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Americans' Belief in God, Miracles and Heaven Declines (harris poll)

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I bet a lot of Americans confuse Wicca/modern "witchcraft" with Biblical or medieval references to witches. My somewhat fundamentalist aunt insists that Wiccans are all evil practicers of black magic, and they'll all go to Hell for their devil worship.
 
Do that people that do not believe in evolution know that gravity is "just a theory" also? Because here in the south, I get that response a lot. "Theory of evolution, it's not proven. LOL"
 
Very Christian centric. I would think that if they spread out the questions (do you believe that there is a higher power, do you not conform to religious practices while believing in said deity, etc.) you would still get a relatively high amount of religious people. As I've proclaimed in the past, that belief in Christianity specifically is evolving into a spiritual/ not religious pantheistic/ panentheistic worldview.
I think the slight uptick in reincarnation helps prove that, it is possible that either more people with different religious views are coming to the country, or that views in general are shifting in different directions there.
I bet a lot of Americans confuse Wicca/modern "witchcraft" with Biblical or medieval references to witches. My somewhat fundamentalist aunt insists that Wiccans are all evil practicers of black magic, and they'll all go to Hell for their devil worship.
I think that's kind of the point actually, far as I can tell Christianity has either demonized or incorporated a lot of figures or practices of other religions and so her believing that is probably what they wanted to have happen. I imagine only the minority that actively WANTED to be contrary are guilty of "devil worship" and they're the ones outright calling themselves Satanists.
 
I think that's kind of the point actually, far as I can tell Christianity has either demonized or incorporated a lot of figures or practices of other religions and so her believing that is probably what they wanted to have happen. I imagine only the minority that actively WANTED to be contrary are guilty of "devil worship" and they're the ones outright calling themselves Satanists.

I'm guessing most Wiccans would have said "yes, witches are real," in the survey. Even though most don't actively practice magic, they still identify as witches.

From my experiences, ask a Wiccan if the cast spells is like asking a Mormon about Kolob. They kind of dance around the issue.
 
These are the YOLO times.

With social media, we are more self involved. And capitalism = competition. We are trying to get ahead, and that means by shitting on the next man by any means necessary.

Music is supporting non-belief full steam, and Gospel songs just feel like a gimmick. Plus, all these religious figures are getting caught doing monstrous crimes; parents are hesitant to get their kids involved in certain things.
 
I hope they went into more detail when asking the questions. UFO stands for Unidentified Flying Objects, I'm sure those exist. It would have been better phrased as alien spacecraft or life on other planets. Witches probably confused a lot of people as well.

I believe in God, and I'm a white male Echo-Boomer, from the East, Democrat, and currently in college. Looks like I'm in the minority of most of my groupings : /
 
I'll be happy when being a black atheist, isn't something to be shamed for, by my own people. Hell, members of my own family, blood. Black community is so overly religious, Christ.
 
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How can you not believe in a cosmic BAMF who creates the world in 6 days, before days have a definition. The omnipotence that takes a break.

My theory is that on the seventh day God suffered cardiac arrest. That's why the prayers go unanswered.

I'll be happy when being a black atheist, isn't something to be shamed for, by my own people. Black community is so overly religious, Christ.

In the UK, we're long past that.
 
Yes. There are certain demographics that would be missed or overrepresented. There is a good chance the poorer south, which is highly religious, may not have the same access to the internet.

Or those who simply don't care for Harris Polls, which are a lot of people. 2,250 people may not be the greatest sample to take as representative of the U.S. as a whole.

Still, nice to see acceptance of evolution arise, but I don't think that belief in evolution necessarily disproves God's or a god's existence. The way I look at it is science discovers and analyzes processes, not always origins. Although it can heavily imply an origin, without direct observation it can never be certain.

Although a lot of you disagree, I still think spirituality is still an important part of being human and understanding one another.
 
In the UK, we're long past that.

Don't live in the UK unfortunately, we ain't past shit here in America. I remember getting the belt when I came out as an atheist. Took years for my mom to squash it, hell it still comes up sometimes. But she believes, and nothing I can do or say will change it. She's adamant in her faith.
 
