The Demise of Religion

[Theweirdtophat]

Can you blame them? Can't remember the last time God built a road or funded a university.

I assume or at least hope you're joking. I do blame them. Their power hungry control freak nature has caused massive damage to lives and to buildings. Was it necessary to smash so many temples and churches? Religion is declining by those control freaks so people will be loyal to them. Of course some won't have the "communist" label, but they act like it. They usually see religion as competition, but you won't hear too many say that.

 

[Quetzal]

I assume or at least hope you're joking. I do blame them. Their power hungry control freak nature has caused massive damage to lives and to buildings. Was it necessary to smash so many temples and churches? Religion is declining by those control freaks so people will be loyal to them. Of course some won't have the "communist" label, but they act like it. They usually see religion as competition, but you won't hear too many say that.

I never said those actions were right. I am simply pointing out that the government (at least in my case) offers tangible benefits. Additionally, I do have some sort of active control in the dialogue. God still won't return my phone calls...

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Yeah, you missed my point. Formal education in universities allows for a greater flow of information and ideas. Ancient traditions don't really stand a chance against that.

I recall students at Columbia U. in NYC back in the 60's who were going to be professors.
They wanted to use their professorship to turn students against religion or God.
So, counting from the year 1970 how many have used their position to turn students away from God?
Since many students I encountered didn't seem to know the basics of their own religion surely it would be easy to turn them away.

There were many false religious ' traditions ' - Matthew 15:9 - that were being practiced in Jesus' day.
That did Not make the Scriptures as wrong, but made the teaches of ' church tradition ' as being wrong because they often taught their own customs or traditions outside of Scripture as being Scripture.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

God still won't return my phone calls...

Perhaps that is because God doesn't phone, but He writes us letters.
There are 66 Bible books that contain God's thinking on matters.
Of course, we have to not only read what is written in Scripture, but study it.
Study or research as did the people of Acts 17:11
and ask for help as did the Ethiopian official of Acts 8 vs 28-35

Since the Bible is Not written ABC as a dictionary is, then we need to research it by subject or by topic arrangement.
The Bible has cross-reference verses and passages showing the internal harmony among it's many men that God used to write His Word down for us. - 2nd Timothy 3 vs 16,17

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Superficial believers, those who treat their religion as a kind of tradition, would abandon it. The fervent believers would sooner die than give up their faith. Look how many Christians are killed and persecuted in Muslim countries. Christianity promises to its adherents eternal life and happiness in heaven. Plus you immediately become a saint when you're a martyr. All your sins are pardoned. It's called baptism of blood. Imagine. Eternal glory and unimaginable happiness in exchange for a few moments of torture. Seems like a bargain.

Please post the Scripture saying immediately become a saint (holy one ) if you're a martyr ?
Didn't Jesus die for our sins - 1st John 1:7 ?_____ Ephesians 1:7

Besides heaven, didn't Jesus promise life forever on earth for the majority of mankind ?______ - Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37 vs 11,29

The way to heaven was Not opened up before Jesus. All who died before Jesus died ( such as John the Baptizer - Matthew 11:11 - and King David - Acts 2:34 - did Not ascend to heaven). That is why the future tense is used at Acts 24:15 that there ' is going to be ' a resurrection..... That future healthy physical resurrection - John 5:28 - will take place on earth during Jesus' coming 1000-year governmental rulership over earth when Jesus, as Prince of Peace, will usher in global Peace on Earth among men of goodwill.

The healings and resurrections Jesus performed while on earth was a small-scale preview or coming attraction of what Jesus will be doing on a grand global scale during his millennium-long day of governing over earth or earthly subjects of God's kingdom.
- Psalm 72:8,12-14; Revelation 22:2

 

[URAVIP2ME]

Religion can't be destroyed. It's an idea and ideas can't be destroyed. Places where religion is declining is more often that not common in places that are communist or are becoming more communist. American and much of Europe are slowly becoming communist with some of the rules they've made. We all know communists have had dislike of religion, not because they disagree with it, but because people will be loyal to the government only, not their deities. Why do you think many of them in Russia and China took the time to destroy temples and churches? For fun? There was a reason behind that.

