrounded by. I know that in almost all of Religions homosexuality is looked down upon and not accepted. I have a friend who is a lesbian, she is 16. Her parents are pretty religious christians, attend church every Sunday, say grace at the table, and pray regularly. One day she decided she would try and tell them. When she did her mother screamed. She threatened to send her to her grandparents far away to straighten her out and distance their relationship. She told her that she was very dissapointed that she chose to do this. My friend was so upset she had to tell her mother that she was just kidding and was not a lesbian.
I have another extremely Religious friend who told me that if his child was a homosexual he would beat the homosexuality out of them. Isn't that nice. Something else that upsets me about Religion is how unaccepting it is and how differing Religions clash. It would be nice if differing religions could live in harmony. Hypocrisy and contradictions are another thing, many Religions claim to be very accepting. I have yet to see that. God loves you, you, you, you're going to heaven where it's beautiful and extravagant and great! You're a homosexual, you're going to hell where you'll burn and suffer. but remember, God loves you, too! That's what it sounds like to me.
Much of today's youth is turning to Atheism because of what we see. I do not believe in God because of all of the hate and destruction Religion causes, it's scary and pushes me away. I do not want to be part of it. My grandmother tried to teach me about Religion but it just sounded silly to me. Even at a young age. I just can't bring myself to believe a man rose from the dead, parted water, made some rules to follow, a virgin gave birth, a man created the Earth? It makes no sense. There's also more options nowadays other than God. For example, the Big Bang Theory. In my opinion this makes more sense and there is proof.
Basically, I am not Religious because of what it does to people and what it does to this world. Once again, I am not speaking for all of today's youth. This is how I see it and how I feel and how a lot of my friends see it the same way.
I understand that Religion is not going anywhere and is here to say. It would be nice if they wouldn't try to dominate and could peacefully exist in harmony with eachother.

First, let me tell you how sorry I am that you and your friends feel persecuted by religion. I, myself, am often put off by what comes out of the mouths of my Christian brothers and sisters. Your doubts and questions is exactly the kind of dialogue Jesus would love to discuss in his day - and not in a condemning way.

I am reading a book right now that I am quite excited about called Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. It delves into Christianity without depending on doctrine to define it. It's also written in a very contemporary way that truthfully is more youth oriented. (I'm 45 and had to get used to the structure of the chapters.) Rob Bell is a pastor of a church that invites Seekers to ask the hard questions and does not shy away from attempting to answer them.

Thanks for your honesty in choosing to put out there your feelings regarding a very heavy topic.
 
Hey, I am a Christian, and I'm too lazy to look up those verses. Spoiled with internet links, I guess. Regardless, I don't subscribe to 'we're in the end-times' thinking - not a literalist.

Me either. I seem to recall a verse in the Gospels about "not knowing the day or the hour" and I'm leaving it at that.

IMHO, it's more important to worry about how we treat each other every day than about trying to figure out what is or isn't a "sign of the end times"
 
I know the mega churches don't have attendance problems esp. w/young people.
That is because the mega churches I am familiar with don't emphasize religion but relationship. Religion is nothing but a bunch of rote prayers, ritual and rules. Relationship is having a true relationship with God and other church members. At our church we average 5,000 every Sunday and even with that people know and care for each other. If I miss a Sunday people call or text to check on me unless I have told them I won't be there.
I cannot say I am religious. In fact I don't want to be religious, I want and have a relationship with God and my Savior.
 
Since this is a thread regarding declining religious Americans, I would like to post what is going on here in St. Louis regarding the the local Polish church here.

It is the beginning of the American Catholic Church, imo. A division that I see coming. Cafeteria Catholics are going to find it harder to maintain their allegiance to the Vatican.

It has been a topic for a few yrs and has turned alot of people here away from the Catholic Church. This was my final straw with the Catholic Church.

ST. LOUIS — The Rev. Marek Bozek, pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, has been stripped of his functions as a priest by Pope Benedict XVI.

