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44% of people have left religion? - 4/28/2008 4:07:57 AM
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singinglibby
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According to an article I read in the New York Times, 44% of americans have left their religion or changed religions. Why do you think that is?
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 4/28/2008 6:04:45 AM
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FurGodWurLivin
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Spiritual Boredom, mostly. People jump from religion to religion because they are looking for answers, and unfortunately too much of the American church is dead in the water to give them the answers they are actually looking for. Until the church as a whole is walking in the fullness of their maturity and calling, there will be people who leave it when they become bored with hearing about how to become happier. The church in America needs a widespread movement like that currently going on in Lakeland to shake it out of it's slumber.
Adam
_____________________________
I am hyena, Jesus is my Mufasa...
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 4/28/2008 8:40:20 AM
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URForgiven
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quote:
ORIGINAL: singinglibby
According to an article I read in the New York Times, 44% of americans have left their religion or changed religions. Why do you think that is?
Have they left or changed their religion, or their denomination?
_____________________________
The sin of the world is unbelief.
"I am a Believer, it is impossible for me to be an unbeliever."
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 4/28/2008 9:09:52 AM
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timf
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According to an article I read in the New York Times, 44% of americans have left their religion or changed religions. Why do you think that is?
I would hope that the reason is as FurGodWurLivin states. However, I suspect that while some are looking for answers, most are looking for more comfort and a better fit to their lifestyle.
There was a time in this country when most people were concerned with truth and what was right. I would guess that that shifted back in the late sixties to mid seventies to a more consumer friendly philosophy of what feels good, what sounds good, and what makes the most people comfortable.
This shift is part of a centuries long Satanic plan to enslave the world. Our public schools systems have been churning out drones as fodder for the corporate hives for generations. Most of our churches have also been shaped as collectivized people processing systems.
These times were predicted long ago.
The pervasive propaganda by TV personalities like Oprah can be seen in;
2 Timothy 3:6
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
There was also a prediction that many people would not be interested in the preaching of truth;
2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
If the turning from Jesus and truth seen in Europe and North America could be called apostasy, it may be that we are very close to the return of Christ;
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 4/28/2008 9:12:12 AM
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URForgiven
Posts: 548
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quote:
ORIGINAL: timf
According to an article I read in the New York Times, 44% of americans have left their religion or changed religions. Why do you think that is?
I would hope that the reason is as FurGodWurLivin states. However, I suspect that while some are looking for answers, most are looking for more comfort and a better fit to their lifestyle.
There was a time in this country when most people were concerned with truth and what was right. I would guess that that shifted back in the late sixties to mid seventies to a more consumer friendly philosophy of what feels good, what sounds good, and what makes the most people comfortable.
This shift is part of a centuries long Satanic plan to enslave the world. Our public schools systems have been churning out drones as fodder for the corporate hives for generations. Most of our churches have also been shaped as collectivized people processing systems.
These times were predicted long ago.
The pervasive propaganda by TV personalities like Oprah can be seen in;
2 Timothy 3:6
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
There was also a prediction that many people would not be interested in the preaching of truth;
2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
If the turning from Jesus and truth seen in Europe and North America could be called apostasy, it may be that we are very close to the return of Christ;
2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
I would guess they are looking for Truth.
_____________________________
The sin of the world is unbelief.
"I am a Believer, it is impossible for me to be an unbeliever."
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 4/28/2008 9:36:14 AM
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bob97
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Many people need to change their religion and find Christ. 80% of the population believes in God but only about 20% belong to Christ. IMO (percentage wise) there are no less people belonging to Christ today than there were 100 years ago. There are more Christians because the population is larger.
If one belongs to Christ, we don’t leave that fellowship, we might change churches but we don’t leave Christ.
Bob
_____________________________
The LORD clears the road for me!
The LORD is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer!
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 4/28/2008 10:51:12 AM
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rcjames
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I believe the article being referred to in the OP is HERE..
While some areas of Christiandom have suffered loss in numbers from where a child went to CHurch to where they go to CHurch as an Adult or do not go to Church as an adult. Others have grown dramatically.
