Wow.. thread already gone to pots. No one is challenging anyone's beliefs here. Just commenting on an article about the rise of atheism/agnosticism IN GENERAL. Not about I believe in god, you don't and you're worse for it. Or I don't believe in god but you do and you're worse for it.
If one would like to discuss their own personal god, jesus etc. maybe another thread is in order.
Wow.. thread already gone to pots. No one is challenging anyone's beliefs here. Just commenting on an article about the rise of atheism/agnosticism IN GENERAL. Not about I believe in god, you don't and you're worse for it. Or I don't believe in god but you do and you're worse for it.
If one would like to discuss their own personal god, jesus etc. maybe another thread is in order.
No and I was not challenging anyones beliefs either when I was accused of calling
someone a youngster and naive.... which I did not say.
Just spoke of my experience. As others spoke of theirs with the mother and grandparents
etc...
I heard recently of a great organization promoting keeping kids in church.
That many are lost and need a church that speaks to the 12 to 25 age range .
Not their parents church. Good idea. It was not the faith part it was
they needed their own I thought this was great.
1) the breakdown of the "traditional" family unit. most religious practices revolve around the traditional family unit of the past several centuries. since that family unit has altered significantly over the past few decades, with the religious right being unwilling to accept and include that alteration, has lead to a decline in membership
2) globalization of media. being able to witness second hand (video) all the mass destruction of humankind on each other, not to mention the earth and nature on us, it gets harder and harder for a lay person to believe in an all-loving and merciful One
3) lifestyle. it's been happening not just over the technological age, but even before that. women being finally allowed into the workforce and now actually (gasp!) having their own social lives, is a small part of it, but what may have started it, which makes the family unit, as it stands today, much busier. which leaves less time for god.
4) religion is an atiquated notion. to reach youth, you have to update and transform with the times to identify with them. western religion has failed to do that. we fear our ipods dying and forgetting our facebook passwords more than we fear the wrath of god on judgment day.
5) fear of our elders is gone. human behaviour used to be steeped in tradition, which was brought on by a sense of belonging and right and fear. people no longer worry about appeasing their parents and doing right by the family. partly because baby boomer parents have softened to this ideal. they want their kids to forge their own path.
Gimli 1993
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
Wow.. thread already gone to pots. No one is challenging anyone's beliefs here. Just commenting on an article about the rise of atheism/agnosticism IN GENERAL. Not about I believe in god, you don't and you're worse for it. Or I don't believe in god but you do and you're worse for it.
If one would like to discuss their own personal god, jesus etc. maybe another thread is in order.
No and I was not challenging anyones beliefs either when I was accused of calling
someone a youngster and naive.... which I did not say.
Just spoke of my experience. As others spoke of theirs with the mother and grandparents
etc...
I heard recently of a great organization promoting keeping kids in church.
That many are lost and need a church that speaks to the 12 to 25 age range .
Not their parents church. Good idea. It was not the faith part it was
they needed their own I thought this was great.
Generation Acts I think like Generation X
you said "I was an atheist and then I wised up". anyone, regardless of beliefs, that claims to be more enlightened than another on a PERSONAL journey, is ignorant.
Gimli 1993
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
Wow.. thread already gone to pots. No one is challenging anyone's beliefs here. Just commenting on an article about the rise of atheism/agnosticism IN GENERAL. Not about I believe in god, you don't and you're worse for it. Or I don't believe in god but you do and you're worse for it.
If one would like to discuss their own personal god, jesus etc. maybe another thread is in order.
No and I was not challenging anyones beliefs either when I was accused of calling
someone a youngster and naive.... which I did not say.
Just spoke of my experience. As others spoke of theirs with the mother and grandparents
etc...
I heard recently of a great organization promoting keeping kids in church.
That many are lost and need a church that speaks to the 12 to 25 age range .
Not their parents church. Good idea. It was not the faith part it was
they needed their own I thought this was great.
Generation Acts I think like Generation X
you said "I was an atheist and then I wised up". anyone, regardless of beliefs, that claims to be more enlightened than another on a PERSONAL journey, is ignorant.
say what :?
again only claimed my own wising up ... no reflection on another
wow and always a nice guy too
Does that show personal spiritual growth to be so rude?
While I'm sure some people feel much "wiser" when they start to believe in a magic man in the sky who gives a shit who wins the super bowl but can't be arsed to help the 3 year-old girl being raped in Somalia, I would think that maybe some people might want to look the word "wise" up in a dictionary.
Religions are there for weak-minded people who need to be told what to think and do.
