Religious Affiliation in USA Continues to Decline. WHY?

ThePainefulTruth · Nov 6, 2015

rusra02 said:
An article in the November 2015 Awake addresses this question. I find most interesting that this decline in religion is foretold in the Bible. False religion is likened to a prostitute who consorts with the political rulers of the world. Using symbolic language, it foretells that the support she receives from her adherents would dry up, in preparation for her complete destruction.(Revelation 16:12, 18:8, 17:1,15)

All religions are false that rely on nothing but hearsay to justify belief in their expedient revelations and miracles. And those religions get the power to consort with the political rulers of the world proportionately with the number of people they get to believe their falsehoods.

BTW, Revelation's number of the Beast (not 666 which is in anachronistic arabic numerals) is Jewish Gematria that decodes to "Tarsus", the hometown of the Dead Sea Scrolls' "Spouter of Lies", Paul.

Neo Deist · Nov 6, 2015

Revoltingest said:
Many of the states you cite have their worst crime in large cities dominated by minorities (eg, Detroit, Saginaw, & Flint in MI).
Would you argue that this correlation means blacks & Hispanics are the cause of increased crime?

Yes.

Blacks, at 13% of the population, are responsible for ~50% of the murders each year. That is disproportionate. That is not a racist statement...that is a factual statement taken directly from the FBI's crime stats.

Unification · Nov 6, 2015

Skwim said:
Religiosity in the United States is in the midst of what might be called ‘The Great Decline.’ Previous declines in religion pale in comparison.
Over the past fifteen years, the drop in religiosity has been twice as great as the decline of the 1960s and 1970s.
source

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source
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The analyses, published this month in the journal PlosOne (link is external), reveal a seismic generational shift in religious commitment. Twice as many high school seniors, and 3 times as many college students, described their religion as “none” in the 2010s (vs. the early 1980s). Even among 8th and 10th graders, who have only been surveyed since the early 1990s, 40% to 50% fewer now affiliate with a religion.
source

As I said, WHY?

What are your ideas, suspicions, guesses?

It depends on what "religiosity" is.

As for attending church, temple, or mosque, etc. buildings...
More minds are becoming aware of the truth, or getting a gentle nudge of inner intuition that a lot of things just don't seem right about certain things. The silliness outweighing the positive things.

But one can be very externally or innerly religious without having to be a member, identify themselves as something, or attend buildings. People leave these and become externally or innerly religious on their own, at home, etc.

Not to say that inner growth, a still mind, or inner "spirituality" isn't beneficial... But that all of the vain, exoteric shows, dogma are starting to be seen through.

Regarding those that don't care for any religion, or inner growth.... likely just preoccupied, busy, not even a thought, concern, or care.

Unification · Nov 6, 2015

ThePainefulTruth said:
All religions are false that rely on nothing but hearsay to justify belief in their expedient revelations and miracles. And those religions get the power to consort with the political rulers of the world proportionately with the number of people they get to believe their falsehoods.

BTW, Revelation's number of the Beast (not 666 which is in anachronistic arabic numerals) is Jewish Gematria that decodes to "Tarsus", the hometown of the Dead Sea Scrolls' "Spouter of Lies", Paul.

Would it matter on what myths people believe in or how much knowledge one has? Each has their own mind.

The most knowledgeable could be a hateful, cynical, bitter, depressed, and condescending person while the one believing in the most myths can have a very high morale of inner character and wake up with a smile, joy, peace, and happiness day in and day out. I suppose some falsehoods are harmless while others are extreme. I'd be opposed to the extreme, the power, control, crimes, lies that destroy, inequality, and money stealing that comes with certain human teachings. That is innate in all humans, and would be extreme even if all religion ceased to exist.

I'd say there is a lot of fuss over irrelevant stuff, and the purity, inner nature/character, and actions of ones mind and heart outweigh beliefs, knowledge, and labels.

I, for one... have been very guilty before of oppressing others for believing in myths yet their lives could very well be more peaceable, helping others, and joyous than mine. Who would I be to judge?

ThePainefulTruth · Nov 6, 2015

Unification said:
Would it matter on what myths people believe in or how much knowledge one has? Each has their own mind

What does that mean? Does it make a difference if people believe lies or the Truth? Yes, it doesn't matter what their "mind" is.

