New Pew Research study claims Americans who identify as atheist/agnostic/none have risen to 30% of the population. If current trends continue they’re projected to reach a majority by 2070.
I honestly feel sad about it. I am in no way judging people for believing what they want to believe. I just find it sad that something that has been a staple in our culture since our country's inception has become a target or borderline pariah.
Part of this is self inflicted I will agree because Christian and religious dogma has been very strict to those who follow it and it does not shine favorably to those who are more liberal and progressive with their lives and beliefs.
It comes off as indoctrination and brainwashing depending on how extreme people want to get to describe it.
Personally I was raised Catholic, baptized, had first communion and confirmation. I will admit I am far from a bible thumper, but I still believe in God. I believe religion should remain a core aspect in our country, but allowed choice and free of prejudice from both the religious sides and those who are atheist and agnostic. I feel society could use its teachings as a moral platform and a development of character over views of extremism and fact.
So long as people have a choice on what they believe without boundaries being tested or crossed it would be way different for what we see now. I mean, I don't try to force agnostics or atheists to church, nor do I tell them they need to believe in God and follow his teachings. I don't even say anything to then unless asked because of how testy people get these days.
I just want to believe in God without being mocked and ridiculed by atheists with them acting like condescending, arrogant cunts that mock me for what I believe. Thankfully I haven't had to deal with many of then, but those ones in particular... God, it makes it hard to not to hate them. Mutual respect is all I want without there needing to be unnecessary confrontation for different beliefs and ideals.
after a week of christian camp this summer, it had me even more confused about god lols. the first few years i grew up with my birth mother, she also told me god was with me. But even as a 4 year-old i thought "if he's really there, why is he letting things like this happen to me?" honestly, religion is just one more thing for me to overthink so i try to not think about it at all. And you know, maybe that's a lot of other people too. Also, I'm NOT saying all religious people are the same or hyper-conservative, but it's really not a community i can find myself fitting into, just because of the way i act and what i believe, and the amount of people who would disagree with whatever religion i had chosen no matter how peaceful i was about it
@DesiUwU and that is okay. I won't judge your beliefs nor your questioning of it. All I can offer is my stance and views from what I grew up with, my personal struggles and relationship with God.
I choose to believe and put my faith in him despite everything that has happened to me, good or bad. I have cursed him and gotten mad and sought resolution with priests and sitting in churches at my lowest points asking.
"Why have you let this happen to me? What am I supposed to learn from this? Do you hate me? What do I have to do to understand you putting my being on this earth? Why did you put me here?"
It comes down to faith, perseverance of life's challenges and lessons being experienced as you walk through it. I don't know why God put me here and why he has let me live despite the things that should have killed me 10x over by now. I have made it one of my goals to understand why. I don't know when I will come to my answer or if I will find it, but I would rather search for it than remain angry or disbelieving of Him.
@ShadezMcgee I get what you're saying. I'm liberal but I still believe in God. I don't like people who mock or discriminate against people because of their religious beliefs or lack thereof.
It doesn't surprise me. If I may, I'll give my assessment as to why things are the way they are.
For one thing, many people mistake religion to be just a system of morality, when in reality it concerns man's relation to God. Many people think that religion is unnecessary to live a good moral life (even though it's part of, though not the principle object of religious faith), so they don't bother with it.
For another, the public scandals of religious leaders and ministers certainly don't help. Add on the fact that for too many members, religious faith is an emotional, feel-good, self-help experience, there's not much incentive to be involved.
Churches trying to be "relevant" is perhaps one of the stupidest things they can do.
And all of this so far is to say nothing of terrible faith formation.
The faithful are asked questions that they're not prepared to answer, that or they don't think very critically about objections posed to them, so they eventually conclude that their beliefs were false.
They read about the many other religions that are out there and don't know or understand what makes their own different and unique.
In the case of Christianity in particular, they base their faith on the Bible, but then they're asked "where is that in the Bible" and they don't know how to answer it. That and they don't have traditions or an interpretive authority that has studied the languages and culture in which the Bible was written. All this adds up to a soul with a dying faith.
Honestly, I could say much more about this, but that will have to be in the comments after this (if you want to, that is).
It's a very good thing that people are finally throwing off the shackles of religious cults. And I suspect the numbers are way higher than that. A huge number of people will mark "Christian" on a form because that's what they grew up in, but they don't actually care.
I haven't personally, knowingly met a religious person in the city where I live in close to a decade. It's really weird to be religious around here.
