This was posted by Dave (e-nomo), an administrator over on the post mo board. Went to the site and found a number of very good pieces on this subject. Thought these might be of interest here.
(Thanks, Dave)
Dave (e-npmo) wrote: National Public Radio has a short series going called "Losing Our Religion" which is about the growing number of Americans who are, or are becoming, religiously "unaffiliated". I've only caught bits and pieces of this, but what I've heard was pretty interesting, and I'm glad to see the whole series is available online.
I find the trend among younger people, and the theories as to why, to be the most interesting. However, i do appreciate the following tidbits:
Still, religion still rules in America, as Putnam tells Greene. "Even with these recent changes the American religious commitments are incredibly stronger than in most other advanced countries in the world," Putnam says. "The average American is slightly more religious than the average Iranian, so we are a very religious country even today."
since 1950 when 2% of adults had no religious affiliation to 2010 with only 16%
"It begins to jump at around 1990," he says. "These were the kids who were coming of age in the America of the culture wars, in the America in which religion publicly became associated with a particular brand of politics, and so I think the single most important reason for the rise of the unknowns is that combination of the younger people moving to the left on social issues and the most visible religious leaders moving to the right on that same issue." which i believe is another by-product of the ongoing degeneration of the family in America.
In a nutshell, the group: comprises atheists and agnostics as well as those who ally themselves with "nothing in particular" includes many who say they are spiritual or religious in some way and pray every day overwhelmingly says they are not looking to find an organized religion that would be right for them is socially liberal, with three-quarters favoring same-sex marriage and legal abortion which, to me, reveals a certain confusion and contradiction among this group of emerging "nones". I consider that a symptom of a defective social product....and the following is why i am convinced that it is a larger social defect...
According to Harvard professor Robert Putnam, who writes about religion, this young generation has been distancing itself from community institutions and from institutions in general.
If the institutions degrade and destruct instead of evolve and adapt then what? surely, since we have all learned that no society has ever lasted..... who among us is willing to take the bullet for the future? who is willing to joyfully fall into demise with our community, our culture, our traditions, and our future for the sake of the next great society? A society which can only rise from the ashes of everything any of us here could ever and have ever considered "worthy"....... ....well almost everything
Seek freedom and become captive of your desires...seek discipline and find your liberty I can tell if a person is judgmental just by looking at them what is chaos to the fly is normal to the spider - morticia addams If you're not upsetting idiots, you might be an idiot. - Ted Nugent
Apparently "The average American is slightly more religious than the average Iranian, " is a statement of which you are proud.
Do you not see the problem with this?
no, there is no problem. What problem do you see? Obviously, the average American exercises his religion in a different manner than does the average Iranian....but i think it is an interesting distinction given that Iranian government is so closely linked to its religion....ironic really.
Seek freedom and become captive of your desires...seek discipline and find your liberty I can tell if a person is judgmental just by looking at them what is chaos to the fly is normal to the spider - morticia addams If you're not upsetting idiots, you might be an idiot. - Ted Nugent
subgenius wrote:If the institutions degrade and destruct instead of evolve and adapt then what? surely, since we have all learned that no society has ever lasted..... who among us is willing to take the bullet for the future? who is willing to joyfully fall into demise with our community, our culture, our traditions, and our future for the sake of the next great society? A society which can only rise from the ashes of everything any of us here could ever and have ever considered "worthy"....... ....well almost everything
*yawn*
i'm pretty sure the world will still revolve without church basketball, trunk or treat night, and phone calls to collect visiting teaching numbers.
subgenius wrote:If the institutions degrade and destruct instead of evolve and adapt then what? surely, since we have all learned that no society has ever lasted..... who among us is willing to take the bullet for the future? who is willing to joyfully fall into demise with our community, our culture, our traditions, and our future for the sake of the next great society? A society which can only rise from the ashes of everything any of us here could ever and have ever considered "worthy"....... ....well almost everything
*yawn*
I'm pretty sure the world will still revolve without church basketball, trunk or treat night, and phone calls to collect visiting teaching numbers.
rather myopic conclusions.....it will also still revolve without gay marriage.....and whatever the current scientific study is going on...etc...it will likely keep revolving until it stops......hardly the point.... the point is are you prepared to be that simple minding your own business Mayan that one day looks up and sees a Conquistador lop the head of the King-God? (because, in this scenario, you are most certainly the Mayan and not the Spaniard)
Seek freedom and become captive of your desires...seek discipline and find your liberty I can tell if a person is judgmental just by looking at them what is chaos to the fly is normal to the spider - morticia addams If you're not upsetting idiots, you might be an idiot. - Ted Nugent
DrW wrote:This was posted by Dave (e-nomo), an administrator over on the post mo board. Went to the site and found a number of very good pieces on this subject. Thought these might be of interest here.
(Thanks, Dave)
Dave (e-npmo) wrote: National Public Radio has a short series going called "Losing Our Religion" which is about the growing number of Americans who are, or are becoming, religiously "unaffiliated". I've only caught bits and pieces of this, but what I've heard was pretty interesting, and I'm glad to see the whole series is available online.
I see this as a good thing. While there will always be conflict in the world, I think there may be a lot less warfare. If most people believed that there is no paradise or heaven to go to after their lives are over they would be a lot less willing to go to war or strap explosives to themselves.
I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use. - Galileo
Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man. - The Dude
Don't you know there ain't no devil, there's just god when he's drunk - Tom Waits
Apparently "The average American is slightly more religious than the average Iranian, " is a statement of which you are proud.
Do you not see the problem with this?
no, there is no problem. What problem do you see?
Critical error #0001: no system on default drive
- Whenever a poet or preacher, chief or wizard spouts gibberish, the human race spends centuries deciphering the message. - Umberto Eco - To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous as to claim that Jesus was not born of a virgin. - Cardinal Bellarmine at the trial of Galilei
LUCIFER (to the LORD, little after the Creation): (the whole SCENE can be read here)
The fruit of mine own nature, nought beside Can I give Thee; (pointing to the angels) this abject band may give Thee praise enough, and it beseems them so.
That would be out of keeping with my nature. [pointing at the angels] Your paltry hosts will give you all the praise that is appropriate for them to give you
I only render what is in my nature. (Pointing to the angels) This wretched crew will serve to flatter You, Not surprisingly since they’re Your creatures.
I can pass nothing except my essence. (Pointing to the angels.) You are praised enough by this caddish crowd, As to praise you is only fair of them.
DrW wrote:
Urban Dictionary wrote: 1.crack me up 198 up, 29 down
When someone says something funny and you start laughing uncontrollably you say, "YOU CRACK ME UP".
"Urban Dictionary" Thank You again. I have it and use frequently. On this site it is not omissible.
- Whenever a poet or preacher, chief or wizard spouts gibberish, the human race spends centuries deciphering the message. - Umberto Eco - To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous as to claim that Jesus was not born of a virgin. - Cardinal Bellarmine at the trial of Galilei