Religion STUDY: AMERICANS BECOMING LESS CHRISTIAN, MORE SECULAR

[magnifier661]

"Any god." None exist.

Denny's God = naturalism

 

[Denny Crane]

I have no "God."

There you go with the expected straw man.

 

[KingSpeed]

I'm one of them. I've given up religion altogether.

 

[MarAzul]

"Any god." None exist.

Oh my! I hate to ask but as Mr. Jefferson stated in our founding document, they were of a different opinion. Do you think the founding of this nation to be unsound?
I think it was a proscription for freedom. Do you not share this opinion?
Oh, I fear you maybe just a closet Democrat.

 

[MarAzul]

I'm one of them. I've given up religion altogether.

But then you want to use the word "married"! Change it you your terms. Go figure.

 

[Denny Crane]

Oh my! I hate to ask but as Mr. Jefferson stated in our founding document, they were of a different opinion. Do you think the founding of this nation to be unsound?
I think it was a proscription for freedom. Do you not share this opinion?
Oh, I fear you maybe just a closet Democrat.

Unsound? Why would I think that? They didn't want a christian or any other religious nation.

THANK GOD!

lol

 

[magnifier661]

I'm one of them. I've given up religion altogether.

Most Christians have too

 

[magnifier661]

I have no "God."

There you go with the expected straw man.

Denny, we can go back and forth throughout this thread. And remember, I'm only using what you use to debate you. So pot meet kettle. I think it's really funny that you are frustrated because of your head in ass debating tactics. It's really kinda cute

 

[MarAzul]

They didn't want a christian or any other religious nation.

Very true, but then they did assigned the creator the preeminent role, as the grantor of rights. Not men, not a fairy, the creator. You can call him as you may, be you of what ever religion or not. But you do miss the point of the basic premise when you deny his role that is basic to the way our nation works. Even worse you deny his presents, so it does seem you also believe the founding to be flawed.

 

[Denny Crane]

Very true, but then they did assigned the creator the preeminent role, as the grantor of rights. Not men, not a fairy, the creator. You can call him as you may, be you of what ever religion
or not. But you do miss the point of the basic premise when you deny his role that is basic to the way our nation works or indeed, his presents.

They were deists. They were not at all christians. Something closer to Druids. As far as they were concerned, the "Creator" made nature and never was seen again. Church was an utter waste to them. Holy trinity denounced, didn't believe in Christ or Jehova. Natural Law, not a thing to do with the bible.

But I'm sure you know all that.

Thomas Jefferson. He wrote the Declaration of Independence that you cite. A document that isn't a legal document.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson_and_religion

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[crowTrobot]

There wasn't anywhere to go but down.

Narrow path, wide gate, something something...

Ignoring Denny & Mags in this thread since they are out of control.

I'm interested in why Christians think the above isn't an unfair sentiment since God is supposedly the author of our circumstances. If God cares about our salvation why should our circumstances be such that the majority reject him?

 

[crowTrobot]

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.

I see that this is mostly a political comment, but I reject the notion that lack of belief in a creator or afterlife is necessarily inversely proportional to how much a person values human life. The belief that this life is all there is and we are accountable to *each other*, rather than to the will of a deity, can be and frequently is a powerful grounding for moral principals that mirror the teachings of Jesus.

Jesus was in fact a great secular moral teacher.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

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

Ironically, the more this numbers goes up. The more people become a 'None' it is reflective in our society. The soul needs to be fed correctly. And when it's not you have decay. And that's you are seeing in our nation.

Decay.

 

[crowTrobot]

Ironically, the more this numbers goes up. The more people become a 'None' it is reflective in our society. The soul needs to be fed correctly. And when it's not you can see it. Well you can see it in multitudes within this nation.

What is it you are seeing specifically? Crime rates are generally trending down, and where they aren't they correlate to poverty not lack of religious belief.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

What is it you are seeing specifically? Crime rates are generally trending down, and where they aren't they correlate to poverty not lack of religious belief.

When it's not about God. It's about...none other than 'Me'.

Unfortunately, 'me' is lacking answers, wisdom and know how... I was waiting to be seated with my Mom and Dad at Red Lobster on Mothers Day. When a Mom was walking through the front doors. A man was walking out at the same time, saw her, didnt respectfully let her by but walked over and pushed her out of the way. It was about 'him' at that time. Just as it was for many other Americans. When you live by Christ, you don't do stuff like that. You respectfully move and let the nice lady walk by. That move by him 'secular' written all over it. And is what our nation has become.

There is real lack of love. And it rears its head more and more each year.

 

[barfo]

When it's not about God. It's about...none other than 'Me'.

Unfortunately, 'me' is lacking answers, wisdom and know how... I was waiting to be seated with my Mom and Dad at Red Lobster on Mothers Day.

