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/ Previous increment: http://www.pewforum.org/2015/11/03/u-s-public-becoming-less-religious/ 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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Here in America, understanding shouldn't be a problem, unless they are denying what they have seen. That was my point.
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.
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
“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
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!
Religion is true brainwashing. Education is based on facts and science. Religion is based on faith, not facts.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 1.São Paulo 2.Lima 3.Mexico City 4.New York City 5.Bogotá 6.Rio de Janeiro 7.Santiago 8.Los Angeles 9.Caracas 10.Buenos Aires 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 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 Thou hast won, LORD. I surrender. Amen.