Wait, 26 percent of people believe in Witches as in old women who fly on broom sticks, put curses on people and have an army of flying monkeys or Witches as in people who prescribe to the Wiccan faith?
 
Seems like crazy high numbers in general. Wow. And I know very few people who even apply to those particular views. I personally know maybe...four people, directly?


Or those who simply don't care for Harris Polls, which are a lot of people. 2,250 people may not be the greatest sample to take as representative of the U.S. as a whole.

Still, nice to see acceptance of evolution arise, but I don't think that belief in evolution necessarily disproves God's or a god's existence. The way I look at it is science discovers and analyzes processes, not always origins. Although it can heavily imply an origin, without direct observation it can never be certain.

Although a lot of you disagree, I still think spirituality is still an important part of being human and understanding one another.

Spirituality, in relation to religion, is far more acceptable. In most instances, even if one is spiritual, they have come to their own views by thinking, questioning, and wondering about the world. The sad truth with religion is it's almost always told down to a person, not entirely brought up into the life by the direct actions of the person. With religion, the preacher is the authority and for one who feels spiritual about things, they themselves have the authority on what to think all of the way.
 

It makes me happy that belief in magical fairy tales that never happened, faith in books written by Bronze-age tribal leaders looking to control their hordes (the Bible / Torah), worshiping ruthless warlords that proclaimed themselves "the prophet of God" in order to better suppress their conquered people (Islam) and blindly following obvious cult leaders (Mormonism, Scientology) is in the decline.

It's just a shame that it's not moving at a faster rate. I still can't believe the majority of people in my country continue to be enamored with this nonsense. :-P
 
I would have answered yes to the question about witches. I don't believe in magic or anything, but I don't believe in the power of prayer while I still believe in Pat Robertson.
 
Because it reflects mass ignorance of scientific fact, which is a symptom of our lackluster educational system and the fact that purveyors of ignorance and misinformation have been successful in their efforts.

So it's a tragedy because they don't believe in the same things as you.
 
Does e.g. the lack of belief in evolution have a proven (negative) impact on society in general? Would belief without understanding be any better?

If they use it as an excuse to parade ignorance and use it to influence curricula and scientific research then yes it absolutely negatively impacts society
 
So it's a tragedy because they don't believe in the same things as you.

Evolution has so much evidence supporting it. I know you are a creationist, but really... Evolution is a fact. Allele frequencies in populations do change over time. The only "theory" part is why this occurs, and most evidence suggests natural selection. Imagine if only half of Americans believed in gravity. I would consider that a tragedy too. A failure of our education system to impart basic critical thinking and scientific literacy. I know you don't find those equivalent but they absolutely are if you have an ounce of scientific literacy.
 
Evolution has so much evidence supporting it. I know you are a creationist, but really... Evolution is a fact. Allele frequencies in populations do change over time. The only "theory" part is why this occurs, and most evidence suggests natural selection. Imagine if only half of Americans believed in gravity. I would consider that a tragedy too. A failure of our education system to impart basic critical thinking and scientific literacy. I know you don't find those equivalent but they absolutely are if you have an ounce of scientific literacy.

No need to degrade, I just haven't seen anything convincing.
 
Science shouldn't be up for debate?

If you have any credible scientific evidence that challenges modern evolutionary theory, then present it. But you know and I know that most people who "question" evolution are religiously motivated.

Edit: of course you wouldn't find real life examples of speciation and the fossil record of the entire literature of modern biology convincing. You are a young earth creationist right?
 
That's a very generalized statement. Would you be okay if they paraded ignorance and influenced curricula and scientific research as long as they believe in evolution? That doesn't really sound better.

There is a fundamental difference in parading around what you're talking about (especially with the continental drift theory) and outright denying basic facts and attributing it to "God Did It!" and using that to push creationism into schools.

I'm not talking about all science in general, just using not "believing" in Evolution as it stands and using that to push for ignorance in schools and sidetracking scientific research.
 
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