1) the breakdown of the "traditional" family unit. most religious practices revolve around the traditional family unit of the past several centuries. since that family unit has altered significantly over the past few decades, with the religious right being unwilling to accept and include that alteration, has lead to a decline in membership
2) globalization of media. being able to witness second hand (video) all the mass destruction of humankind on each other, not to mention the earth and nature on us, it gets harder and harder for a lay person to believe in an all-loving and merciful One
3) lifestyle. it's been happening not just over the technological age, but even before that. women being finally allowed into the workforce and now actually (gasp!) having their own social lives, is a small part of it, but what may have started it, which makes the family unit, as it stands today, much busier. which leaves less time for god.
4) religion is an atiquated notion. to reach youth, you have to update and transform with the times to identify with them. western religion has failed to do that. we fear our ipods dying and forgetting our facebook passwords more than we fear the wrath of god on judgment day.
5) fear of our elders is gone. human behaviour used to be steeped in tradition, which was brought on by a sense of belonging and right and fear. people no longer worry about appeasing their parents and doing right by the family. partly because baby boomer parents have softened to this ideal. they want their kids to forge their own path.
Not sure I agree 100%, but with much. Thank you for the reasoned response.
It becomes a test to believe unless you feel it in your heart,
this why so many are leaving religion.
When you know in your heart and walk with God there is no test,
only answers.
Pain, injustice, fear, hate, prejudice, bias seem to be on the rise ...
cruelty, greed, lust, dishonesty...
is there a connection?
It's as though there is more test just because people don't believe.
I find that ironic as it is written in the book most don't believe.
It is as though it speaks the truth. In time is where truth lies.
While I'm sure some people feel much "wiser" when they start to believe in a magic man in the sky who gives a shit who wins the super bowl but can't be arsed to help the 3 year-old girl being raped in Somalia, I would think that maybe some people might want to look the word "wise" up in a dictionary.
Religions are there for weak-minded people who need to be told what to think and do.
That's all.
while I agree with your first statement, your second one is an ignorant over generalization and dramatic falsehood.
Gimli 1993
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
Judging each other? I didn't take the first comment that way but some did and then judged back. The topic is religion and no religion, not each other. Too much to clean up, this thread is done.
Comments
If one would like to discuss their own personal god, jesus etc. maybe another thread is in order.
someone a youngster and naive.... which I did not say.
Just spoke of my experience. As others spoke of theirs with the mother and grandparents
etc...
I heard recently of a great organization promoting keeping kids in church.
That many are lost and need a church that speaks to the 12 to 25 age range .
Not their parents church. Good idea. It was not the faith part it was
they needed their own
Generation Acts I think like Generation X
1) the breakdown of the "traditional" family unit. most religious practices revolve around the traditional family unit of the past several centuries. since that family unit has altered significantly over the past few decades, with the religious right being unwilling to accept and include that alteration, has lead to a decline in membership
2) globalization of media. being able to witness second hand (video) all the mass destruction of humankind on each other, not to mention the earth and nature on us, it gets harder and harder for a lay person to believe in an all-loving and merciful One
3) lifestyle. it's been happening not just over the technological age, but even before that. women being finally allowed into the workforce and now actually (gasp!) having their own social lives, is a small part of it, but what may have started it, which makes the family unit, as it stands today, much busier. which leaves less time for god.
4) religion is an atiquated notion. to reach youth, you have to update and transform with the times to identify with them. western religion has failed to do that. we fear our ipods dying and forgetting our facebook passwords more than we fear the wrath of god on judgment day.
5) fear of our elders is gone. human behaviour used to be steeped in tradition, which was brought on by a sense of belonging and right and fear. people no longer worry about appeasing their parents and doing right by the family. partly because baby boomer parents have softened to this ideal. they want their kids to forge their own path.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
you said "I was an atheist and then I wised up". anyone, regardless of beliefs, that claims to be more enlightened than another on a PERSONAL journey, is ignorant.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
again only claimed my own wising up ... no reflection on another
wow and always a nice guy too
Does that show personal spiritual growth to be so rude?
Religions are there for weak-minded people who need to be told what to think and do.
That's all.
do you really think anyone is buying that?
saying someone/something is ignorant is not rude. had I said someone was "stupid" would be rude, ignorant is not.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
this why so many are leaving religion.
When you know in your heart and walk with God there is no test,
only answers.
Pain, injustice, fear, hate, prejudice, bias seem to be on the rise ...
cruelty, greed, lust, dishonesty...
is there a connection?
It's as though there is more test just because people don't believe.
I find that ironic as it is written in the book most don't believe.
It is as though it speaks the truth. In time is where truth lies.
Good lord get over yourself
while I agree with your first statement, your second one is an ignorant over generalization and dramatic falsehood.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
ah, the inevitible facepalm. bravo, pandora, once again, bravo.
Fargo 2003
Winnipeg 2005
Winnipeg 2011
St. Paul 2014
Judging each other? I didn't take the first comment that way but some did and then judged back. The topic is religion and no religion, not each other. Too much to clean up, this thread is done.