(Probably a misleading headline if you look at the chart, however)
Reminds me of a conversation I had several years ago with a French co-worker who was giving me a tour of several nearby cathedrals in the Alsace region. I asked if they were well attended. He said no. I asked why. He said it started after WWII when much of the population of France could not believe in a God that would have let such bad things happen. From the looks of the chart, the nones really picked up speed starting in 2008. Hmmm, what was it in the US that also picked up speed in 2008? On the other hand, persecution usually is when the church stays somewhat underground but thrives and builds solidarity.
... M
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no help. Psalm 146:3
Mountaineer wrote:Reminds me of a conversation I had several years ago with a French co-worker who was giving me a tour of several nearby cathedrals in the Alsace region. I asked if they were well attended. He said no. I asked why. He said it started after WWII when much of the population of France could not believe in a God that would have let such bad things happen. From the looks of the chart, the nones really picked up speed starting in 2008. Hmmm, what was it in the US that also picked up speed in 2008? On the other hand, persecution usually is when the church stays somewhat underground but thrives and builds solidarity.
It's probably just the general anti-establishment trend since all of the increase came at expense of mainline protestants and Catholics. I mean, if you expect it to be due to a sudden upsurgence of secular humanism, that would be asking way too much in too short a time.
"All generous minds have a horror of what are commonly called 'Facts'. They are the brute beasts of the intellectual domain." -- Thomas Hobbes
Disclaimer: I am not a broker, dealer, investment advisor, physician, theologian or prophet. I should not be considered as legally permitted to render such advice!
TennPaGa wrote:Religion is fading because of the current occupant of the White House? Seriously?
If Mountaineer were here, he would probably say that it seems that Barack Obama is your God.
It would be very interesting if Mountaineer would explain what he actually meant by his comment.
My own theory about the decline of religion is that religion is simply destined to fade due to evolutionary forces. At one time religion probably bestowed some survival benefit to the species but you only have to watch the news today to begin thinking that we might have reached a critical point where this is no longer the case.
Believers like Mountaineer will continue to profess the myth that there is a loving god overseeing the universe while at the same time holding the cognitively dissonant view that the angry god he believes in is going to come down from heaven and do to unbelievers something much worse than running over them with a truck, but I think humans are going to have to eventually sort this kind of thinking out if they are going to survive.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
... Mountaineer
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no help. Psalm 146:3
Mountaineer wrote:What does God say about vulgar or coarse language?
God calls His people to use wholesome speech (see also sixth and eighth commandments).
Proverbs 10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.
Ephesians 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
Matthew 15:11 It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.
... Mountaineer
WTF?
Was this directed at someone in particular? Since I'm not "His people" it obviously doesn't apply to me but I think my speech is pretty wholesome any way.
"All generous minds have a horror of what are commonly called 'Facts'. They are the brute beasts of the intellectual domain." -- Thomas Hobbes
Disclaimer: I am not a broker, dealer, investment advisor, physician, theologian or prophet. I should not be considered as legally permitted to render such advice!
All people everywhere are constantly looking somewhere to find happiness, identity, security, and meaning in life.
Where do people today look to try to find these things?
Read Matthew 6:25-34 and note the reasons Jesus gives for putting our trust in God.
┼ As Christians, we look for all that we need to the God who created and redeemed us.
14. What does it mean to have a god?
It means to trust in and rely on something or someone wholeheartedly to help us in times of need and to give us all good things.
* Acts 17:16 In Athens, St. Paul was distressed when he “saw that the city was full of idols.”
* Proverbs 11:28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall.
* Matthew 10:37 [Jesus said,] “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
15. Why doesn’t God want us to have any other gods besides Him?
As our creator, God alone knows what is best for us. Only He can provide us with all that we need for time and eternity.
* Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.
* Psalm 116:5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.
* Matthew 4:10 [Jesus said,] “You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.”
* Romans 1:22-23 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
28. Do all religions worship the same God?
No. All religions do not worship the same god.
• Some religions teach that life includes a spiritual dimension, but they reject the creator and His
salvation in Jesus (for example, Animism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism). Read Romans 1:16-25. 18
• Some religions claim to worship the God of Abraham and may even regard the Old Testament as sacred writings, but they reject the Triune God by rejecting His salvation in Jesus Christ (for example, Islam and Judaism.) Read John 5:19-23, 39-47.
