America is losing its religion — and the effects will be long-lasting

PoliTalker said:
Hello Dutch Uncle,

I like learning too; but I have no need to belittle others in the process. That does nothing for me.
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Proving a person wrong isn't belittling. At least not where I come from where it's called "education". You should try it. :)
 
Wolverine said:
The path of Jesus was perfect, I am not!
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A convenient excuse. Here's the problem, Matt; you aren't even trying to be a Christian. Just saying you are one then shitting all over people and lying about them doesn't make you a Christian.
 
Hello Dutch Uncle,

Dutch Uncle said:
What kind of town has people openly bragging about their religion or spiritual beliefs?

Most civilized people realize beliefs are a personal matter. It's like some asshole showing naked pictures of his conquests to his friends. Best not to do it out of decorum, not fear.
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Life is different in a small town. Everybody knows everybody. People talk about other people. That means anything of interest about anybody becomes a topic of discussion. There's a lot of Christians who think if you're not a Christian too then you're the devil.
 
Wolverine said:
Atheist's deny the existence and power of God.
The issue with those "superior" minds is this!
25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
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I do not speak Bible thumperish.
 
Cypress said:
Okay, but I do not agree with the premise that agnostics are just really secret atheists. I have lingered on the margins of genuine agnosticism for years.

My personal opinion: agnosticism conforms more to reason and the scientific mind. Complete and unequivocal certainty about either the absence or presence of a higher reality in the universe strike me as unwarranted by means of reason alone. I do not think our souped-up chimpanzees minds are capable of that kind of cognitive certainty. That is just my two cents.
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I believe there is very likely a higher reality


I just don’t think any of the god based theories ring true


There are of course higher powers than we know


God bases religions don’t seem capable of defining it clearly


There best aspect is filling people with love and kindness


When you begin having people organize those aspects and twisting them for social power it subverts the beautiful aspects


It creates a scaffolding that sociopaths can climb to power on


Kept it spiritual


Shun the power grab


And you have my total respect


Our current mega churches are evil


People need to recognize that


Keep it real


Not real profitable
 
Dutch Uncle said:
A convenient excuse. Here's the problem, Matt; you aren't even trying to be a Christian. Just saying you are one then shitting all over people and lying about them doesn't make you a Christian.
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The difference is, I know I am not perfect, yes I give back exactly what I get here, Pride I suppose, yes I pray about it, but the Christian walk is a journey not somewhere you end up when saved!
Are you a Christian!
 
evince said:
I believe there is very likely a higher reality


I just don’t think any of the god based theories ring true


There are of course higher powers than we know


God bases religions don’t seem capable of defining it clearly


There best aspect is filling people with love and kindness


When you begin having people organize those aspects and twisting them for social power it subverts the beautiful aspects


It creates a scaffolding that sociopaths can climb to power on


Kept it spiritual


Shun the power grab


And you have my total respect


Our current mega churches are evil


People need to recognize that


Keep it real


Not real profitable
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I think humans are probably hard wired to sense there is a higher reality, an ultimate truth.

I do not know if the monotheistic Abrahamic religions are on the right path, but the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim God is just one face of this higher truth.

Hindus call it Brahman.
Daoists call it The Way.
Buddhists call it Nirvana.

However one wants to slice it, religions and spritual expression seemingly reflect some innate human impression of an incomprehensible ultimate reality.
 
PoliTalker said:
Hello Dutch Uncle

Life is different in a small town. Everybody knows everybody. People talk about other people. That means anything of interest about anybody becomes a topic of discussion. There's a lot of Christians who think if you're not a Christian too then you're the devil.
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Dude, isolated military bases in the 1960s weren't Mayberry, but they had many small town qualities.

I like small towns. I like old military bases better. There was no fear of crime. Everyone worked together. So what? WTF does this have to do with your aversion to some subsect of small town Christians where you grew up and made you feel like an outcast? Nobody can make you feel anything, dude.

It's all on you. :laugh:
 
Wolverine said:
The difference is, I know I am not perfect, yes I give back exactly what I get here, Pride I suppose, yes I pray about it, but the Christian walk is a journey not somewhere you end up when saved!
Are you a Christian!
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Bingo. Not a Christian.

You know it's wrong but you do it anyways. Intentionally. Repeatedly. Because, fuck Christianity, you have your pride to protect!!! Ergo, not a Christian except in name only.
 
Cypress said:
The Protestant theological tenets of salvation by faith alone, election by grace, the primacy of Scripture, biblical literalism, biblical inerrancy, shunning of ritual and iconography, rejection of ecclesiastical authority - all come from 500 years ago directly from Luther, Calvin and their theological traditions.