Red Lobster? Yep, you is lacking wisdom.

barfo

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Red Lobster? Yep, you is lacking wisdom.

barfo

Of course, it certainly wouldn't be 'you'.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

When you live by Christ, you don't do stuff like that.

LOL! I call bullshit on that. Assholes come in many different shapes, sizes and beliefs.

Next you'll claim there are no Christians in prison.

 

[crowTrobot]

That move by him 'secular' written all over it

It has jerk written all over it, not secular. For all you know he was a Christian in a hurry. You are just superimposing your own preexisting prejudices. Incidents of this type are not evidence in any way that secular equates to self-centered. There have always been jerks, both Christian and atheist.

One incident is also not an adequate sample size to conclude that our society is decreasing in love for fellow man. It's a pretty silly barometer either way, but since you brought it up I go to a very busy post office every day and everybody is extremely polite to each other and 99/100 people still hold the door for the next person.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

It's a pretty silly barometer either way, but since you brought it up I go to a very busy post office every day and everybody is extremely polite to each other and 99/100 people still hold the door for the next person.

Are sure you're just not really stoned and have been dropping your mail off in a church?

 

[crowTrobot]

Are sure you're just not really stoned and have been dropping your mail off in a church?

It's Ebay sale shipments.. so that's why I keep getting thank you cards from church charities! I was wondering.

 

[crowTrobot]

LOL! I call bullshit on that. Assholes come in many different shapes, sizes and beliefs.

It was probably Mags late for a meeting with his supplier.

 

[Further]

When it's not about God. It's about...none other than 'Me'.

Unfortunately, 'me' is lacking answers, wisdom and know how... I was waiting to be seated with my Mom and Dad at Red Lobster on Mothers Day. When a Mom was walking through the front doors. A man was walking out at the same time, saw her, didnt respectfully let her by but walked over and pushed her out of the way. It was about 'him' at that time. Just as it was for many other Americans. When you live by Christ, you don't do stuff like that. You respectfully move and let the nice lady walk by. That move by him 'secular' written all over it. And is what our nation has become.

There is real lack of love. And it rears its head more and more each year.

This is disturbing and sad that you see mean acts and ascribe them to atheists (or any group). These acts are only indicative of jerks.

I was recently yelled at by a crazy guy while taking photographs of flowers with my father. The man cursed at us and actually said "Fu** You in the Name of Jesus!", as well as a handful of other insults. But I'm intelligent enough to know that this was just a crazy man and a mean man, and most certainly did not represent the thoughts, beliefs or actions of Christians.

Regardless of the Red Lobster man being atheist, Christain or Muslim, he was only representative of self-involved jerks, not any group from which he sprung.

 

[stampedehero]

We have Sports for our religion.

 

[magnifier661]

LOL! I call bullshit on that. Assholes come in many different shapes, sizes and beliefs.

Next you'll claim there are no Christians in prison.

Any Christian that knows better understands they sin and aren't perfect. The concept of being a Christian is to strive to be like Christ. Living a life of forgiveness, love and grace.

So if you live by Christ, your heart doesn't want you to live like that. It's up to the individual to follow that walk.

Are you saying Christ condoned sin?

 

[magnifier661]

It has jerk written all over it, not secular. For all you know he was a Christian in a hurry. You are just superimposing your own preexisting prejudices. Incidents of this type are not evidence in any way that secular equates to self-centered. There have always been jerks, both Christian and atheist.

One incident is also not an adequate sample size to conclude that our society is decreasing in love for fellow man. It's a pretty silly barometer either way, but since you brought it up I go to a very busy post office every day and everybody is extremely polite to each other and 99/100 people still hold the door for the next person.

I think Christians, other theists, agnostics and even Atheists have the good and bad. I've met some of the coolest people who where atheists. I've also known some real atheist assholes. I've known some awesome Buddhists and assholes. The same applies for any other ideology.

As a Christian, I believe we all have morality in us. So being Christian isn't the only way to achieve peace. Not being an asshole is how we achieve peace.

 

[Denny Crane]

 

[Bob Dobalina]

It has jerk written all over it, not secular. For all you know he was a Christian in a hurry. You are just superimposing your own preexisting prejudices. Incidents of this type are not evidence in any way that secular equates to self-centered. There have always been jerks, both Christian and atheist.

One incident is also not an adequate sample size to conclude that our society is decreasing in love for fellow man. It's a pretty silly barometer either way, but since you brought it up I go to a very busy post office every day and everybody is extremely polite to each other and 99/100 people still hold the door for the next person.

Have you driven a car lately? In my opinion, driving is the epitome of the "Me-ness" that appears to be growing in our society.

 

[jlprk]