Bozek said he will ignore the action of the pope and continue leading services at St. Stanislaus.
(more story....I didn't want to post the whole thing.)
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/ne...805EB2475C57686086257574007C002B?OpenDocument
 
Hello everyone. I was reading this thread and I saw that some people were trying to guess why a majority of the youth is straying away from Religion. I'm in highschool and pretty much know how a lot of people feel towards religion now. I'm not going to speak for everyone but almost all of my friends share the same views as I do on it.
When someone is talking about Religion I automatically think hate, I automatically think of hate and closed-mindedness. I think of them because of what I see and what I am surrounded by. I know that in almost all of Religions homosexuality is looked down upon and not accepted. I have a friend who is a lesbian, she is 16. Her parents are pretty religious christians, attend church every Sunday, say grace at the table, and pray regularly. One day she decided she would try and tell them. When she did her mother screamed. She threatened to send her to her grandparents far away to straighten her out and distance their relationship. She told her that she was very dissapointed that she chose to do this. My friend was so upset she had to tell her mother that she was just kidding and was not a lesbian.
I have another extremely Religious friend who told me that if his child was a homosexual he would beat the homosexuality out of them. Isn't that nice. Something else that upsets me about Religion is how unaccepting it is and how differing Religions clash. It would be nice if differing religions could live in harmony. Hypocrisy and contradictions are another thing, many Religions claim to be very accepting. I have yet to see that. God loves you, you, you, you're going to heaven where it's beautiful and extravagant and great! You're a homosexual, you're going to hell where you'll burn and suffer. but remember, God loves you, too! That's what it sounds like to me.
Much of today's youth is turning to Atheism because of what we see. I do not believe in God because of all of the hate and destruction Religion causes, it's scary and pushes me away. I do not want to be part of it. My grandmother tried to teach me about Religion but it just sounded silly to me. Even at a young age. I just can't bring myself to believe a man rose from the dead, parted water, made some rules to follow, a virgin gave birth, a man created the Earth? It makes no sense. There's also more options nowadays other than God. For example, the Big Bang Theory. In my opinion this makes more sense and there is proof.
Basically, I am not Religious because of what it does to people and what it does to this world. Once again, I am not speaking for all of today's youth. This is how I see it and how I feel and how a lot of my friends see it the same way.
I understand that Religion is not going anywhere and is here to say. It would be nice if they wouldn't try to dominate and could peacefully exist in harmony with eachother.

My son expresses alot of your same sentiments. He has not seen people up close and pesonal persecuted because of their faith...but he does not need to. Unfotunately, especially aound election times, the hate seems to spew further. He always asks me about the judgement and contol issues that seem to surround alot more of the more vocal Christians. He thinks religion should be for personal benifit - to willing parties - not to be inflicted on those who are unreceptive.

I try real hard to show him evidence that not all religious people act like that. I show him websites that show Churches helping the poor and sick and ununsured in their communities. I show him evidence of churches accepting all their flock, not just the ones the judge as appropriate. He gets it - but just wishes the noisy judgemental ones would shut up. I reminded him that the ones who do the most good, for truly selfless reasons tend not to be as vocal as the others - because they are doing it because it it the right thing to do - not because they want the praise.
 
Since this is a thread regarding declining religious Americans, I would like to post what is going on here in St. Louis regarding the the local Polish church here.

It is the beginning of the American Catholic Church, imo. A division that I see coming. Cafeteria Catholics are going to find it harder to maintain their allegiance to the Vatican.

It has been a topic for a few yrs and has turned alot of people here away from the Catholic Church. This was my final straw with the Catholic Church.


(more story....I didn't want to post the whole thing.)
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/ne...805EB2475C57686086257574007C002B?OpenDocument

The reason I'm still Catholic has nothing to do with the institution-it has to do with the individual people that have been there for me along the way. I've never met the Pope, and he frankly has little to do with my faith on a day to day basis.

I'm still Catholic because of Sister Roberta in 4th grade, Sr Ellen, Sr Ann and Sr Kathleen my professors in college, Fr Ray, Fr Jude and a host of others-all of who encouraged me to be myself and told me over and over that God loved me exactly as he made me. These folks lived the Gospel first, and cared more for others than they did for themselves, and I strive daily to be half as good as they were and are.

I've had some lousy experiences in my church life, but it was always the church goers that caused me the most hurt-not the clergy. It was the church members with money and power who delighted in condemning others while ignoring their own issues.

I had never heard institutional condemnation for homosexuals coming from the pulpit until I got down here.
 
The reason some of the Churches where I grew up are packed for each Mass is because all the other Churches in the area have closed.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.


Disney Vacation Planning. Free. Done for You.
Our Authorized Disney Vacation Planners are here to provide personalized, expert advice, answer every question, and uncover the best discounts. Let Dreams Unlimited Travel take care of all the details, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a stress-free vacation.
Start Your Disney Vacation
Disney EarMarked Producer






DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter

Add as a preferred source on Google

Back
Top Bottom