While glancing over my igoogle homepage this evening, I stumbled upon a startlingly headline:
Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds
I am a devote Catholic and I've always been interested in religion. This artical, found here, states that
More than a quarter of adult Americans have left the faith of their childhood to join another religion or no religion
Is that or is that not an astonishing fact?! In my US history class we just learned about how the first immigrants to American came to escape religious intolerance. However, they still were prejudice against Catholics and many other religions other then Protestantism. America used to be 2/3rds Protestant back in the 70s, but now is only 51%. Catholicism is another religion to be losing members at an astonishing rate. One of the main denominations to gain members in the nonreligious affiliations - those who arn't atheist but don't associate with any religion.
I believe that these facts show both progression and ressession. America has come a long way in 200 years, thrown out religious decrimination and accepted religious tolerance. Americans feel free enough to change what they believe without fear of consequences.
However, the fact that people are not only changing religion but dumping it all together shows what we value in our society. Take one look at the movie theater or at cable television; we value fame, fortune, material goods, sex, and instant gratification. For instance, the Catholic religion doesn't appeal to any other those things. Want to have sex before marriage? Better change religions.
With any religion there is almost no such thing as instant gratification. Your in it for the long haul or your threatened with images of the fiery pits of hell. It's almost as if Heaven is a bribery tool to get you to behave properly, right? But which is better -- 100 years devoted to your religion, or the possibility of eternity downstairs?
If you don't believe in your religion or god, then I believe it's fine to leave. But don't dump the whole package because one part is broken -- decide what's right for you before you leave it behind. Faith is like a car, no matter how rusty, broken down, or abondoned it gets, you can always come back and fix it till it runs like new :)
FYI, I'm new here to Progressive and I'm in it to win the scholarship. I'm 16 y/o and I live on the west coast. I plan to attend college in the fall of '09.
If you comment me I'll comment back :D
I don't think that the trend away from religion explains the presence of sex and violence in movies. I think that the increased amount of that originated with dissatisfaction and disaffection in the population.
"What a man does for pay is of little significance. What he is, as a sensitive instrument responsive to the world's beauty, is everything!"
H. P. Lovecraft
didnt you just post something like this
I think someone else posted on the subject.
"What a man does for pay is of little significance. What he is, as a sensitive instrument responsive to the world's beauty, is everything!"
H. P. Lovecraft
I think it's a wonderful thing. It shows that people aren't allowing childhood beliefs to brainwash them, they are questioning their religion, etc. Religion has caused so much strife, I'm glad people are questioning it. Morals and ethics are not in the least determined by religion and sometimes harmed by religion. I for instance am agonistic and also, in my opinion, an extremely ethical person. Not because I'm afraid of some god, or because I was told to, but because it's right.
People don't change their religion or become atheists out of convience, but because it's what they believe. I am an atheist, and it's not because I dont' like the rules of the Church, but because I do not believe in the existance of God, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
I understand what you’re saying and agree. I'm Catholic too, and while I may not agree with every single thing, that hasn't made me want to change my religion. I'm still a devout Catholic and plan on staying that way. But I've seen a lot of people who don't like a certain aspect of their church and change religions or stop going to church because of it.
I don't think people change religions because they want to have sex.
They want to change religions because personal conflicts, and they don't beleive in the teachings.... Like peopl who's parent's FORCED a religion on them... they're gonna want to rebell at some point.....
I know this boy, who his parent's forced him to be catholic, because they're devout to catholic. But he didn't really want to do all the ceremonies, and things. Like at Christmas time, he would have to repent his sins and such.... And he didn't like it. He's choosing to be atheist now because he was forced into something he didn't want to do...
That's understandable. Nobody can force anything on somebody and not expect them to resent it.
My parents forced me to be Catholic and I'm still here. There are different levels of religion -- you can be hardcore or you can be modern. But if he was forced and then suddenly BOOM their must be no God there is something wrong with that. There are other religions other then Catholicism and Atheist.
Were you forced into Catholicism or exposed to it? Sometimes that can make the difference. Maybe it's because he felt forced into doing something, and like most people, didn't want people making decisions for him.
But I still totally understand where you are coming from.
It's the same with my father.
When he was younger he was baptised, and i'm pretty sure that he wanted his mother to be happy because back in the day, Vietnam wasn't the best place. But when he went into war, (this is what he told me) everything he saw, made him see that there wasn't a god to help him out. He didn't believe in the teachings of catholicsm.
When he came to America, he did realize how fortunate he was... but he still didn't worship "god" but he's still baptised. my dad believes that church is a fun place because of singing, and stuff. but that's it...
Only 16% of Americans (according to the study) don't identify with a specific religion. That doesn't mean that they're atheist or agnostic, just that they don't identify with a specific religion, such as Christianity (or it's various sects). They could believe in God, but want a religion that isn't organized and structured, more of a 'find your own way' deal.
~C
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I know sooooo many people like that.
my cousin says he's not christian or catholic, but he believes in god.