And such people should be left to mutter to themselves on the subway.
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Modest decline in belief in God in most industrialized countries
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And such people should be left to mutter to themselves on the subway.
IpsoFacto
Member
By saying that only "some" find science threatning (and again, I'm talking about politized science), then by omission, the majority of beleivers do not see science as an antagonist.
The view of Christinaity is seeing the world through a moral perspective, the sense that there really is a true "right" and "wrong" or at least whatever is behind the universe is like a mind. That morality is essential to scientific research and truth seekers in general.
But that morality isn't exclusive to Christianity. I know you didn't say that, but it brings nothing to the table.
ThoseDeafMutes
Member
Please enlighten me, o wise sage. Because I could have sworn that the bible has him demonstrating his divine powers to people on a number of occasions. If I recall correctly, there was a fairly significant one involving rising from the dead and revealing himself to his followers.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
...I'm pretty sure I remember Jesus preforming miracles to educate people about God all the time.
There's no need for this attitude, even if you do obviously have a point.
"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation." 2 Peter 3:3-4
Even the Christians know this would happen.
But if it's going to increase in older age groups, it's not much of a surprise it's going to increase in countries like Russia (which has a history of Orthodox Christianity) where the population is aging.
Even the Christians know this would happen.
But if it's going to increase in older age groups, it's not much of a surprise it's going to increase in countries like Russia (which has a history of Orthodox Christianity) where the population is aging.
LowEndTorque
Member
Would it be fair to argue that fear of death and the unknown has been the primary driver behind the development of religion worldwide throughout history?
Every major religion I can think of off the top of my head has some concept of afterlife: reincarnation for Hinduism, Heaven and Hell for Christianity and Islam. Even the ancient Egyptians had a concept of afterlife in their religion.
From personal experience I always dislike the "cliche" that when some people lose their religion they tend to become more cynical about life *shrugs* as if they need "god" to have any purpose in their lives, then again cynicism exists in religion too, like the wrong-seated belief that we are are all sinners.
From personal experience I always dislike the "cliche" that when some people lose their religion they tend to become more cynical about life *shrugs* as if they need "god" to have any purpose in their lives, then again cynicism exists in religion too, like the wrong-seated belief that we are are all sinners.
Indeed. Cynicism and godlessness need not go hand in hand.
Nice save..?
From personal experience I always dislike the "cliche" that when some people lose their religion they tend to become more cynical about life *shrugs* as if they need "god" to have any purpose in their lives, then again cynicism exists in religion too, like the wrong-seated belief that we are are all sinners.
That depends on if you understand and believe in what sin is defined to be. If you do, then everybody is a sinner, at least in Christian doctrine.
replicashooter
Banned
I'd be willing to bet they don't. This whole universe is our purgatory but we think it's a playground.
Sickboy007
Member
I'd say Israel is the biggest outlier in terms of age brackets vs belief.
Omegasquash
Member
Hrm. Less third world, more security, more self-reliance. Not a shocker. People don't need to turn to something they can't see when they get what they need from something that they can see.
From personal experience I always dislike the "cliche" that when some people lose their religion they tend to become more cynical about life *shrugs* as if they need "god" to have any purpose in their lives, then again cynicism exists in religion too, like the wrong-seated belief that we are are all sinners.
I've come to reject religion based on critical thought. I've come to accept the beauty of nature as science describes it and it fills my heart with joy as much as any religious experience would. I am certainly not a cynical person.
There are, however, Spiteful Atheists. Those who reject religion out of Spite because they've lost someone or experienced hardships. These are the cynical people I'm talking about. The only reason they've left a church or rejected religion outright is because it did not provide them with the answers they sought. These people are also potential Born Agains. Spiteful Atheists can be just as bad as religious people because they don't ascribe to a thoughtful process of natural acceptance.
The only book by Dawkins that I've ever enjoyed was 'Unweaving the Rainbow', a very measured response to the idea that Science removes the joy or wonder that religion brings.
Dude Abides
Banned
No it isn't. That is an absurd suggestion.
cutmeamango
Banned
At this rate I won't be alive to see the promised secular world, where everyone realizes we are no lesser idiots than before. :/
Yeah, we're all born in sin, which is why god impregnated a virgin with himself so he could sacrifice himself for our sins which he brought upon us to begin with.
From what i know the concept of original sin seems to be a contentious issue among christian denominations or even among the three abrahamic religions, as islam and judaism certainly don't accept the concept in their teachings. My mother for example who is deeply religious doesn't believe in Original sin. The whole idea of it always seemed to contradict the whole point of jesus sacrifice for man anyway, I mean he died for our sins after all!
Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
It's not surprising. Jesus did say that before his 2nd Coming, that the days will be like in the days of Noah. Only 8 people were saved during the flood.
Besides, Jesus himself said few find heaven.
Matthe 7:13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
It's not surprising. Jesus did say that before his 2nd Coming, that the days will be like in the days of Noah. Only 8 people were saved during the flood.
Besides, Jesus himself said few find heaven.
Matthe 7:13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
So God is just playing a game of spiritual chicken with us? Well fuck that I won't let him beat me! *disbelieves harder*
A just and loving god.
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Meh, again my stance is that a lot of people believe there is "one true god" yet many religions exist.
It's actually quite fascinating looking at that POV from a historical perspective, I mean if you lived in a pre-darwin age or rather pre-enlightenment age, the whole idea of there not being a god would be quite a depressing thought as the alternative would be unthinkable, now with our recent discoveries about the universe and life itself, you can very much not believe in a god and still find plenty to be at awe about when it comes to life and the universe.
To think you are special and any exception to the rule is a truly religious thought.
replicashooter
Banned
Then I must just be a religious kind of guy. Religious enough to think that I'm already dead and this is hell (or at least something like it).
Why are you blaming God? Those people made thier own choices. According to the bible, they had over a hundred years to repent when Noah began the ark. Their unbelief is what destroyed them. They knew God but chose to live in riotous living
I actually sort of hope age and senility allows me to have some sort of belief in God and the afterlife.
I doubt I'll have progressed enough in my philosophy to approach the total anhilation of my consciousness as anything less than something to be terrified of.
I doubt I'll have progressed enough in my philosophy to approach the total anhilation of my consciousness as anything less than something to be terrified of.
God specifically chose Noah because he was a square, he didn't talk to anyone else. Talk about picking favorites.
And isn't that just the most horrible thing? Born in sin and then commanded to be good. You have to be a tyrannical maniac to come up with such an experiment, and then to watch on with such indifference - an all powerful, omnipresent being watching all the pain and suffering and doing not a thing - and those who are subject to such suffering are supposed to believe "nevermind,it will all be worth it in the end just as long as you believe in and love me"?
I don't buy it, no-one should. As Hitchens often said it's sadomasochism. When you break down such a belief system, it's vile, hateful, immoral nonsense. And centuries of cherry-picking the "good" parts can't change that.
I think I'll stay outside the gates with the fools.
It's not so bad - Your consciousness was non-existent for the 13.75 billion years before you were born.
So if given enough time to reconsider a meaningless position of theirs, a person can be killed and the killer is not to blame? Or am I understanding you wrong?
hey, it's your choice.
ReadingRambo
Member
"Why are you making me smite you?!"
D
Deleted member 81567
Unconfirmed Member
Pretty ironic that Cyprus is so "religious", most priests there are scumbags, especially the archbishop.
Understood. But now that it's here I've really grown quite fond of it. Sentient existence FTW! Death FTL.
Have you been on Xbox Live?
ReadingRambo
Member
Going to go out on a limb and say that quoting bible verses isn't going to do you a whole lot of good.
Or, just hear me out for a second, a global food never happened and that story was copied and pasted from earlier mythology.
Man Orayn, the Devil sure did a number on you.
The study is no surprise. I don't think it's because we're getting smarter though, but I think cynicism and alternative methods (science, even though I don't think it's an really an alternative to what religion can do for somebody, but that's a different story) are what is causing the decline.
Also not surprised by older people being more religious either.
There are theories stating that there could have been some kind of impact (meteor or something) that would have caused that to happen. Since it's in other mythologies you can say that something to that extent did happen flooding their notion of the "earth" (which was rather small at the time)
Also not surprised by older people being more religious either.
There are theories stating that there could have been some kind of impact (meteor or something) that would have caused that to happen. Since it's in other mythologies you can say that something to that extent did happen flooding their notion of the "earth" (which was rather small at the time)
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Philippines is very religious too but a lot of the religious folk commit atrocities.
Kai Dracon
Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
Debating biblical literalism w/ a dude using the original evil troll clown as his avatar, I see.
Carry on.
Carry on.
SpartanAGM
Banned
I'm not saying this necessarily applies to you but I find it interesting how some people are so quick to dismiss the idea of a God/creator but are convinced that aliens/other life forms exist in the universe.
Believing in the existence of a God, that's outlandish...but believing Aliens exist makes perfect sense!!! Oh the irony.
Well, they are both nihilists in a certain sense. One just has a God clause attached.
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