In Scripture there is a distinction between true or genuine religion and fake-myth religion.- James 1:27
Even among those professing to be Christian - see Matthew chapter 7 - MANY will prove to be false.
When Jerusalem became apostate in the year 70 God used the Roman armies as His arm of the law to go against Jerusalem.
So, it should Not surprise anyone that God would once again use the political/military forces against those proving false to Him.
We are nearing the coming ' time of separation ' on earth - Matthew 25 vs 31,32,37 - when those judged as righteous ones can continue to live on earth right into the start of Jesus coming millennium-long day of governing over earth.
So, what will be destroyed are all the false religious groups - Isaiah 11 vs 3,4; Rev. 19 vs 11,15
The words from Jesus' mouth will be as a sharp executioner's sword to eliminate those who would bring ruin to earth.
- Rev. 11:18 B. Bring ruin either literal or morally.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

In the mean time, rates of mental illness are on the rise...
... could a contributing factor be a lack of an overarching cultural worldview or tradition that provides people with meaningfulness and a grounded stability (aka, religion)?

Could a contributing factor be because of a selfish and distorted form of love that the world Now displays as described at 2 Timothy 3:1-5,13 in these last days of badness on earth ?

 

[URAVIP2ME]

That would be an impossibility, at least where I live in the United States. Further, I don't necessarily think that Christmas and Easter are "irrelevant traditions" in this respect. Now, they are mainly about good spirits and family. Nothing wrong with that.

Right, nothing wrong with good spirits and family, but how did Jesus and his apostles celebrate Christmas and Easter ?
Since such celebrations were already non-biblical customs connected to non-biblical worship, why would they involve themselves with them ?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

In the mean time, rates of mental illness are on the rise...

... could a contributing factor be a lack of an overarching cultural worldview or tradition that provides people with meaningfulness and a grounded stability (aka, religion)?

That is doubtbul. It's more likely that the flood of chemicals in everything is to blame.

American and much of Europe are slowly becoming communist with some of the rules they've made.

You obviously have no idea what communism is.

Could a contributing factor be because of a selfish and distorted form of love that the world Now displays as described at 2 Timothy 3:1-5,13 in these last days of badness on earth ?

For thousands of years people have claimed these are the end of days. Obviously not a single one has been correct.

 

[Quetzal]

Perhaps that is because God doesn't phone, but He writes us letters.
There are 66 Bible books that contain God's thinking on matters.
Of course, we have to not only read what is written in Scripture, but study it.
Study or research as did the people of Acts 17:11
and ask for help as did the Ethiopian official of Acts 8 vs 28-35

Since the Bible is Not written ABC as a dictionary is, then we need to research it by subject or by topic arrangement.
The Bible has cross-reference verses and passages showing the internal harmony among it's many men that God used to write His Word down for us. - 2nd Timothy 3 vs 16,17

Men wrote those things, not God.

 

[Quetzal]

I recall students at Columbia U. in NYC back in the 60's who were going to be professors.
They wanted to use their professorship to turn students against religion or God.
So, counting from the year 1970 how many have used their position to turn students away from God?
Since many students I encountered didn't seem to know the basics of their own religion surely it would be easy to turn them away.

There were many false religious ' traditions ' - Matthew 15:9 - that were being practiced in Jesus' day.
That did Not make the Scriptures as wrong, but made the teaches of ' church tradition ' as being wrong because they often taught their own customs or traditions outside of Scripture as being Scripture.

I don't know how many they turned away but I highly doubt those professors make up the majority.

 

[paarsurrey]

​

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So, the question is, WHY? .......Why do you think religion is sliding toward the netherworld?


.

Christianity is one religion among many; it is wrong to generalize from Christianity to religion as a whole.
Will you make the correction please?
Regards

 

[Aaron Black]

They can be, but he is obviously a con artist.
When they're making millions from it and living so luxurious, they are obviously concerned more about wealth than the poor.
And most concerned about those they are selling tickets to Heaven to.
I would wager few are unaware of what they are doing.

