Religious Affiliation in USA Continues to Decline. WHY?

[outhouse]

Really, that's your position?

Only if you take my words out of context.

In context, we see an evolution of the concept, not a concept originating from nowhere starting out of this air.

Part of your gods belonged to Canaanites, before Israelites even existed.

 

[Domenic]

people judge Gods written word, and God by religions. I tell you the truth: All religions are false, and the leaders of these religions do not teach Gods word.

 

[Skwim]

OK, now I know you're pulling my leg.

You're the one who said

"The question of the existence of a God or not, is derived from how the universe, and the Truth of its natural law, came to be."​

not me. So again I ask, just what is this natural law of the universe that holds this "Truth"?

 

[outhouse]

You're the one who said

"The question of the existence of a God or not, is derived from how the universe, and the Truth of its natural law, came to be."​

not me. So I ask again, just what is this natural law of the universe that holds this "Truth"?

Don't hold your breath, you will turn blue waiting for credible evidence of any kind, let alone a credible non faith based opinion on nature.

That's is why there is a decline.

 

[minorwork]

What is an example of the systems that are taught?

The big three are of the book. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Also Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, etc., etc..

And how is an experience steered to a thought system, and how is it determined what's appropriate or not?

The individual has great responsibility to test for compatibility to their personality and upbringing. They choose the teacher after testing that teacher. My methodology? I have no intention of deigning to give any credence to a claim that my methods work for any other to realize and get past the Kingdom of God, the test of fire and then proceeding to get beyond the Kingdom of Heaven, the test of water. My advice is to live, quell mind's perversions and enjoy life.

The decline of religious affiliation is associated, IMO, with the decline in experiencing God. The teaching of the experience is declining. Gnosticism rejected leads to the decline.

 

[chessplayer]

This is the way I see it .

The natural world is an astoundingly beautiful and balanced place, but not all safe of course.

The universe has very obvious design elements, showing our human individuality . Non material things show us our spirituality , eg our conscience , our feelings for our partner, the in-built interest in a heavenly connection.

The one blot on this landscape is of course man , with all his inclinations to exalt himself and promote his dominance and authority and will.

Man needs redemption and a saviour to correct an inherent problem which will eventually destroy him, one way or another.

Whether we seek that saviour or not is our choice , but we can completely deny and ignore it.

Why ? because of that fallen human nature.

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

I think there are several possible explanations, more than one of which might be correct.

First, I think easy access to educational material, different perspectives, etc. on the internet plays a big part. When someone has a profound question, instead of taking the word of someone else on faith, they can research the answer for their self, and fewer people require a religious answer when there are natural explanations available as an alternative. For those who were already religious, the internet can lead to finding information that contradicts what they believe and lead to them changing their beliefs once they encounter new information.

Second, I think there is becoming less of a stigma against admitting you don't have a religion. In the past, and for many people today, it was social suicide to deny the religion popular in your area. There are certainly more places today where people just don't care if you are religious or what religion you adhere to. I think this trend will continue, because I know there are still plenty of places where atheists or otherwise not religious people are afraid to let anyone find out for fear of being ostracized or picked on. As the stigma goes away more and more, people who have been non-religious all along will just admit it where they have been lying on these types of polls.

Third, I think people feel less of a need to be associated with particular religious practices or parishes. Not all these people who "left religion" stopped believing in God or stopped practicing their religion in their own way. They may not have a name for their beliefs, and they may not have a building to gather in on particular days of the week, so they don't call themselves religious anymore. But I think the number of people who are still theists or deists is still larger than these polls may reveal.

Fourth, I think people no longer want to be associated with religious organizations because, in America, some of them hae become quite embarrassing. For former members of fundamentalist Christianity, whose churches denied science, opposed homosexuals having equal rights, treat women as inferiors, and so on, being associate with that religion any longer makes them feel like a part of something they don't support or approve of. Some people may find a different religion to associate with, and some may drop it altogether and go their own way.

Well said. I see you call yourself an agnostic atheist, so many don't do that, or even know what difference it makes. I'm an agnostic-deist and I consider these two the only two reasonable positions on God. Mind if I ask, how did it happen that you came down on the side of atheism vs. deism?

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

Non material things show us our spirituality , eg our conscience , our feelings for our partner, the in-built interest in a heavenly connection.

