Religion in the USA

Discussion in 'Religion & Philosophy' started by WillReadmore, Apr 26, 2018.

  1. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2013
    Messages:
    59,479
    Likes Received:
    16,351
    Trophy Points:
    113
    The latest Pew Research continuing study of religion in America from last December shows some results that seem to indicate a continuing trend away from religious affiliation, but not necessarily belief in the existence of a higher power.


    Latest increment:
    http://www.pewforum.org/2018/04/25/when-americans-say-they-believe-in-god-what-do-they-mean/


    [​IMG]


    Previous increment:
    http://www.pewforum.org/2015/11/03/u-s-public-becoming-less-religious/

    [​IMG]

    It seems like the trend is for people to stick to their beliefs, but for the general composition of the population to change due to aging, with younger people being less religiously affiliated.

    So, at this point a slim majority believe in "the god as described in the Bible".
     
    Derideo_Te likes this.
  2. CourtJester

    CourtJester Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2013
    Messages:
    27,769
    Likes Received:
    4,921
    Trophy Points:
    113
    So people remain superstitious. They just don't accept organized superstition.
     
  3. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2013
    Messages:
    59,479
    Likes Received:
    16,351
    Trophy Points:
    113
    It also seems a little strange that we would proclaim so loudly that we are a "Christian Nation" when only a bare majority believe in god as described in the bible.

    According to USFan and others, believing in god as described in the bible is the first of the basic beliefs one would need in order to qualify as Christian.

    But, the criteria for being Christian go on from there to be more restrictive in terms of how the Bible is actually interpreted. One must wonder how many of the 56% have taken the correct steps of redemption, for example.

    These additional restrictions would surely reduce the number who pass the test.
     
    ARDY and Derideo_Te like this.
  4. CourtJester

    CourtJester Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2013
    Messages:
    27,769
    Likes Received:
    4,921
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Personally, I doubt most Christians have ever bothered to actually read the Bible. Anyone who actually reads it could not possibly believe in the Christian religion.
     
    Saganist, DavidMK and BillRM like this.
  5. DoctorWho

    DoctorWho Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2016
    Messages:
    15,501
    Likes Received:
    3,740
    Trophy Points:
    113
    That hardly makes sense, many avid Church attendees are well versed in the scriptures and differ mostly as far as doctrine.

    Anybody that attends a modicum of Church services has usually attended Sunday School and read enough of the bible in their spare time if not in formal studies.

    The moniker "Christian" is a wide label, as Bigots and Racists and Murderers will not likely inherit the Kingdom.

    Stanley Satan the Devil, is able to quote the bible better than most "Christians" believes, yet fears.

    Remember Religion is a contruct of Men, truth is Follow Jesus, atheists see the value of loving others, over treating one another poorly.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2018
    Junkieturtle likes this.
  6. it's just me

    it's just me Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2014
    Messages:
    3,269
    Likes Received:
    381
    Trophy Points:
    83
    It's pretty simple, It doesn't take as much thought to believe in "something" if you don't have to say what it is.
     
    usfan and btthegreat like this.
  7. Max Rockatansky

    Max Rockatansky Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2013
    Messages:
    25,394
    Likes Received:
    8,172
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Yet 77% are religiously affiliated. We'd have to dig into the survey find out what that means. IMO, it means they don't Bible literally, specifically Genesis, but accept God as the Creator.
     
    TrackerSam likes this.
  8. Max Rockatansky

    Max Rockatansky Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2013
    Messages:
    25,394
    Likes Received:
    8,172
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Conversely, it doesn't take much thought to deny everything that isn't in front of one's own nose.

    A cognitive test for infants is the game of Peek-A-Boo. Initially, if an adult hides behind a large handkerchief, the infant will lose interest. Literally out-of-sight-out-of-mind. As the infant's mind develops, they understand that the other person is still there even though they can't see them.

    Most human beings and cultures throughout history have a spiritual component. They understand there is something beyond the physical even though they do not understand, exactly, what it is.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2018
    TrackerSam likes this.
  9. it's just me

    it's just me Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2014
    Messages:
    3,269
    Likes Received:
    381
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Here in America, understanding shouldn't be a problem, unless they are denying what they have seen. That was my point.
     
