Thoughts and Prayers: The Religion Thread

Cerano going to the source..

 

Why wouldn't the Catholic clergy 'work' to degenerate the faithful - that's been going on for six decades or so.

 

I suspect that the Lorax is behind this somehow.

I suspect the Lorax.

 

He used to post here ...

 

With that crazy Casbah sound?

 

Too often I think, we as a nation assume that stuff that is happening "here" is unique to the US. Maybe it is our parochialism, jingoism, America Firstism/Exceptionalism...whatever. But it is worth noting that the US is an outlier on many fronts, including the decline of religious participation, which is flat or declining largely due to white people abandoning one form of Christianity or another (this is the case in Europe as well). We're about 30 years away from the world being at least bu plurality "Muslim." What I don't understand is why the white leaders of Christianity seem so intent on driving away more white members of the faith. And make no mistake, when religious leaders are talking about the "spiritual decline" of our nation toward "secularism," or when others fear the declining majority of whites in America - white people need to look in a mirror rather than look for some other ethnic or religious group to attack.

7 key changes in the global religious landscape

 

The greatest problem is not "attacks" on other religions by Christians. The most significant detriment/cause of Christian decline, and indeed, society as a whole, is the "nones," in my opinion. When there are no standards/philosophies taught/learned to live by is when/where trouble starts. And it has.

 

I suspect that people who profess to be religious, but are hypocrites, have more lax standards of behavior than many, and certainly at least some, nones. And it's always ridiculous when you say someone without religion is without standards, ie morals, to live by. And given how many people are regularly slaughtered in the name of religion it's actually humorous that you think the troubles begin without it.

 

I think what we're seeing now is a generation (or two or three) beyond when people began falling away from organized religion. When parents stop taking their families to a church it is awfully hard for a kid not brought up that way to say - "you know what? I want to join a church." I grew up going to church, stopped going regularly because I felt uncomfortable going by myself. Then a few years ago, became more interested in learning more about my faith. Why things are the way they are. The development of it. Growing up it just WAS. Going to church was something you HAD to do. I got very little out of it. Stepping away from it and coming back to it from another perspective and wanting to "learn" rather than just being "taught" made a big difference to me.
I also think the decline in organized religion isn't so much an indictment on religion, but people being wary of "committing" to anything. Fewer people choose to identify with a political party, fewer people are members of civic organizations, etc. etc. These often were where people found their "community" but now, more and more people find their "tribes" online.

 

Would you describe yourself as a “none” or a religion person?

 

The Pontif don’t like it