Religion Americans Skeptical Of God But Think Heaven Is Real, Somehow

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Denny Crane

Denny Crane

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http://www.vocativ.com/news/299168/americans-pray-think-heaven-is-real/

Since 1980, the number of Americans who believe in God has decreased by half and the number who pray has declined five-fold. Has America lost its faith?

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Maybe they don't necessarily believe in the Christian idea of Heaven, but they believe in some form of afterlife and that's the easiest thing to call it?

I mean, I think we'd all like to hope that we don't just cease to exist after we die. I would rather not just blink out after my life is extinguished. Whether that means we're in some form of consciousness in the afterlife, or reincarnation, or something similar to the force or whatever.
 
Denny Crane said:
I think it's lights out forever when you die. Your consciousness completely ends, your body rots to dust.

No "soul" or anything else.
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That sounds like 'teh sux' honestly.
 
I wonder if Americans are really less religious, or it has just become more acceptable to admit it.

barfo
 
Actually I find it curious that this question would be pursued along such a narrow path. I asked a question one day, Why do men need religion? Being some what dubious about the subject in several ways, I decided it was time to see if I could study the issue, and answer the question. Answer the question to my satisfaction only, as it soon became obvious there would be no end to the matter if I would attempt to answer the question for mankind.

That mission took about five years of study. The key to completing the effort (to my satisfaction) was in the Declaration of Independence, "they are endowed by their Creator...".
What's this? Jefferson? The critic of Religion? More study.

Then to fill in the blanks, one must compare the religions to find their contribution and impediments to society. No I don't mean Algebra. And no, they are not all equal but some are parallel.
 
Denny Crane said:
I think it's lights out forever when you die. Your consciousness completely ends, your body rots to dust.

No "soul" or anything else.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the day brightener, Denny. Just what we all need on a Monday.....but I think anyone who doesn't believe in some kind of creator (and therefore some kind of afterlife) isn't paying attention. The doubters use unspeakable and unexplainable tragedies to dismiss the idea of of a God, but this world isn't so much about God as it is about us. I tend to believe that we're here as a test to see if we are worthy to continue to exist. Call it a soul or whatever you wish, there is an individual energy in every human that drives that person. It's not physically tangible, and therefore can't be easily explained away (if at all) as part of the grand, cosmic chemistry experiment that might possibly account for virtually everything else. I get that coincidences happen all the time, but I personally have seen enough evidence to believe firmly that something exists beyond this life and this world. And if I'm wrong??? I'll never know.....and neither will anyone else. I choose to believe, based on my version of evidence. And as far as prayer goes.......I've learned that's it's selfish....and usually useless.....to pray for one's self. When I pray for others is when I usually tend to see results.....
 
Denny Crane said:
I think it's lights out forever when you die. Your consciousness completely ends, your body rots to dust.

No "soul" or anything else.
Click to expand...

I personally feel that there is an unknown, explainable component to the Universe. Do I believe that there's an old man sitting on a thrown in the sky? No, but I think there's something. I have no idea what that entails. Religion, on the other hand, has been used to control the masses for thousands of years because people fear death and they fear what they can't explain, so it's easier to use "God" as a catchall for the unexplainable.
 
Natebishop3 said:
I personally feel that there is an unknown, explainable component to the Universe. Do I believe that there's an old man sitting on a thrown in the sky? No, but I think there's something. I have no idea what that entails. Religion, on the other hand, has been used to control the masses for thousands of years because people fear death and they fear what they can't explain, so it's easier to use "God" as a catchall for the unexplainable.
Click to expand...
Religion is a good thing for many reasons.

For one, it gives poor people something to live for. It provides a good set of rules to live by. And it eases the fear of the unknown. Because it's depressing as hell to think you have such a short time to live then you die and cease to exist. Plus it helps you cope with the loss of loved ones.

I'm kinda with you, along the agnostic thinking. There absolutely could be a God, I just don't know for sure.
 
Worship me and I will grant you all a place in my super heaven. And don't worry, there is a yuge wall around it blocking everyone else out.

No going to church necessary, just send me $20 a month. $50 if you want the deluxe accommodations.
 
JFizzleRaider said:
Unfortunately, you or I won't know the truth to that until you or I croak.

Taking a page out of Dennys book.

You first.