  10. Derideo_Te

    Derideo_Te Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2015
    Messages:
    50,653
    Likes Received:
    41,718
    Trophy Points:
    113
    It would be interesting to see if there is any correlation between Boomers reaching their Sell By dates and the drop off in religious affiliation.
     
  11. Market Junkie

    Market Junkie Banned

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2016
    Messages:
    2,390
    Likes Received:
    1,920
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Speaking of correlations ... the average IQ of those 56%ers is probably around 90 to 95 ... while the average for the 10%ers is likely 130ish or so.

    So you have to ask yourselves a question ... Do you think the dummies are right?


    Well do ya, punks?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztDOBjxRh1Q
     
  12. HereWeGoAgain

    HereWeGoAgain Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2016
    Messages:
    27,942
    Likes Received:
    19,979
    Trophy Points:
    113
    “A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather
    because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it." - Max Planck
     
  13. Hawkins

    Hawkins Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2008
    Messages:
    371
    Likes Received:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    28
    It only says even humans with a high IQ are dumb fools. They are brainwashed by secular education since their childhood.

    One huge mistake these intelligent humans made is the believe of evidence. They think that things must be evident before they start to believe. The reality however to completely going the opposite. 99.99% humans know for a fact that black holes exist but without any evidence presented. They rely on something else to determine a truth, they are however blinded by their education to figure out what this "something else" actually is!
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2018
    usfan likes this.
  14. HereWeGoAgain

    HereWeGoAgain Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2016
    Messages:
    27,942
    Likes Received:
    19,979
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Religion is true brainwashing. Education is based on facts and science.

    Religion is based on faith, not facts.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2018
    Saganist and Derideo_Te like this.
  15. Hawkins

    Hawkins Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2008
    Messages:
    371
    Likes Received:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    28
    One huge mistake these intelligent humans made is the believe of evidence. They think that things must be evident before they start to believe. The reality however to completely going the opposite. 99.99% humans know for a fact that black holes exist but without any evidence presented. They rely on something else to determine a truth, they are however blinded by their education to figure out what this "something else" actually is!

    Religious people may be dumb, because even the Bible said that God chooses to save the dumb when the intelligent think they are smart. Reality however proved that these "smart" people are actually dumber.

    Religion on the other hand is completely something else. You are clueless about what is, which I can tell.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2018
  16. HereWeGoAgain

    HereWeGoAgain Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2016
    Messages:
    27,942
    Likes Received:
    19,979
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Most people aren't qualified to understand the science. That's why we have experts.
     
    Derideo_Te likes this.
  17. Hawkins

    Hawkins Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2008
    Messages:
    371
    Likes Received:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    28
    On the other hand, I doubt that you understand what science truly is! You are brainwashed to think that you understand science but I can actually concretely point out that you do not.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2018
  18. HereWeGoAgain

    HereWeGoAgain Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2016
    Messages:
    27,942
    Likes Received:
    19,979
    Trophy Points:
    113
    You don't believe in science, which is based on evidence and peer review, but you do in fairy tales.
     
    Derideo_Te likes this.
  19. HereWeGoAgain

    HereWeGoAgain Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2016
    Messages:
    27,942
    Likes Received:
    19,979
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Given that I'm a scientist, you can imagine my fascination. :rolleyes:
     
    Giftedone, RiaRaeb and Derideo_Te like this.
  20. Hawkins

    Hawkins Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2008
    Messages:
    371
    Likes Received:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Well I encountered countless self-claimed scientists in my wife who are clueless about what science is. On the other hand, this belongs to the topic philosophy of science which few scientists actually pay attention to.

    You can try to explain what science is, such that you can see how I can correct your mistakes! Try it!
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2018
  21. Derideo_Te

    Derideo_Te Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2015
    Messages:
    50,653
    Likes Received:
    41,718
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Religion perpetuates debunked superstitions and mythology.

    Science is self correcting.

    Believing that "prayers are answered" when there is absolutely zero evidence that they are is self delusion.

    Looking through a telescope and observing the physical motions of the planets is engaging in scientific knowledge.

    The stark difference between superstitious "beliefs" and scientific facts says volumes.