RCC has lost about a thirt of the group, while non-mainline Churches have nearly doubled
I know that the denominations (non-mainline) I belong to is growing at an enourmous rate, with new Church plants at least weelky in the States.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 4/28/2008 6:13:56 PM
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Catholicandloveit
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quote:
ORIGINAL: bob97
80% of the population believes in God but only about 20% belong to Christ.
Bob,
Were did you find these %? or is it just your opinion?
Thanks
Mary
_____________________________
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 4/28/2008 7:03:16 PM
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Bluethread
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The fact that those outside the faith play musical chairs with their beliefs is not a concern to me. It didn't matter which cabin you were in when the Titanic went down. Only those on lifeboats survived.
If this is concerning of the household of faith, I am not surprised. As it has been said, "Many are called but few are chosen."
_____________________________
"Show me wherein I have errored and I will hold my tongue." Iyov(Job)
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 4/28/2008 8:59:05 PM
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bob97
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From: Kansas
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quote:
Were did you find these %? or is it just your opinion?
Actually it is based on the old 80/20 rule and if you will analysis it very closely you will find it will apply to anything you want to apply it to.
In a church, 20% of the congregation gives 80% of the offering. 20% of the congregation does 80% of the work around the church. It can also be 20% of the congregation cause 80% of the problems. I have discussed this others in the chruch and find concurrence.
In music 80% of all music is trash and only 20% good. In business 20% of the inventory accounts for 80% of the inventory value.
I have made an attempt to make some analysis around the churches and although no one knows the heart of others I would say the 80/20 rule has merit. I’m sure that in any small group this statistic might prove wrong because all people interested in attending have a reason to be there so the rule needs to be applied across the broad spectrum.
I sure if you do a net search you will find much information on the subject.
Bob
_____________________________
The LORD clears the road for me!
The LORD is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer!
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 4/28/2008 9:20:11 PM
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CropDuster
Posts: 60
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From: Minnesota
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quote:
ORIGINAL: singinglibby
According to an article I read in the New York Times, 44% of americans have left their religion or changed religions. Why do you think that is?
Well, as a liberal Catholic, I would have to say the reason concerns something as simple as communication. I'm frustrated with my church for not working harder to capture people's imaginations, to get their attention, to preach its message with more passion and energy. I love my church, but feel it has grown complacent, boring, a bit lazy, stale and ineffective in spreading the Good News. It seems too content with its power, status, self-understanding, and mastery of this world. I feel no sense of urgency in anything the Catholic Church does, when I know that many parts of its history tell a completely different story.
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 4/29/2008 12:25:23 PM
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Catholicandloveit
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Bob,
Thanks, I've never heard of the 80/20 rule, learn something new everyday.
Mary
_____________________________
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 4/30/2008 11:18:01 PM
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Ezra
Posts: 1982
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quote:
It seems too content with its power, status, self-understanding, and mastery of this world. I feel no sense of urgency in anything the Catholic Church does, when I know that many parts of its history tell a completely different story.
The history of the Catholic Church is a sad one indeed. But having arrived at this conclusion, a person should be seeking to move on.
_____________________________
And whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely. Revelation 22:17
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 5/1/2008 6:31:00 AM
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CropDuster
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From: Minnesota
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Ezra
quote:
It seems too content with its power, status, self-understanding, and mastery of this world. I feel no sense of urgency in anything the Catholic Church does, when I know that many parts of its history tell a completely different story.
The history of the Catholic Church is a sad one indeed. But having arrived at this conclusion, a person should be seeking to move on.
The history of the Catholic Church includes its rebuilding of Europe after the fall of Rome in AD 476. That's anything but 'sad'. You're probably referring to the Inquisition or Crusades. Please keep in mind that many Christian sects have done things they regret.
I'm not sure if 'moving on' would make any difference. Christian sectarianism is much the same wherever one goes. It always comes down to Man's interpretation of Christ, and the bizarre twists to it he's likely to come up with.
< Message edited by CropDuster -- 5/1/2008 6:37:05 AM >
_____________________________
"If you rightly bear your cross, it will bear you."
