Comments on: America Loses Its Religion

By: Jean-Pierre

Jean-Pierre — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:12:55 +0000

In my experience with Orthodox Judaism there is a controversy and tension between those who want to maintain all the law and prohibitions with modern science and those who want to rip our pages dealing with evolution from science textbooks.

Those who are modernists tend to view homosexual orientation as a reality that should not have to be changed through reparative therapy, while the more conservative (and larger) group have unscientific views about how the etiology of gay sexual orientation is rebellion against God.

I think that this tension is in other religions as well.

I think that deep down believing in something as obviously mythological as a world created in 6 calendar days undermines the belief in God.

That belief is supernatural and beyond science, but doesn’t have to contradict science.

By: kurt_t

kurt_t — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 17:29:04 +0000

Am I the only one wondering how many of the 80.7 percent belong to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

By: Regan DuCasse

Regan DuCasse — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 05:05:17 +0000

I don’t think homophobia has influenced this in any major way. But I do think that the inevitable hypocrisy that hovers over many influential faith communities is what has turned people off.
You have pastors being busted for adultery, sex with underage parishoners and little help for women in crisis with domestic violence.
Mega churches make a big show of political lobbying, and putting a lot of effort and expense into anti gay policies. Or even anti woman policies.
But there are few women who are the leaders in these churches, and the disparity in influence can be glaring in some places.
Unless and until faith communities start living up to their own credo of treating another as they’d be treated, then they won’t have credibility, nor do they deserve it.

By: melinda nelson

melinda nelson — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 04:50:00 +0000

“The fundamentalists undermined their legitimacy by worshipping homophobia long after it had been exposed as a false God. In this unholy obsession, the sacrifices left bleeding at the altar were truth and justice. When people see their own sons and daughters and friends and co-workers coming out, it creates a crisis of credibility for religious institutions. It leads to countless situations where mean-spirited men like Nienstedt demand blind, irrational obedience and say take it or leave it – and more people are now following their consciences and walking away.” W Besen

I agree.

But “walking away” doesn’t mean there is something compelling or right about what is being “walked to.”

I agree with PJB863 regarding this research being locked into old categories and paradigms.

The crowd walking from the churches are also walking from politics. So your hopes about the Nones political engagement might be off.

One must consider that the real shift is not about religion at all–but how institutions and associations are formed and live in this era.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 04:11:54 +0000

I think you are correct in that there are far more non-religious people than admit to it. When I became an Atheist 35 years ago, I still SAID I was a Methodist, because I didn’t want to get into an argument, as happened a couple times. Now, I blurt it out and am surprised at how many others are, too, or at least don’t argue.

By: John Patrick

John Patrick — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 14:45:15 +0000

All I can say about America losing its religion is “thank god!”

By: Jim Hlavac

Jim Hlavac — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 03:53:38 +0000

And that’s one of your better looks at the trend towards the future. What you predict is happening. Which is why I’m not only not worried today about the Christian Right & Fundamentalists, but in fact, welcome their scourging us constantly. They are showing themselves to be fools; their coming collapse all the bigger. People like Gallagher, these Cardinals, Perkins, et al, have created a fake demon, “Homosexuality.” Meanwhile, the nation meets gay folks. And the two don’t jive, and we are good, Gay is Good. And the fundies lose. Bring ‘em on.

By: Paul Douglas

Paul Douglas — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:11:26 +0000

Good analysis, Wayne. I myself had a deconversion from Christianity in November of 2009. I simply woke up one morning and realized after almost 40 years, that it made no sense anymore. I also realized that fundagelicals were far more dangerous to a healthy social order than I had ever imagined when I was religiously observant. Like you, I have no problem with non-dogmatic religionists who aren’t legislating their brand of morality on the rest of us, but I do have a problem with activist religionist of any stripe trying to impose their version of Sharia law.

The problem is, I don’t see the fundamentalist religions in decline, I see the mainstream, non-dogmatics losing membership. I suspect that is because the latter group is more open to reason than the fundagelicals and they reason themselves right out of religion. The fundagelicals use fear and falsehood to keep their flocks in line and, in an age of such economic insecurity as we live in, the gullible are always looking for a life-raft…. and a scapegoat.

By: PJB863

PJB863 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:03:29 +0000

The problem with this survey is that it tries to pigeon-hole people into outdated classifications. Protestants do not march in lockstep, nor do Catholics. Protestant can mean anything from conservative Southern Baptists to ultra-liberal Episcopalians or UCC members. The same even holds true with Catholics, as most are what the Vatican derides as “cafeteria Catholics,” which is another way of saying Catholics who think for themselves (something the church hierarchy detests). There is a wide variety of opinion among the Nones too (and even the Nuns!).

By: Truth Wins Out - Protestants No Longer a Majority in America, Study Finds

Truth Wins Out - Protestants No Longer a Majority in America, Study Finds — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:37:58 +0000

[...] little overlap between the Nones and “non-denominational” Christians, since most “non-denominational” Christians support or lean towards the GOP, call themselves conservative, and oppose both abortion rights and [...]