    FTR the existence of black holes can be determined by the observation of stars orbiting the center of galaxies. The existence of black holes was first detected by X-ray waves. So yes, the actual evidence does exist.
     
    FoxHastings, RiaRaeb and WillReadmore like this.
  22. VotreAltesse

    VotreAltesse Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2017
    Messages:
    6,163
    Likes Received:
    3,096
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Here is the problem, atheist don't do babies, so they're fated to be replaced by demographically more dynamic people.

    Second problem, being atheist don't prevent to believing in things. For instance, communists believe in an ideal society, the communist society, a kind of paradise on earth. SJWs too.

    You can't escape the religious fact.

    Even if you don't believe in any supernatural things, if you don't have any spirituality, you're doomed.
     
  23. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2013
    Messages:
    59,479
    Likes Received:
    16,351
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Well, I certainly agree with you on that!

    I suspect a lot of the claims by people who are self-reporting in these surveys aren't really coming from any deep analysis they've done.
     
  24. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2013
    Messages:
    59,479
    Likes Received:
    16,351
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I'd bet that's pretty close, too.

    I've certainly run into people who believe the big bang was how god did it. To them, Genesis is an important allegory, but not a physics lesson.
     
  25. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2013
    Messages:
    59,479
    Likes Received:
    16,351
    Trophy Points:
    113
    That gets quoted a LOT!

    But, it's a comment on human nature more than anything else, isn't it?

    Plus, science doesn't jump to new conclusions on important issues very rapidly. The process includes repeated testing and review by experts in the field. That could have been frustrating to Planck.
     
  26. delade

    delade Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2017
    Messages:
    5,844
    Likes Received:
    317
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Gender:
    Male
    The most prevalent faiths in the Americas are as follows:

    • Christianity (86 percent)[117]
      • Roman Catholicism: Practiced by 69 percent[118] of the Latin American population, 81 percent[118] in Mexico and 61 percent[118] in Brazil whose Roman Catholic population of 123 million is the greatest of any nation's; approximately 24 percent of the United States' population[119] and about 39 percent of Canada's.[120]
      • Protestantism: Practiced mostly in the United States, where half of the population are Protestant, Canada, with slightly more than a quarter of the population, and Greenland; there is a growing contingent of Evangelical and Pentecostal movements in predominantly Catholic Latin America.[121]
      • Eastern Orthodoxy: Found mostly in the United States (1 percent) and Canada; this Christian group is growing faster than many other Christian groups in Canada and now represents roughly 3 percent of the Canadian population.[120]
      • Non-denominational Christians and other Christians (some 1,000 different Christian denominations and sects practiced in the Americas).
    • Irreligion: About 12 percent, including atheists and agnostics, as well as those who profess some form of spirituality but do not identify themselves as members of any organized religion)
    • Islam: Together, Muslims constitute about 1 percent of the North American population and 0.3 percent of all Latin Americans. It is practiced by 3 percent [120] of Canadians and 0.6 percent of the U.S. population.[119]Argentina has the largest Muslim population in Latin America with up to 600,000 persons, or 1.9 percent of the population.[122]
    • Judaism (practiced by 2 percent of North Americans—approximately 2.5 percent of the U.S. population and 1.2 percent of Canadians[123]—and 0.23 percent of Latin Americans—Argentina has the largest Jewish population in Latin America with 200,000 members)[124]
    Http://wikipedia.org/wiki/Americas


    Largest cities
    Largest metropolitan areas
    Largest cities

    List

    The Americas (also collectively called America)[5][6][7] comprise the totality of the continents of North and South America.[8][9][10]Together, they make up most of the land in Earth's western hemisphere[11][12][13][14][15][16]and comprise the New World.

    The Americas
    [​IMG]


    The New World order calls for JUST and Right. In The Name of Jesus Christ. Amen

    Righteous living, also. In The Name of Jesus Christ, I ask. Amen


    Thank YOU, LORD. In Thy Only Begotten Son's Name, Jesus Christ, I ask Thee and thank Thee. Amen


    :truce:

    Thou hast won, LORD. I surrender. Amen.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2018

Share This Page