Our conscience or our inherent ability to recognize right and wrong is derived from the development of our full self-awareness, which enables us to recognize that quality (sentience) in others, and to put ourselves in their shoes, so to speak. That makes all such sentients equal with equal rights--a universal moral code among those sentients which deals ONLY with actions among those sentients. I've only discerned four such rights: Life, liberty, property and self-defense. Any individual code of behavior is subjective, determined and enforced by the individual, which I call virtues.

Until now, religion and politics has slopped morality and virtue together in a chaotic mish mash of rules which is more easily manipulable by those religious and political authorities.

The one blot on this landscape is of course man , with all his inclinations to exalt himself and promote his dominance and authority and will.

Man (sentients) is the apparent pinnacle of the animal world because of his full self-awareness enabled morality. All animals without that are innocent because they don't have moral free will, but instinct only. Even human children don't start to develop that self-awareness until the age of 2 or 3. An excellent argument can be made, if there is a God, that the universe's only purpose was/is to spawn creatures with full self-awareness and thus moral free will. That's not an exultation of our inherent dominance and authority, our self-awareness is the source of it. God could do anything else instantly.

Of course that moral free will is also the source of our ability to do evil as well as moral good. So our dominance is tainted by the ability to do evil. Man is the only creature with the ability to lie, even to (especially to) himself.

Man needs redemption and a saviour to correct an inherent problem which will eventually destroy him, one way or another.

Jesus and John the Baptist both taught repentance as the source of salvation. Even then, that was a revolutionary thought, since that was the primary purpose (and justification) of animal sacrifice--which Paul melded with mystical Mithraism into human sacrifice...thus the "Lamb of God".

Whether we seek that saviour or not is our choice , but we can completely deny and ignore it.

Our salvation is found in our repentance and choice to do good and not evil. No animal or human can die as a substitute for that.

Why ? because of that fallen human nature.

Man is fallen or exalted according to his individual actions, not those of his neighbor or his ancestors. Being otherwise would be like having a communism of souls. Original sin and salvific sacrifice are the two worst aspects of Christian theology...well those and predestination, all of which takes our fate out of our own hands.

 

[blueyboy]

I grew up with that quote about Jesus. It didn't actually happen. Its myth. Saying it doesn't make it true.

I have no sin or shame. I do good everyday for the world. If you have sin and shame, I'm sorry.

 

[serp777]

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?

Its because of information sharing like the internet and computers. Now people can hear all the skepticism and more and more are seeing the lack of rationality of religious arguments. Its also because people are familiar with more religions now and realize that many of them only believe because that's what they were brought up in and thats what they were exposed to as a child.

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

Its because of information sharing like the internet and computers. Now people can hear all the skepticism and more and more are seeing the lack of rationality of religious arguments. Its also because people are familiar with more religions now and realize that many of them only believe because that's what they were brought up in and thats what they were exposed to as a child.

All true, as far as it goes. Yes, the number of people rejecting religion (openly, or remaining in the closet) is growing fast, but what do they go TO. So many people, in their disillusionment or sense of betrayal, go overboard in the other direction, with hard atheism or some form of materialistic nihilism. Their former Christian acquaintances ask them how can they know what's moral if it doesn't come from God, so all too often they just make it up as they go, without reason, using only irrational, untempered feelings.

 

[outhouse]

Their former Christian acquaintances ask them how can they know what's moral if it doesn't come from God, so all too often they just make it up as they go, without reason, using only irrational, untempered feelings.

This is hilarious!!!!

So only theist who live ancient mythology and refuse education and knowledge have rational and tempered feelings?????????????????

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Why has religious affiliation declined over the past 65 years (1950-2015)?

Because of liberals, atheists, social media, and science.

LOL.

Liberals and atheists demanded that prayer be removed from school, God be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance, religious icons/statues be removed from public property, government buildings can't have things like the 10 Commandments displayed, and they preach nothing but SQUASH SQUASH SQUASH religion...it takes a toll. They act like every little religious thing is offensive to them. If that is the case, they are some thin skinned individuals.

To demand that God be mandated means GOD is the thin-skinned one, yes? I didn't realize God was easily banished by a school board...

Guess which state was on the very bottom of the hate crime list? Alabama...the center of the Civil Rights Movement. Also a very conservative state deep in the Bible Belt.

Considering that those states APPROVE of hate crimes, that might explain why such things aren't persecuted unless the perp is black or Muslim?

I mean, I'm a Southern gal ... our region is INFAMOUS for loving us some hanged and shot people....

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.

Now be honest and give the stats of white criminals who got off scot free or with less sentencing than minorities.

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?