• Some religions claim to be Christian and hold the Bible sacred, but reject Scripture’s witness that Jesus is the true Son of God, one with the Father, and therefore also deny the doctrine of the Trinity (for example, Mormonism and the Jehovah’s Witnesses). Read John 10:22-30.
• Some religious practices involve seeking help from supernatural forces rather than God the creator who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ (for example, Satanism, sorcery, superstitions, spirits of the dead, good luck charms, psychics). Read 1 Samuel 28 and note how Saul disobeyed God.
• Some religions or religious practices (for example, syncretism and moral therapeutic deism) combine elements of the above or simply believe in a generic deity. They reject God’s exclusive revelation of salvation in Jesus Christ alone. Read Psalm 53:1; Psalm 14:1.
... Mountaineer
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no help. Psalm 146:3
IMHO your latest posts don't strike me as being in the spirit of this thread's title - "Figuring Out Religion".
Because you've obviously figured it all out already.
Maybe you should start a new thread called "Mountaineer's pulpit" so that everyone who wants to read your selected Bible quotes and learn about the teachings of the Lutheran church will know where to go.
IMHO your latest posts don't strike me as being in the spirit of this thread's title - "Figuring Out Religion".
Because you've obviously figured it all out already.
Maybe you should start a new thread called "Mountaineer's pulpit" so that everyone who wants to read your selected Bible quotes and learn about the teachings of the Lutheran church will know where to go.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
You seem in great need of the above. Blessings and peace dude.
... Mountaineer
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no help. Psalm 146:3
IMHO your latest posts don't strike me as being in the spirit of this thread's title - "Figuring Out Religion".
Because you've obviously figured it all out already.
Maybe you should start a new thread called "Mountaineer's pulpit" so that everyone who wants to read your selected Bible quotes and learn about the teachings of the Lutheran church will know where to go.
I believe the thread started with MediumTex trying to figure out religion, soliciting thoughts from everyone. I don't think he said, "only people who haven't figured it out may comment". In fact, what a silly thing it would be, to only solicit opinions from people who didn't have one!
IMHO your latest posts don't strike me as being in the spirit of this thread's title - "Figuring Out Religion".
Because you've obviously figured it all out already.
Maybe you should start a new thread called "Mountaineer's pulpit" so that everyone who wants to read your selected Bible quotes and learn about the teachings of the Lutheran church will know where to go.
I believe the thread started with MediumTex trying to figure out religion, soliciting thoughts from everyone. I don't think he said, "only people who haven't figured it out may comment". In fact, what a silly thing it would be, to only solicit opinions from people who didn't have one!
This may be true but if Mountaineer has reached the point where his only response is to invoke the priestly blessing of, "The Lord Bless you and Keep you", quoting other (condemnatory) scriptures and Lutheran doctrines then it does seem pointless to continue the discussion with such a closed-minded idiot. I think he would do well to channel his religious zeal into the Lutheran priesthood (I know Lutherans don't have priests but you get the point). Maybe Evangelism just isn't his calling and it's time to admit it.
Jennifer wrote:Religion is difficult to choose and follow at the same time. Worshiping is no good but at the same time people need to have something to believe in, to hope for, to rely on. http://bigessaywriter.com/blog/top-20-d ... ould-avoid is just a little something for you to read. Hopefully you will find it interesting and helpful.
Interesting statistics, thanks for posting. Slightly off topic (but I do think environmentalism is a religion) the mosquito statistics are heavily caused by man's attempt to place the environment and lesser animals above the welfare of fellow humans. If I remember correctly, a major environmental impetus was started by Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring in the early 1960s. DDT, 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane, the best product known to eliminate mosquitos, was ultimately banned. The rest is history - millions of humans have died, most needlessly, because of malaria. My personal opinion, the benefits of DDT outweigh the risks. Environmentalists frequently want zero risk, especially for those things that do not have immediate benefit to them personally; DDT is not zero risk, but neither is driving a car - but the benefits of driving a car are personal and directly obvious to most.
What are some ways in which people’s reputations are damaged or destroyed in our society?