The most knowledgeable could be a hateful, cynical, bitter, depressed, and condescending person while the one believing in the most myths can have a very high morale of inner character and wake up with a smile, joy, peace, and happiness day in and day out.

Very true. Knowledge can be used for evil. But more often than not it is used to demagogue and exploit the ignorant. The best defense the ignorant have against their exploitation is that selfsame knowledge. But up until modern times, knowledge was tightly controlled. With the advent of common education, the what knowledge was taught became what is controlled. Modern communication and especially the Internet have made controlling what is learned and what lies are taught as Truth extremely hard to control--by government and religion.

I suppose some falsehoods are harmless while others are extreme. I'd be opposed to the extreme, the power, control, crimes, lies that destroy, inequality, and money stealing that comes with certain human teachings. That is innate in all humans, and would be extreme even if all religion ceased to exist.

Oh absolutely very true. As I've been preaching for years now, socialism is the new religion--with government, the media and academia as the new gods passing down their divine, unquestionable revelations.

I'd say there is a lot of fuss over irrelevant stuff, and the purity, inner nature/character, and actions of ones mind and heart outweigh beliefs, knowledge, and labels.

Again, I agree. Global warming and one way compassion are at the forefront of the new tenets.

I, for one... have been very guilty before of oppressing others for believing in myths yet their lives could very well be more peaceable, helping others, and joyous than mine. Who would I be to judge?

True again, but their foundations for thought in blind faith (emotions) make them prime targets for political manipulation.

Unification · Nov 6, 2015

ThePainefulTruth said:
What does that mean? Does it make a difference if people believe lies or the Truth? Yes, it doesn't matter what their "mind" is.

Very true. Knowledge can be used for evil. But more often than not it is used to demagogue and exploit the ignorant. The best defense the ignorant have against their exploitation is that selfsame knowledge. But up until modern times, knowledge was tightly controlled. With the advent of common education, the what knowledge was taught became what is controlled. Modern communication and especially the Internet have made controlling what is learned and what lies are taught as Truth extremely hard to control--by government and religion.

Oh absolutely very true. As I've been preaching for years now, socialism is the new religion--with government, the media and academia as the new gods passing down their divine, unquestionable revelations.

Again, I agree. Global warming and one way compassion are at the forefront of the new tenets.

True again, but their foundations for thought in blind faith (emotions) make them prime targets for political manipulation.

There is truth in myths.

We all live in blind faith, in so many ways. We'd be lying and deceiving ourselves to not admit such. Emotions can lead to blind faith, but I wouldn't agree personally that emotions are blind faith.

StopS · Nov 13, 2015

Unification said:
We all live in blind faith

Really? Why would you say that? I am not aware of of believing anything I don't have a reason to believe. If I don't know, I say so.

StopS · Nov 13, 2015

What I find strange and disturbing is that there are people here who look for some sort of "blame" in humans, when humans are rejecting the superstitious god-beliefs.

Humans realise that gods are not required in this Universe and are starting to grow out of this faith, just like I grew out of Santa.
Is it wrong to believe what can be verified through reality and suspend judgement on everything else?

Sees · Nov 13, 2015

StopS said:
What I find strange and disturbing is that there are people here who look for some sort of "blame" in humans, when humans are rejecting the superstitious god-beliefs.

Humans realise that gods are not required in this Universe and are starting to grow out of this faith, just like I grew out of Santa.
Is it wrong to believe what can be verified through reality and suspend judgement on everything else?

Equating "god-beliefs" with superstition and Santa - how well does that go with the idea of suspending judgement on what can't be verified?

Thorwald Johansen · Nov 13, 2015

Scriptures tell us, that we will return to the days of Noah (leaving God out of our thoughts). Perhaps we are seeing this prophecy being fulfilled?

Tiapan · Nov 13, 2015

Simple
Education beats deferment of facts to higher fictitious character.

BilliardsBall · Nov 13, 2015

Recent polls have showed evangelicals in growth while mainline Christian groups are declining in attendance. I'm glad more people are responding to the Bible while others who are more liberal in their views are declaring for atheism.

Sand Dancer · Nov 13, 2015

BilliardsBall said:
Recent polls have showed evangelicals in growth while mainline Christian groups are declining in attendance. I'm glad more people are responding to the Bible while others who are more liberal in their views are declaring for atheism.