:P
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Actuarially speaking, that is highly likely. I'll let you know what I find out. If you don't hear from me, then I guess you have your answer.

barfo
 
VanillaGorilla said:
I don't really understand why it's so depressing that you cease to exist when you die. That's just how life works..
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Think about your mind and how you think.

Then think about what if in 5 seconds you died and no longer could think and ceased to exist. Therefore never getting to communicate with your best friends, wife, family etc.

That's depressing.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
Worship me and I will grant you all a place in my super heaven. And don't worry, there is a yuge wall around it blocking everyone else out.

No going to church necessary, just send me $20 a month. $50 if you want the deluxe accommodations.
Click to expand...
Slycultdog just doesn't have the same ring to it
 
Religions are run and controlled by humans, who are evil by nature.

I believe Jesus was real, a good man and taught many fine life lessons. However, I question if he was really a god as organized religion wants us to believe.

If Jesus was a god, why did he not teach us a couple of simple things, like the world is round, not flat? So the Catholic Church would not have tortured and killed so many innocent people for 1400 years after Jesus died simply because they did not believe the earth was the center of the universe.

I believe in God, the creator of the universe.

Due to an out of body experience (40 years ago) that was the most peaceful experience I have ever had, I believe in life after death.

I also believe I have been visited by my father, and also by my long time friend/mentor after they passed away. These 2 visits further confirm my belief of some sort of life after death.

It is organized religion that I do not believe in. However, I understand organized religion does help some people. Sadly, religion has also been used way too often for evil purposes and agendas.
 
JFizzleRaider said:
Think about your mind and how you think.

Then think about what if in 5 seconds you died and no longer could think and ceased to exist. Therefore never getting to communicate with your best friends, wife, family etc.

That's depressing.
Click to expand...


Eh. Of course, death sucks, but I don't think not believing in an afterlife is depressing. It's like not believing the Blazers will win the championship this season, it's just (most likely) how it's going to be. I'm not gonna get depressed about it.
 
oldfisherman said:
Religions are run and controlled by humans, who are evil by nature.

I believe Jesus was real, a good man and taught many fine life lessons. However, I question if he was really a god as organized religion wants us to believe.

If Jesus was a god, why did he not teach us a couple of simple things, like the world is round, not flat? So the Catholic Church would not have tortured and killed so many innocent people for 1400 years after Jesus died simply because they did not believe the earth was the center of the universe.

I believe in God, the creator of the universe.

Due to an out of body experience (40 years ago) that was the most peaceful experience I have ever had, I believe in life after death.

I also believe I have been visited by my father, and also by my long time friend/mentor after they passed away. These 2 visits further confirm my belief of some sort of life after death.

It is organized religion that I do not believe in. However, I understand organized religion does help some people. Sadly, religion has also been used way too often for evil purposes and agendas.
Click to expand...

Perhaps it is just a the simple mind of an old engineer, but you make it seem like, it is just a simple matter of properly valuing the pluses and minuses. Rather like finding the vertical center of gravity.
Not all weight is negative, it depends on the value of the height. It's the net that counts.
 
We've discussed religion in multiple earlier threads, so I don't see a purpose in going down that road again. I'll just say that the existence or non-existence of a creator isn't validated or negated by a popularity poll.
 
MarAzul said:
Perhaps it is just a the simple mind of an old engineer, but you make it seem like, it is just a simple matter of properly valuing the pluses and minuses. Rather like finding the vertical center of gravity.
Not all weight is negative, it depends on the value of the height. It's the net that counts.
Click to expand...

No offense, but I do not understand your meaning. Maybe you can give me an example of your meaning.

You say you studied religion for 5 years. I attended catholic school for 8 years, an alter boy taught by nuns. I have a cousin that I grew up with that is a priest. I have a good friend that I grew up with that is also a priest and now holds a position in the Vatican.

I have had long talks with both of them concerning the Catholic Church. I have even taken several week long vacations with my cousin/priest because he needed a break from the pressures of the church. He is very religious, but he also has many questions about the Catholic Church, and their agendas. Most of his questions revolve around decisions made by the church based on acquiring more money instead of helping the people that really need it.

So I also started to study other religions. I spent several decades trying to understand them. They all had good points, but they also all had issues that bothered me. The more I study organized religions, the more skeptical I become about them.
 
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