Those tenets are broadly shared or are influential across world Protestantism as a whole, regardless of denomination.

Those theological traditions were not invented in your obscure bible thumping American evangelical church. You inherited them from Luther and Calvin.
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being a Calvinist, I obviously inherited most of my beliefs from Calvin......given that I have mentioned that at least five times in this thread so far, your further attempts to lie about "obscure bible thumping American evangelical churches" are noted.......

all come from 500 years ago directly from Luther, Calvin and their theological traditions
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this overlooks several key facts.....
1) not all protestant denominations share those beliefs....for example the Lutheran tradition still utilizes iconography and ritual....other example is the conflict between those who believe in inerrancy and those who believe in infallibility......
2) many reformers besides Luther and Calvin put forth those beliefs independently, based simply upon scripture.....for example rejection of ecclesiastical authority was an inherent element of protestant reform, not because of Luther and Calvin, but because if you weren't rejecting authority you weren't actually protesting........beliefs in faith, grace and the primacy of scripture also are shared by every reformer, not because of Luther and Calvin but because of scripture......many of their contemporaries taught the same doctrines.......
3) even Calvin and Luther don't agree with each other on all of these issues.....Calvin criticized Luther on his retention of ritual and icons, Luther rejected Calvin' doctrine of election, Calvin does not have the same view of literalism
 
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PoliTalker said:
Hello Dutch Uncle,



OK, so there are 22.8% who do not associate with religion. Only 3.1% of those will actually come out and say they are atheist, and another 4% say they are agnostic with a whopping 15.8% saying they 'don't know.' That tells me they refuse to identify as Christian or any other religion, but they are afraid to admit they are non-believers. I would have given that answer when I was younger, before I just decided to go ahead and admit to myself and the world I am atheist, after going through a transitional period where I called myself agnostic. I did first have to become familiar with the definition of that word.

This 15.8% simply have not categorized their non-belief, and don't want to be nailed down to something they have not given enough thought to to make up their mind and take a stand. Especially when they don't have to.

And there is a stigma to openly saying you are agnostic or atheist. That is putting something out there which can be attacked. People don't like to have to defend themselves. Also, young people are often still searching for their life-mate. Declaration of a designation which is seen by many as essentially being 'of the devil' is often a good way to drive off potential mates.

I would expect much of that 15.8% to be in a young age group.
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I think the largest segment of that group are simply apathetic........
 
Quote Originally Posted by Dutch Uncle View Post
Are you saying you do walk the walk? If so, why haven't I seen it?

The fact remains you just talk the talk and do not walk the path of Jesus.
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and this is where all you finger pointers go wrong......

you aren't a Christian because of the way you walk.......you are a Christian because of what you believe.......
Christians sin, Muslims sin, Jews sin, Buddhists sin, atheists sin.........everyone walks a crooked line......the question has never been "how are you walking?".......the question is "who is carrying you?".....
 
Dutch Uncle said:
Bingo. Not a Christian.

You know it's wrong but you do it anyways. Intentionally. Repeatedly. Because, fuck Christianity, you have your pride to protect!!! Ergo, not a Christian except in name only.
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Christian doesn't mean perfect, Paul had a thorn in the side so do I, still dodging my question!
 
signalmankenneth said:
[FONT=&]New surveys show Americans' membership in communities of worship has declined sharply in recent years, with less than 50% of the country belonging to a church, synagogue or mosque.
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[FONT=&]Why it matters: The accelerating trend towards a more secular America represents a fundamental change in the national character, one that will have major ramifications for politics and even social cohesion.

By the numbers: A Gallup poll released last week found just 47% of Americans reported belonging to a house of worship, down from 50% in 2018 and 70% as recently as 1999.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/america-losing-religion-effects-long-093028404.


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[video=youtube;xwtdhWltSIg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwtdhWltSIg]
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The Fight of Our Lives - Defeating the Ideological War Against the West
https://tubitv.com/movies/553841/th...efeating-the-ideological-war-against-the-west

This free to watch film describes the fight we are in better than ANY film I have ever seen.

You will learn more about who, what, why and how America and Western Civilization is under attack than in any film you have probably ever seen.

In the first 5 minutes, you will know more than most anyone around you discussing current events.

Every politician, teacher, journalist and patriot NEEDS to watch and share this vital film..
 
PostmodernProphet said:
and this is where all you finger pointers go wrong......

you aren't a Christian because of the way you walk.......you are a Christian because of what you believe.......
Christians sin, Muslims sin, Jews sin, Buddhists sin, atheists sin.........everyone walks a crooked line......the question has never been "how are you walking?".......the question is "who is carrying you?".....
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FUCKING INSANITY.
 
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