Indeed and disturbing that they would have no idea they are con-artists. "Jesus wants me to gave a jet"

 

[Skwim]

Christianity is one religion among many; it is wrong to generalize from Christianity to religion as a whole.
Will you make the correction please?
Regards

No it isn't wrong, and NO, I wont make any correction. Considering that Christians comprise the bulk of believers in the USA, (94.5%) as noted below, the rest of the religions only make up 5.4%, which I consider negligible.

source​

And, plugging in Judaism, which is also declining,

source
​

the rest of the religions only comprise 3.4% of those in the USA that might not be declining. So, I feel the charts in the OP fairly describe the situation of religion in the USA. Want to quibble about the 3.4% go ahead, but don't expect me to care. ​

 

[AnnaCzereda]

Please post the Scripture saying immediately become a saint (holy one ) if you're a martyr ?

It's the teaching of the Catholic Church. In the Book of Revelation, you have a vision of the martyrs standing beside the Throne of God:

When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; (Revelation 6:9)

And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. (Revelation 12:11)

The Catholic Church teaches about the baptism of blood. When someone dies for Jesus, all his sins are forgiven and he has access to Heaven. It's as if he was baptized again. That everyone can be saved only by the sacrifice of Christ is another thing but I'm talking about something else; about martyrdom being a sort of a sacrament akin to baptism or a confession. If you die for faith, all your sins you committed before are pardoned.

The term "baptism of blood" was introduced in the times of the early church when many catechumens were martyred before they could be baptized. Their martyrdom was a substitution for formal baptism.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Can you blame them? Can't remember the last time God built a road or funded a university.

Um, the most prestigious universities were founded by Christians, such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton and so on. Christians basically established the modern university and hospital system. Catholicism has played a huge part in scientific advancements and the Vatican owns a prestigious scientific academy and observatories, as well. However, Marxism's record with science is pretty awful so let's not go there.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Western culture is in steep decline so what's new.

 

[Quetzal]

Um, the most prestigious universities were founded by Christians, such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton and so on. Christians basically established the modern university and hospital system. Catholicism has played a huge part in scientific advancements and the Vatican owns a prestigious scientific academy and observatories, as well. However, Marxism's record with science is pretty awful so let's not go there.

None of those things are God. Those are groups of people. Inspired people, perhaps, but you let me know when God puts on a hard hat and breaks ground.

 

[Theweirdtophat]

That is doubtbul. It's more likely that the flood of chemicals in everything is to blame.

You obviously have no idea what communism is.

For thousands of years people have claimed these are the end of days. Obviously not a single one has been correct.

Excuse me, I have a very good idea of what communism is. I guess you were oblivious that France has had socialist presidents? That's just one country, too. but socialism is basically less extreme form of communism. America has too, with not only gun control which is favored by many communists, but programs like social security. Why do you think they call it social security? Socialism, social security, you get it? On paper, they aren't communist, but they are slowly becoming that way. You'd be blind to not see the signs.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Excuse me, I have a very good idea of what communism is. I guess you were oblivious that France has had socialist presidents? That's just one country, too. but socialism is basically less extreme form of communism. America has too, with not only gun control which is favored by many communists, but programs like social security. Why do you think they call it social security? Socialism, social security, you get it? On paper, they aren't communist, but they are slowly becoming that way. You'd be blind to not see the signs.

Socialism is nothing like communism.
Unlike you, I do have and have read communist literature. I know that communal ownership comes in many forms, including the religious and spiritually inclined, as well as those who base their philosophies upon materialism. I am very aware early Christian communes were communist, that there is classic Marxism as well as Neo-Marxism, Lennonist-Marxist communism, and many other forms.
I can tell by your post you are blind about what communism is, and that you have bought into all the anti-communist propaganda. To me, as someone who is educated about communism, your misunderstandings about communism are as obvious as a creationist's misunderstandings of evolution.
Socialism is NOT communism. Marx wrote that socialism is a step towards communism, but they are still very different.