Religion STUDY: AMERICANS BECOMING LESS CHRISTIAN, MORE SECULAR

[Denny Crane]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie...ME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-05-12-08-23-24

NEW YORK (AP) -- The number of Americans who don't affiliate with a particular religion has grown to 56 million in recent years, making the faith group researchers call "nones" the second-largest in total numbers behind evangelicals, according to a Pew Research Center study released Tuesday.

Christianity is still the dominant faith by far in the U.S.; 7 in 10 Americans identify with the tradition. However, the ranks of Christians have declined as the segment of people with no religion has grown, the survey says.

Between 2007 and 2014, when Pew conducted two major surveys of U.S. religious life, Americans who described themselves as atheist, agnostic or of no particular faith grew from 16 percent to nearly 23 percent. At the same time, Christians dropped from about 78 percent to just under 71 percent of the population. Protestants now comprise 46.5 percent of what was once a predominantly Protestant country.

 

[Denny Crane]

The horror! Nobody's marriage is safe. Fire and brimstone for everyone.

 

[magnifier661]

What atheists wants, atheists gets...

Atheists save us all

 

[Natebishop3]

Americans becoming less skinny, more fat.

 

[HailBlazers]

WE ARE WE YELLING

because our country is going to hell in a hand basket

 

[Denny Crane]

WE ARE WE YELLING

because our country is going to hell in a hand basket

Title of the article is all caps.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

This sounds like the perfect time for me to fill this void and become a god.

Worship me!

 

[Natebishop3]

This sounds like the perfect time for to fill this void and become a god.

Worship me!

Alexander the Great, you are not.

 

[Denny Crane]

Atheism. On court +7, off court -7.

+7 is progress!

 

[donkiez]

Geeze I dont know why, fundamentalist Christians and Muslims make it all sound sooooo appealing.

 

[BrianFromWA]

There wasn't anywhere to go but down.

Narrow path, wide gate, something something...

 

[Denny Crane]

There wasn't anywhere to go but down.

Narrow path, wide gate, something something...

Delta 14.

Not insignificant. Sample size plenty statistically large enough.

 

[magnifier661]

Have you ever wondered why certain fundamentalists do what they do?

I suspect it has more to do with man creating laws to control people. Something like governments creating laws to control people. The true liberty is when laws don't matter. When people can adopt a civilization of forgiveness, love for even your enemy and lack of greed.

 

[magnifier661]

There wasn't anywhere to go but down.

Narrow path, wide gate, something something...

Yeah, it's pretty funny because this has been prophesied in the Bible.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Delta 14.

Not insignificant. Sample size plenty statistically large enough.

I'm not saying it isn't, as anyone who's attempted to do ministry in Seattle (and I'd imagine, Portland) can tell you. And of the "70% that 'identify' as Christian", well, if I wear a K*be jersey and shout M-V-P while he's at the line in the Rose Garden, my "identification" as a Blazer fan is kinda moot.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want any part of a theocratic state (even if it was my particular flavor of theocracy), and I don't think America should be one. However, my opinion is that the removal of the concept of a Creator and a Created Universe has far-reaching implications that make society not as good. Specifically, the value of human life and the disinterest in taking care of people who need help, rather than passing out cash and ignoring those who break laws--especially those that impact others' lives.

 

[donkiez]

Have you ever wondered why certain fundamentalists do what they do?

I suspect it has more to do with man creating laws to control people. Something like governments creating laws to control people. The true liberty is when laws don't matter. When people can adopt a civilization of forgiveness, love for even your enemy and lack of greed.

Smokers often find that cigarettes are very soothing and relaxing. However they are only soothing the anxiety cause by their addiction to the cigarettes.

 

[Denny Crane]

I'm not saying it isn't, as anyone who's attempted to do ministry in Seattle (and I'd imagine, Portland) can tell you. And of the "70% that 'identify' as Christian", well, if I wear a K*be jersey and shout M-V-P while he's at the line in the Rose Garden, my "identification" as a Blazer fan is kinda moot.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want any part of a theocratic state (even if it was my particular flavor of theocracy), and I don't think America should be one. However, my opinion is that the removal of the concept of a Creator and a Created Universe has far-reaching implications that make society not as good. Specifically, the value of human life and the disinterest in taking care of people who need help, rather than passing out cash and ignoring those who break laws--especially those that impact others' lives.

But you want to push concept of Creator and Created Universe on me.

Kind of "do as I say, not as I do" of you.

 

[Denny Crane]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politi...ys-study.-Will-that-hurt-the-Republican-Party
America becoming less Christian, says study. Will that hurt the Republican Party?

The number of religiously unaffiliated Americans has grown to about 56 million, greater than Catholics and mainline Protestants and second in size only to evangelical Protestants.

 

[Denny Crane]

Yeah, it's pretty funny because this has been prophesied in the Bible.

 

[magnifier661]

Smokers often find that cigarettes are very soothing and relaxing. However they are only soothing the anxiety cause by their addiction to the cigarettes.

Yes, which is why I love putting my stock on a theology that promotes the soul, not the flesh

 

[MarAzul]

the removal of the concept of a Creator and a Created Universe has far-reaching implications that make society not as good.

Straight to the heart of the matter Brian. Nothing will improve society more than understanding this truth.

 

[Denny Crane]

"truth"

lol

The poll shows people ARE discovering the Truth.

 

[MARIS61]

Christianity is still the dominant faith by far in the U.S.; 7 in 10 Americans identify with the tradition.

Identify with the tradition? No actual belief involved, more like being a fan of a sports team.

This is how Christianity perpetuates the myth of most Americans being devout Christians who believe in a super-being called God.

To most Americans, Christian is a label that comes with being born here and has many business, tax, and social perks as long as you play along and don't object with being labeled. So most Americans play along.

 

[MarAzul]

"truth"

lol

The poll shows people ARE discovering the Truth.

You gave up being a Democrat. That proves you can make progress, the journey continues.

 

[Denny Crane]

You gave up being a Democrat. That proves you can make progress, the journey continues.

Yes, and people are giving up being religious. For the good of everyone.

 

[MarAzul]

religious

Perhaps your concept of the meaning is too constricted. But you have time.

 

[Denny Crane]

My concept is fine. It's called progress when people stop believing in fairy tales.

 

[barfo]

Yes, which is why I love putting my stock on a theology that promotes the soul, not the flesh

I don't know, when it comes to cattle the flesh is really what's important. But it's your right to raise your animals the way you want, assuming you don't give them a theology that involves free will.

barfo

 

[magnifier661]

My concept is fine. It's called progress when people stop believing in fairy tales.

Wait man... You believe in fairy tales

 

[Denny Crane]

Wait man... You believe in fairy tales

No I don't. Get it?