Thread: 90% of all Americans say that they are Christian.

Originally Posted by Iolo

As has been said before, personal rating is silly, and so are comments based on it. It is like questions about national background in your census - people choose from a small number of options, not allowing for mix and ignorance. From where I stand, there are only a tiny number of Christians in the 'States, bu,t similarly, a lot of those rice Christians would regard me as a simple commie. How seriously is such stuff to be taken? Not very, I'd suggest.

Then your own personal rating in this thread is equally 'silly'.

Originally Posted by robini123

Do a search for the percentage of Christians in America and you will see varying results. Varying but high percentage numbers. So why is it that 50% of all marriages in America fail when most of those people identify themselves as Christian? I tell you what, in my estimation 90% of the people that I have ever met sure do not act very Christian. Makes me think there are a whole lot of liars out there.

Not high at all - http://theologica.ning.com/profiles/...-christians-in

There is a difference between people who believe and people how follow...

Growing up, with prayer in schools, if one was an American they were assumed to also be a Christian---Jews stayed in their closet and were never heard from; and Muslims didnt really exist as far as we kids knew.

And so the 'Default' position of many secular Americans who dont claim atheism, etc. and because of their Christian upbringing, if pressed, consider themselves to be Christian.

Originally Posted by DBM aka FDS

Not high at all - http://theologica.ning.com/profiles/...-christians-in

There is a difference between people who believe and people how follow...

But I would have to agree with the above article that there is a big difference between those who consider themselves "committed Christians' (i.e. walk it out 7 days/wk), and those who are but "pew warmers' (i.e. manage to 'crawl' it out only 2 hrs/wk). For the 1st it is a lifestyle of commitment; and for the later it is 'a necessary duty' and/or clearing of one's conscious (i.e.' see, I'm not so bad..I went to church today')

Originally Posted by robini123

So why is it that 50% of all marriages in America fail when most of those people identify themselves as Christian? I tell you what, in my estimation 90% of the people that I have ever met sure do not act very Christian. Makes me think there are a whole lot of liars out there.

Actually, historically, high divorce rates has been an indication of women's rights. Divorces occur when women think they'd be better off without their husbands, something which does not happen when the women's status is low. Then again, that might not be the primary reason today.

Originally Posted by Makedde

Just because someone says they are Christian, doesn't mean they are. Most people aren't Christian because they don't act like Christians.

I agree. I partied with a lot of Christians in the 80's. Over my life time I have seen many self identified Christians do many non Christian things. I guess to some, the Ten Commandments are more of an ideal than an actual rule set.

Originally Posted by Libhater

Lets just go with your assumption that perhaps 50% of failed marriages were people that were lying about being Christians. What religion (if any) do you suppose those 50% of liars might be?

Your assumption of my assumption is incorrect. You are reading way to much into what I am saying. Christians love to tout family values. News reports for years now show the divorce rate as high as 50%. So if most people are Christian in the U.S. it seems logical to assume that most those getting divorced are Christian. I personally know a number of Christians who ended up getting a divorce.

As for liars, Christians certainly do not have a monopoly lying. To lie is to be human IMO. Show me the person who does not nor has ever lied. This thread is about Christians though, if you don't like it, start a thread on how non Christians lie and I will chime in with admittance of my own failings there.

Originally Posted by Libhater

I didn't see anything in my Christian studies that suggested Christians were not mortal, or that we weren't sinners or that we followed the Bible or every part of Christian dogma word for word. Just for comparison sake,

That is what I call "the devil made me do it argument". To lie is to be human, to cheat is to be human, to steal is to be human... but to be Christian is to resist those base compulsions and do the right thing... or so I thought. Heck, I am not even Christian and I do everything in my power to follow the 10 Commandments. Why, I think they are great rules for any civilized society to follow.

You have any idea how many times I have been hurt by Christians just to be told "God forgives me and so should you"? It is like being a Christian grants one a license to behave badly and when caught you get to play your get out of jail free card... God forgives me and so should you!

So much for personal accountability.

Originally Posted by Libhater

perhaps you could come up with some statistics that show that atheist marriages never fail in that they have a 100% chance of surviving

Never seen statistics saying that atheist marriages never fail... have you?

Originally Posted by Libhater

--and that would be quite incredible since they don't take their vows in front of GOD, rather, they may very well be taking those secular vows at the altar of SATAN.

Lucky for me that I am not an atheist then.

Originally Posted by Wolverine

Does it really matter? All we need to know is that gay marriage will destroy the already destroyed sanctity of marriage. That divorce rate may jump to 52%.

From the divorce rate in a Christian Nation I would say that Christians are doing just fine at destroying the institution of marriage. What does it matter? The hypocrisy. Christians talk about the institution of marriage and the family unit. If the institution of marriage and family are so important, then why do so many Christians get divorced?

Originally Posted by DBM aka FDS

Not high at all - http://theologica.ning.com/profiles/...-christians-in

There is a difference between people who believe and people how follow...

I agree. How many times have we seen some gang member being arrested, and the news video or pic shows the guy with a crucifix necklaces? A religious gang banger being arrested for distributing narcotics? I personally know a Christian who is well respected, looks the part, makes over six figures a year... and smokes pot from time to time. Never knew that pot was allowed in Christianity? So I agree, I think the number of Christians who walk the talk is at best 25%... and that is me being very gratuitous.

Originally Posted by robini123

From the divorce rate in a Christian Nation I would say that Christians are doing just fine at destroying the institution of marriage. What does it matter? The hypocrisy. Christians talk about the institution of marriage and the family unit. If the institution of marriage and family are so important, then why do so many Christians get divorced?

Because its ok for them to do it, but its also alright to be Jewish when the time seems appropriate (adherence to the Jewish Bible).