As the older folks in mainline denoms (the majority) die, the younger folks often go to more evangelical churches, since they have more social and family activities. Evangelical churches are often just social outlets. More liberal folks are spiritual without adhering to a dogmatic religion. This is a good thing.

budha3 · Nov 13, 2015

George-ananda said:
I think traditional Abrahamic religions are in decline because they no longer intellectually satisfy many in the modern age. I think the Abrahamic era in human history is winding down to be replaced gradually by more (for lack of a perfect term) New Age and eastern concepts that can be more intellectually satisfying. The slow end of an age, and the slow rise of the new age. As New Age concepts take effort to grasp and sound 'weird' at first, I think (as we see) the rise in 'unaffiliated' means they haven't found anything that fits. These 'unaffiliated' generally believe in 'something' but have not heard anything that really can articulate what that is. 'Spiritual but not religious' is a phrase we are hearing more.

Skwim said:
Gotta agree. The need for religion is simply diminishing. People are finding they can cope with life quite well on their own, and will be passing these skills on to their progeny. Now, should some monumental crisis arise then I believe there would be a significant change. The decline would stop and there would be an upsurge in religiosity. But because of the many implausible beliefs most Christian denominations demand of their parishioners I don't believe membership would ever reach the heights of old, when Christians saw themselves in a cold war with atheistic communism. Pragmatism/rationality will be too strongly ingrained in their thinking.

Peter was considered to be the "Rock" because he practically applied religious principles into his daily life. Peter was the first new Age apostle, and Jesus recognized it.

budha3 · Nov 13, 2015

Peter was considered to be the "Rock" because he practically applied religious principles into his daily life. Peter was the first new Age apostle, and Jesus recognized it

blueyboy · Nov 13, 2015

I

Religiosity in the United States is in the midst of what might be called ‘The Great Decline.’ Previous declines in religion pale in comparison.
Over the past fifteen years, the drop in religiosity has been twice as great as the decline of the 1960s and 1970s.
source

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

source

__________________________________________
__________________________________________

The analyses, published this month in the journal PlosOne (link is external), reveal a seismic generational shift in religious commitment. Twice as many high school seniors, and 3 times as many college students, described their religion as “none” in the 2010s (vs. the early 1980s). Even among 8th and 10th graders, who have only been surveyed since the early 1990s, 40% to 50% fewer now affiliate with a religion.
source

As I said, WHY?

What are your ideas, suspicions, guesses?[/QUOTE]

First, its a very good thing for society. This will evoke more empathy, less suspicion and far less bigotry in an already relatively tolerant U.S society.
The 50s and prior were horrible times for most. Don't believe the lies about 'tradition.'

Studies are showing what most of us know already about the meanness of many kids brought up religiously (closeted, that is)
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/06/religious-children-less-altruistic-secular-kids-study
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0115-zuckerman-secular-parenting-20150115-story.html

So, while we must respect those brought up/forced to believe what they believe, in a democracy, we must continue to expose reality. Few know the history of their traditions. As soon as they learn of it, they think this is all quite hypocritical, rather silly and unnecessary.

Again, never underestimate the existential crisis people endure upon facing this harsh truth about their beliefs, but education, tolerance, diversity, inclusiveness and understanding (not to mention learning some actual history: its on Wikipedia!) will win out.

(That is unless Cruz gets elected and it'll be 1933 or all over again. Canada here we come...)

blueyboy · Nov 13, 2015

budha3 said:
Peter was considered to be the "Rock" because he practically applied religious principles into his daily life. Peter was the first new Age apostle, and Jesus recognized it

I would write "we think Jesus recognized it" Budha. There is no evidence Jesus did anything, at least not from objective sources. I think he did, but we don't know. So we can't ascribe any certainty to the actions of Jesus, or Muhammad, or Buddha for that matter.

Unification · Nov 13, 2015

StopS said:
Really? Why would you say that? I am not aware of of believing anything I don't have a reason to believe. If I don't know, I say so.

Really.
Because it is true.
What would be your definition of "blind faith?"

ThePainefulTruth · Nov 13, 2015

StopS said:
What I find strange and disturbing is that there are people here who look for some sort of "blame" in humans, when humans are rejecting the superstitious god-beliefs.

I think most people that do that only because they don't want to come out and actually blame the Devil.

Humans realise that gods are not required in this Universe and are starting to grow out of this faith, just like I grew out of Santa.
Is it wrong to believe what can be verified through reality and suspend judgement on everything else?