I am marginally Catholic in a non-religious sense. I am from a large family, want a large family, close tied with the parish community, but I am really atheist.
I do however believe in the value of the teachings in the Bible. Loving your neighbor as the penultimate commandment is right, even if Jesus isn't a god.
I think agnostics and atheists reached the majority long ago. I think what is happening is that the number of people admitting to themselves that they are agnostic or atheist is slowly increasing.
I think there are a lot of people raised with religion who don't, and maybe never, believed it. But the fear of being struck by lighting should they admit it is real. Being atheist, and admitting to being atheist (even to yourself), are not the same thing.
How many people claim a certain religion or sect, yet haven't gone to church, read the Bible, or prayed in a few decades? If you ask the Catholic Church, they seem to think that anyone who has any time in their life claimed to be Catholic still are. If you look at the number of Catholics claimed by the church, it's obviously not nearly as high as they claim. Same goes for any of the protestant and non-Christian religions.
There is a time delay of years or decades. Non-belief comes long before non-stigma and non-guilt.
Agnosticism is a fantastic trend because it opens people up to discovering what is out there for themselves. Its been a beautiful journey for me that led me to my current experiences and beliefs.
Atheism on the other hand is for people who are not yet ready or unwilling to go trough such a journey. Which is fine to, you miss out on some really cool aspects that defy what we scientifically believe to be possible. But those experiences aren't for everyone and those it is not meant to be for will automatically not be able to have them.
I don't think most people are atheists, because they know so much about religion, philosophy and science and they made a critical decision of not being religious. Most people just think that not being religious makes them look smarter, and lot of other people are around them is atheist and they don't wanna look dumb. I know people who failed three different courses in uni, but they are somehow convinced that they are more intelligent, than others because they consider themselves to be atheists. Intelligent doesn't really work this way. But everyone has to believe in something.
I'd argue the reverse, that there are far, far more agnostic/nonbelievers who still go to church or tell people they are religious just because of the ostracization of their families and communities. A lot of places you can't find a job or get along with your neighborhood if you aren't willing to at least play lip service to the church. Religious people are all rabid and insane as seen from the outside.
Its one part all the horrible things god worshipping has done over time, and how most people that pray to god, are entitled, rude, mean, hateful, and spiteful people and use the bible as their reasoning for being such... none of us want that mentality, paranoia, and brain washing in our lives. Its all too toxic and only harms thouse around them. Sure there are those that god worship that do good out of the kindness of their heart... but it is very few compared to the entire god worshipping population.
I think the age of instant gratification has caused people to lose interest in anything that doesn't yield tangible results. And whatever else religion has done for people, no one has seen it do anything magic.
Aye. Although, I suppose my definition of "magic" is substantially more broad than others'. Even so much as a narcissist telling the truth all on their own could qualify as miraculous, under the right circumstances. Which, I suppose, is why it has never happened under those circumstances...
When you have the most influential people who say they believe in god and turn around and do something completely hypocritical, the religion they represent also starts getting questioned.
When I see people using the church as means for political and financial gain or even churches doing the same thing, yes I can see why people are now becoming atheist or agnostic.
Who told you this? Maybe in 2070, we will be in another stone age era 🤣 Anyways the kingdom of heaven is for special people and not for human waste! People are free to choose if they believe in god or not but it doesn't mean that if they grow larger than they are right or should be encouraged!
When you thik about it, makes sesne. A lot of things can be accepted as coincidence. Yet, for me, at a certian point I cannot deny that there is something that has more power than mortal man. Plus I kind of promised I would believe in dieties if something happened that did end up happening. I didn't specify with, and I didn't say how I'd observe them.
I’m fine with both. There are days I feel more agnost and there are days I feel more atheist. As long as dogmatic religious is on its way out I’m already happy.
Dogmatic religion is for me the source of most societal evil.
I mean most people in the West operate as Agnostic anyways.. They are just realizing that it has a label.. I'd say Agnostic more than Atheism will be the majority as most people believe there is something bigger out there.
Awesome! As a country develops, its populace will depend on religion for unity less and less. This is a sign the United States is reaching higher levels of social stability. I also believe Atheism promotes scientific and social progress. All in all, very good.
As long as they're not forcing their religion down people's throats or causing any acts of violence over it, then I see no issue. The same should go for Christians, Mormons, Catholics, etc too.
part of the plan to make us all slaves under a new world order. no families, races, Gods to unite us. they are our families. one race. they are our Gods. The Government will take care of all of your needs... as long as you do what they say.
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