Thread: Hillsboro Baptist leader has died...

Originally Posted by earcutter

Tell me that's not the America of today? I would love to believe otherwise.

We have never been constitutionally obligated to be particularly moral, decent or kind. That's still optional.

Got this on my facebook

Originally Posted by earcutter

Well here you go - download and go wild. I think you'll find that the "dramatic" drop you claim is a little... Overstated.

Religiosity, Atheism, Gallup International, Atheism Index, religion

Dear sir you're looking at the wrong statistics. Most people don't claim to be Atheists, in fact calling oneself Atheist is a very unpopular classification for most.

Many people claim to be christians etc as thats how they were raised or its the common faith of the country they were born and raised in. However church / temple attendance is dropping dramatically. Most people vote with their feet. A lot of current research is aware of this and some census questions for example have been altered / reformulated recently to account for this. I can't give you one link because the research is quite large and complicated. I'm afraid attaching one google link is not adequate in this and many other cases. But we live in the internet age and frighteningly most people think one quick search will give them the "truth" after a two minute search.

So if you are interested in in finding out the true figures please looks for recent statistics that ask the respondent if they are active in their faith or a faith by name alone. Ps Market research companies are not usually the place to start…

Originally Posted by kevinred

Dear sir you're looking at the wrong statistics. Most people don't claim to be Atheists, in fact calling oneself Atheist is a very unpopular classification for most.

Many people claim to be christians etc as thats how they were raised or its the common faith of the country they were born and raised in. However church / temple attendance is dropping dramatically. Most people vote with their feet. A lot of current research is aware of this and some census questions for example have been altered / reformulated recently to account for this. I can't give you one link because the research is quite large and complicated. I'm afraid attaching one google link is not adequate in this and many other cases. But we live in the internet age and frighteningly most people think one quick search will give them the "truth" after a two minute search.

So if you are interested in in finding out the true figures please looks for recent statistics that ask the respondent if they are active in their faith or a faith by name alone. Ps Market research companies are not usually the place to start…

Lol!!! That's a poor cop out my friend. I provided work done by Pew, and you dismiss it with nothing to argue it but your word... Lol!!

I tell you what - you give me some figures that address world decline in religion outside of wealthy and or highly educated populations, then well talk.

Anyone can talk nominal - give me something positive! BTW if the Economist can quote Pew... I think its fair to say we can !

I can attest to the fact that the number of real Christians is dramatically smaller than the number on the list.

Over hald the kids in my daughters' class are Christian. Yet they don't pray, don't go to church, don't get taught Christianity by their parents, etc. We never see them in church. My daughter and I are usually the youngest people in the church.

Originally Posted by Bruno

I can attest to the fact that the number of real Christians is dramatically smaller than the number on the list.

Over hald the kids in my daughters' class are Christian. Yet they don't pray, don't go to church, don't get taught Christianity by their parents, etc. We never see them in church. My daughter and I are usually the youngest people in the church.

Makes sense with you being in Belgium brother.

Originally Posted by tintin

i'm sure my opinion will be unpopular but... a lot of things were done in the name of Christianity that are not what the Bible had in mind, they are just man's interpretation of what he wants it to say. Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of the true meaning of the Word. The world would be a better place if we would all follow Jesus's example (weather your believe in him or not). Don't let a bad example (may he rest in peace) reflect on true Christianity.

I don't see how that is going to make you unpopular.
And yes, as an agnostic myself I feel much the same way.
The world would indeed be a much better place if all mankind would follow much of the moral and ethics in the bible.
The ten commandments is basically very common sense to me.
Well most of them, if you know what I mean

Mind you, the same can actually be said about most world religions, including Islam.
I've had an interest in the various religions out there for some years and have taken the time to read the Bible, the Qur'an and most other scriptures from the major religions out there.
Fascinating stuff.

What does boggle my mind is that what I read in those "holy books" compared to what Mr. Phelps and other "fanatics" from all the varying faiths out there preached really doesn't compute to me.

But what do I know, I'm still searching for the meaning of life, and the fundamentals of our existence

Originally Posted by Birnando

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,But what do I know, I'm still searching for the meaning of life, and the fundamentals of our existence

" Hirlau, what is the meaning of life?"

"To Lather Our faces – Shave Them Baby Butt Smooth And To Hear The Lamentation Of Our Strops!"
Hirlau-SRP

This was written after 9/11. But it could apply here as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRxEXryTQxo

If ever there was someone who missed the point about Christianity, it's Fred.

………………………………..