No that's not wrong, but we still can't dismiss the possibility that there is a laissez-faire God. There is (?by intent?) no evidence for or against such a God. In fact, a claim of certainty that there is no God is just as wrong as claiming some revealed god or other is real.

Tiapan said:
Simple
Education beats deferment of facts to higher fictitious character.

Only if education doesn't have a higher political agenda. And it doesn't necessarily have to be displaced (or left) under the influence of fiction.

blueyboy said:
Religiosity in the United States is in the midst of what might be called ‘The Great Decline.’ Previous declines in religion pale in comparison.
Over the past fifteen years, the drop in religiosity has been twice as great as the decline of the 1960s and 1970s.
source

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

source
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

The analyses, published this month in the journal PlosOne (link is external), reveal a seismic generational shift in religious commitment. Twice as many high school seniors, and 3 times as many college students, described their religion as “none” in the 2010s (vs. the early 1980s). Even among 8th and 10th graders, who have only been surveyed since the early 1990s, 40% to 50% fewer now affiliate with a religion.
source

As I said, WHY?

What are your ideas, suspicions, guesses?

First, its a very good thing for society. This will evoke more empathy, less suspicion and far less bigotry in an already relatively tolerant U.S society.
The 50s and prior were horrible times for most. Don't believe the lies about 'tradition.'

Studies are showing what most of us know already about the meanness of many kids brought up religiously (closeted, that is)
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/06/religious-children-less-altruistic-secular-kids-study
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0115-zuckerman-secular-parenting-20150115-story.html

So, while we must respect those brought up/forced to believe what they believe, in a democracy, we must continue to expose reality. Few know the history of their traditions. As soon as they learn of it, they think this is all quite hypocritical, rather silly and unnecessary.

Again, never underestimate the existential crisis people endure upon facing this harsh truth about their beliefs, but education, tolerance, diversity, inclusiveness and understanding (not to mention learning some actual history: its on Wikipedia!) will win out.

(That is unless Cruz gets elected and it'll be 1933 or all over again. Canada here we come...)

I don't think we'll ever go back to 1933, much less 1850, for 2 reasons: A small segment of the people generally are (very slowly) becoming more rational; and socialism is becoming the new religion where where blind faith is displaced from God to the state which absolves them of any sense of responsibility--just look at our colleges. Fortunately there are other paths we can take now to become educated, for those who are so motivated. But people are having a hard time displacing ultimate authority from humans onto reason/Truth.

BilliardsBall · Nov 13, 2015

blueyboy said:
I

Religiosity in the United States is in the midst of what might be called ‘The Great Decline.’ Previous declines in religion pale in comparison.
Over the past fifteen years, the drop in religiosity has been twice as great as the decline of the 1960s and 1970s.
source

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

source
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

The analyses, published this month in the journal PlosOne (link is external), reveal a seismic generational shift in religious commitment. Twice as many high school seniors, and 3 times as many college students, described their religion as “none” in the 2010s (vs. the early 1980s). Even among 8th and 10th graders, who have only been surveyed since the early 1990s, 40% to 50% fewer now affiliate with a religion.
source

As I said, WHY?

What are your ideas, suspicions, guesses?

First, its a very good thing for society. This will evoke more empathy, less suspicion and far less bigotry in an already relatively tolerant U.S society.
The 50s and prior were horrible times for most. Don't believe the lies about 'tradition.'

Studies are showing what most of us know already about the meanness of many kids brought up religiously (closeted, that is)
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/06/religious-children-less-altruistic-secular-kids-study
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0115-zuckerman-secular-parenting-20150115-story.html

So, while we must respect those brought up/forced to believe what they believe, in a democracy, we must continue to expose reality. Few know the history of their traditions. As soon as they learn of it, they think this is all quite hypocritical, rather silly and unnecessary.

Again, never underestimate the existential crisis people endure upon facing this harsh truth about their beliefs, but education, tolerance, diversity, inclusiveness and understanding (not to mention learning some actual history: its on Wikipedia!) will win out.

(That is unless Cruz gets elected and it'll be 1933 or all over again. Canada here we come...)[/QUOTE]

Perhaps this is the end, then. Maranatha, Lord Jesus!

Religious Affiliation in USA Continues to Decline. WHY?

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