Thomas a Kempis: The Imitation of Christ
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 5/1/2008 12:22:50 PM
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davelinde
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From: New Jersey
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quote:
ORIGINAL: URForgiven
quote:
ORIGINAL: singinglibby
According to an article I read in the New York Times, 44% of americans have left their religion or changed religions. Why do you think that is?
Have they left or changed their religion, or their denomination?
See previous thread the entire 44% is not made up of people who have "changed religion" it those who have changed from what they did as a child. This can be EITHER positive or negative. eg a child could profess faith in a solid Bible based church then change to being agnostic OR a child could grow up in a church that's lost touch with the actual Gospel and then change churches when they are saved.
It depends. There are other reasons I view as neutral too - eg my personal experiences (see other thread).
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 5/1/2008 10:20:56 PM
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mariadreamer
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From: va
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quote:
ORIGINAL: singinglibby
According to an article I read in the New York Times, 44% of americans have left their religion or changed religions. Why do you think that is?
I think it's because Americans like to shop and are used to being marketed to using various features, so that's what churches are doing. On Sundays, I always see all kinds of curious signs along the roads advertising churches with pictures of popcorn, cows, flowers, even feet under a blanket, anything just to attract attention. I get postcards in the mail inviting me to "fun" Easter events and Halloween parties. I hear testimonies like, yeah, I used to be Catholic but now I go to a fun church...
Oh well.
_____________________________
Christ is risen from the dead,
by death He has trampled down death,
and on those in the tombs bestowing life!
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 5/2/2008 1:41:57 PM
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Lurker
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I don't want a "fun" Church. I want a Church that teaches me the Truth.
Fortunately,after a period in my own spiritual desert I found it. :)
_____________________________
Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ—and you will find true life.
-Pope Benedict XVI
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 5/2/2008 10:23:14 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
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I sat down the other day and had a heart-to-heart with my daughter, because I am sick-to-death of religion. I dislike it strongly. However, I love G-d and desire to serve Him wholeheartedly, walking the way He mapped out, within community.
I left the religion I was reared in, and wild horses could not draw me back to it. According to them, then, I am lost and without hope. I look on them with pity because I found their religion to be a cruel one based upon human beings and an organization with hardly a thought toward G-d and what He says. I wish the whole organization would just dissolve, because it concerns me that souls are being led astray and given false hope through them.
_____________________________
Abiyah
Why does He keep quoting Torah? Doesn't He know He's about to abolish it?
A tree's fruit is obvious; you have to look harder for the worm hole.
G-d has only one natural Son; EVERYONE else is adopted.
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 5/3/2008 9:13:03 PM
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CropDuster
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Joined: 4/28/2008
From: Minnesota
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First there was Jesus, then came an avalanche of interpretations, which still keeps coming. Everything after Jesus, including the New Testament, is an interpretation of some sort. Sectarianism is an unavoidable nuisance, I suppose, but we must keep it within reasonable boundaries. As soon as religious authority appears to be more grounded in sectarianism than Jesus Christ, I flee the scene. My focus is CHRIST.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of Christians insist on clinging to some collection of divisive devices, including the Bible, their church, its special books, history, etc., etc. This is so because we are weak creatures. We need these 'bells and whistles' to make us feel secure, to keep us busy, to dramatize our devotion and give us a sense of progress in our religious observances. It's the idea of, "I must be making progress here because of all the stuff I'm doing for my religion", that keeps it all in motion.
I'm not condemning this mentality and way of life, but I am tired of them. To me, it all comes down to believing in Jesus and trying to imitate Him as best as one can in His service to others.
_____________________________
"If you rightly bear your cross, it will bear you."
Thomas a Kempis: The Imitation of Christ
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RE: 44% of people have left religion? - 5/3/2008 10:44:59 PM
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Mannamuncher
Posts: 1985
Joined: 4/13/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: singinglibby
According to an article I read in the New York Times, 44% of americans have left their religion or changed religions. Why do you think that is?
Weren't sheep to begin with, were they ?
Jesus said any plant that his Heavenly Father
did not plant would be pulled up by the roots.
Religionists practicing religiousity are not
what The Kingdom of Jesus Christ is about !
1 John 2:19 (King James Version)
19They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
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"WHOSOEVER"are the elect-
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