That's what He gets for using a bad system restore file. God has always had the opportunity to just kill everyone and start over. No ... He does it the stupid way, which is to continue the same flaws and expect different results.

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.

Yes, when they discover social media, that kind of thing will stop too

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

Yes, a solid rock that crumbles every time he was about to go to jail. My hero...

Totally agree, comfort and security are often bad for church growth.

Christianity is not in decline in other parts of the world e.g. China has the fastest growing numbers of evangelical born again believers (between 150 and 200 million ) in the world, South Korea is almost 50% evangelical Christianity, etc etc. Even among Islamic people groups , many are converting to Christ through dreams and visions.

They are given another dictatorial regime to replace the other one. One offers being shot to death and one offers eternal life after they are shot to death. Lovely system.

The church is Zimbabwe for example is apparently booming , despite or maybe , because of their dire economic state.

How well has their economy improved since turning to Jesus? Or all they all still in poverty and dying?

I mean, the Roman Empire fell AFTER Christianity became legal, not before...

Do you include non Christian in that scum?

Ciao

- viole

With certain people in Heaven, it's no wonder others desire to go to hell...

 

[Senseless]

I think organised religion is simply falling out of grace. People are changing and they are beginning to relate less to it. It's only natural, I guess. Maybe it'll come bouncing back like on a sine wave, dunno.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

I think organised religion is simply falling out of grace. People are changing and they are beginning to relate less to it. It's only natural, I guess. Maybe it'll come bouncing back like on a sine wave, dunno.

As the ' literal water ' - Revelation 16:12 - was dried up before ancient Babylon was destroyed, the ' many waters ' - Revelation 17:1 B are people who have dried up spiritually - Revelation 17:15. They are part of the ' many ' of Matthew 7:21-23. So-called organized religion has become un-organized in that she has fallen away from the teachings of Jesus.
Gospel writer Luke wrote that there would be a great falling away (apostasy ) due to false clergy - Acts of the Apostles 20:29-30. Also 2 Peter 2:1-2 and 2 Timothy 4:3
Jesus likened this growing period when genuine ' wheat ' Christians would grow together with the fake 'weed/tares ' Christians until a Harvest Time, or the soon coming Time of Separation to take place on Earth - Matthew 25:31-33. The righteous people can remain alive on Earth, and can continue to live on Earth, right into the start of Jesus' coming 1,000 year governmental rulership over Earth does take place, when Jesus, as Prince of Peace, will usher in global Peace on Earth among men of goodwill.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

I think it is due to Christians choosing to go to Heaven leaving the scum of the earth behind.

Why do you say Christians instead of ' so-called Christians ' ?
Who remains on earth according to Proverbs 2:21-22 ?_____________
Who inherits earth forever according to Matthew 5:5, and for how long Psalms 37:11; Psalms 37:29 ?__________

 

[URAVIP2ME]

people judge Gods written word, and God by religions. I tell you the truth: All religions are false, and the leaders of these religions do not teach Gods word.

Up to a point even Bible writers wrote that religious leaders are false - Acts of the Apostles 20:29-30; 2 Peter 2:1-2; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Matthew chapter 23; Matthew 15:9

Those false religious teachers are the composite ' man of sin ' and the ' son of perdition ' (utter destruction) of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:4-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-9

That does Not make the teachings of Jesus as false, but makes the false religious leaders as false and wrong.

 

[Domenic]

I am of no religion. I believe in God the Father, his son, our Lord Jesus, and Gods written word. All religions are false, and all religious leaders are not teaching Gods word.

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

This is hilarious!!!!

So only theist who live ancient mythology and refuse education and knowledge have rational and tempered feelings?????????????????

I have a hard time believing you're quoting me. Look up the word hearsay and get back to me with some explanation about how any religious "faith" is not based on it entirely, please. And if you don't want to be mocked, refrain from it yourself. Saying "this is hilarious" in a direct response is the same thing as saying you are hilarious. Mind you, it doesn't faze me in the least, but it's against the house rules--and so often, people who dish it out can't take it.

I am of no religion. I believe in God the Father, his son, our Lord Jesus, and Gods written word.

So you are of a religion. Yet you have to take the word of men who say they're imparting God's word to you as God told it to them? None of those men are corrupt, they are infallible, as are ALL the subsequent tranlators?

All religions are false, and all religious leaders are not teaching Gods word.

That would include Christianity and the Bible which is its foundation.

 

[MARCELLO]

I have not ever seen an atheist american in my life,in real time. The least is a sort of theistic deist.