One way America is increasingly resembling Northern Europe

[kenny]

Fascinating sociological shift here in my country.

Opinion | America Is Losing Religious Faith (Published 2023)

At present rates, only a minority of Americans will identify as Christian by the mid-2030s.

www.nytimes.com

The comments below the piece are as interesting as the piece itself.
There's already almost 500, too many to read.
So first I sort them by "Readers Picks"

 

[Mrsz1ppy]

Fascinating sociological shift here in my country.

Opinion | America Is Losing Religious Faith (Published 2023)

At present rates, only a minority of Americans will identify as Christian by the mid-2030s.

www.nytimes.com

The comments below the piece are as interesting as the piece itself.
There's already almost 500, too many to read.
So first I sort them by "Readers Picks"

Best part of the NYT are the comments!

 

[missy]

I think this is not a bad thing. I find Americans who are more secular/less fervently religious are kinder, more empathetic, caring and dare I say more intellectually based than those who are extremely religious. I do not wish to offend anyone and am just sharing my observations.

I think faith is a great thing when used to buoy the human spirit and give comfort to those who need it. However, I also find it is warped by many to create division, hate and superiority where none exists. In that way I find religion harmful and in history many wars have been fought in the name of religion.

I find spirituality to be a positive quality but organized religion to be less so and to have less favorable outcomes IMO

Fervent religious convictions threaten the rights of women and other less than mainstream groups of people. In fact, I would go so far as to say most religion which preaches morality etc are in reality the furthest from practicing what they preach. IMO I find many religions to be cultish and extreme in behavior and that is never a good thing. Group think. Group mentality and group self righteousness with a good dose of hypocrisy thrown in...IMO

 

[RMOO]

I think this is not a bad thing. I find Americans who are more secular/less fervently religious are kinder, more empathetic, caring and dare I say more intellectually based than those who are extremely religious. I do not wish to offend anyone and am just sharing my observations.

I think faith is a great thing when used to buoy the human spirit and give comfort to those who need it. However, I also find it is warped by many to create division, hate and superiority where none exists. In that way I find religion harmful and in history many wars have been fought in the name of religion.

I find spirituality to be a positive quality but organized religion to be less so and to have less favorable outcomes IMO

Fervent religious convictions threaten the rights of women and other less than mainstream groups of people. In fact, I would go so far as to say most religion which preaches morality etc are in reality the furthest from practicing what they preach. IMO I find many religions to be cultish and extreme in behavior and that is never a good thing. Group think. Group mentality and group self righteousness with a good dose of hypocrisy thrown in...IMO

This.

 

[kenny]

Gloria, one of the reasons I volunteered to serve in the US military for six years active duty was to do my bit to protect the US Constitution.
So in this country, at least, you can believe whatever you want.
No problem.

We just can't DO whatever we want.
IMO people thinking they can, and getting away with it, is the problem.
People use their beliefs (which they have a right to hold) to do things that harm those who do not share their beliefs.

This is an excellent example of truth vs. "my truth".
People who insist that "their truth" is THE truth (instead of merely "their truth") get together and do things (often via politics and legislation) to others who don't share those people's truth.
It's dangerous how so many today do not recognize that "their truth" is not THE truth.

Ramifications of the perversion of the term truth are world-changing, and often not good.
For example:
Denying women the right to their bodies
Denying marriage to US citizens
Not to mention Slavery, Crusades, Wars, Genocide ... all with God on their side.
And a recent example ...

All because people mistake "THEIR truth" for THE truth.

 

[kenny]

At least some of their cool, but no-longer-needed, buildings will not be going to waste.

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230825-10-churches-around-the-world-given-amazing-new-life.

 

[Piper70]

I think this is not a bad thing. I find Americans who are more secular/less fervently religious are kinder, more empathetic, caring and dare I say more intellectually based than those who are extremely religious. I do not wish to offend anyone and am just sharing my observations.

I think faith is a great thing when used to buoy the human spirit and give comfort to those who need it. However, I also find it is warped by many to create division, hate and superiority where none exists. In that way I find religion harmful and in history many wars have been fought in the name of religion.

I find spirituality to be a positive quality but organized religion to be less so and to have less favorable outcomes IMO

Fervent religious convictions threaten the rights of women and other less than mainstream groups of people. In fact, I would go so far as to say most religion which preaches morality etc are in reality the furthest from practicing what they preach. IMO I find many religions to be cultish and extreme in behavior and that is never a good thing. Group think. Group mentality and group self righteousness with a good dose of hypocrisy thrown in...IMO

Well said.

 

[telephone89]

Kenny, do you have netflix? You may like the show "how to become a cult leader". Really shows how people can take advantage of anything "religion" to get what they want. Great watch, and narrated by Peter Dinklage!

 

[kenny]

Thanks.
We have NF, so I'll check it out.

 

[Gloria27]

According to Google the cult of PDF is taking off with "how to convert to...pdf" ranking highest on Google search.

 

[Ella]

Folks a reminder we don't allow discussion of specific religions or debate about religion here. Keep it off the forum or we will close this thread and give time outs. We have removed a number of posts violating this policy/quoting posts that violated this policy.