We may damage or destroy people’s reputations when we ridicule them, gossip about them, label and demean them because of a particular fault or characteristic, or bully them in person or in social media by taunting them, isolating them, or inciting others against them.
Seems appropriate to the conversation. This, as well as the previous commentary on coarse and vulgar language, might help keep us on the high road.
... Mountaineer
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no help. Psalm 146:3
I only offer this as something you may wish to consider in your interactions with others. For me, I could care less; I'm secure.
Peace and blessings Dude.
... Mountaineer
If we were having a logical debate then I think you would be correct in pointing out my ad-hominem logical fallacy. But since, in your last few posts, you are now only invoking priestly blessings upon us, quoting scriptures about proper speech like you are our church pastor or something, and sharing with us the teachings of Martin Luther, I felt it completely proper to share my own feelings that you are a closed-minded fundamentalist, religious idiot.
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. 'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.' The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? 'That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.' For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.'
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them. So, to all of my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!
... Mountaineer
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no help. Psalm 146:3
Martin Luther compares the human will to a beast of burden, ridden either by God or by Satan. It is a consequence of the exclusive power of original sin to destroy the sinner temporarily and eternally; outside of Christ there is nothing but Satan, apart from grace nothing but wrath, apart from light only darkness, apart from the way only error, apart from the truth only a lie, apart from life only death.
... Mountaineer
Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no help. Psalm 146:3
Interested in a Holy Bible without a jealous and angry diety, magic and superstition, deplorable ethical standards, embarassing theological notions, miracles, geneaology, prophecy, vulgar ignorance, things impossible, fanaticism, fabrications, angels, virgin births, resurrections, fanciful tales, dogma and priestcraft?
It is called The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth compiled by the always esteemed Thomas Jefferson. This 46-page volume was never published during his lifetime as it was for his personal use only.
"All generous minds have a horror of what are commonly called 'Facts'. They are the brute beasts of the intellectual domain." -- Thomas Hobbes
Disclaimer: I am not a broker, dealer, investment advisor, physician, theologian or prophet. I should not be considered as legally permitted to render such advice!
MachineGhost wrote:Interested in a Holy Bible without a jealous and angry diety, magic and superstition, deplorable ethical standards, embarassing theological notions, miracles, geneaology, prophecy, vulgar ignorance, things impossible, fanaticism, fabrications, angels, virgin births, resurrections, fanciful tales, dogma and priestcraft?
MachineGhost wrote:Interested in a Holy Bible without a jealous and angry diety, magic and superstition, deplorable ethical standards, embarassing theological notions, miracles, geneaology, prophecy, vulgar ignorance, things impossible, fanaticism, fabrications, angels, virgin births, resurrections, fanciful tales, dogma and priestcraft?
It is called The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth compiled by the always esteemed Thomas Jefferson. This 46-page volume was never published during his lifetime as it was for his personal use only.
Mountaineer wrote:A God-less book that an athiest moralist could write. No thank you. I read about Jefferson's bible years ago.
Uh, Jefferson was a Christian... but if that's how you wanna roll and exclude any evidence that doesn't conform to your pre-existing beliefs, so be it. Most of us would like to know what the core message of "Jesus" actually was and not all the religious tripe.
Last edited by MachineGhost on Tue Jul 26, 2016 10:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
"All generous minds have a horror of what are commonly called 'Facts'. They are the brute beasts of the intellectual domain." -- Thomas Hobbes
Disclaimer: I am not a broker, dealer, investment advisor, physician, theologian or prophet. I should not be considered as legally permitted to render such advice!
Xan wrote:And how exactly would you describe taking a knife to Scripture and hacking out the parts that you don't believe?
Omitting B.S. that isn't supported by history, science, reason and common sense?
All you religious believers do this all ready anyway (especially Muslims). Jefferson just formalized it.
"All generous minds have a horror of what are commonly called 'Facts'. They are the brute beasts of the intellectual domain." -- Thomas Hobbes
Disclaimer: I am not a broker, dealer, investment advisor, physician, theologian or prophet. I should not be considered as legally permitted to render such advice!
On the other hand, persecution usually is when the church stays somewhat underground but thrives and builds solidarity.
