Pew report shows American Christian numbers in decline

[LoAmmi]

I googled it and found the following instances which remotely resembled what she is saying. There are cases in Europe, especially Denmark where churches are being compelled by the State to perform gay marriages. The reason this is possible is that there is no separation of church and state in most European countries. Ironic, huh? There is also a complaint filed for a gay marriage in the United Methodist Church, but this is an internal matter, not something being taken up in the secular courts. The third instance is a for-profit wedding chapel which refused to perform gay marriages. Its 'for-profit' status made it subject to non-discrimination laws. The latter will make for an interesting court case.

So the first isn't in the US (which I'm assuming he's from), the second is internal, and the third is pretty interesting. I'd have to look more into it.

Hardly some widespread 'in the news' thing though.

 

[gord44]

But you cannot substantiate this claim.

Whether I can or cannot, it is no difference to me. I am free to go with the flow. You are shackled to a theology and doctrine you must defend and make work (if not for anyone but your own mind). I just posted an opinion based on experiences with people, both in person and online. I feel no need to substantiate my opinion beyond that.

 

[bhsmte]

I fulfilled the request. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the words of Christ. I'm called to accurately present the gospel. I'm not called to make you believe. But you will be judged if you reject what I say and die in your unbelief.

That is your personal interpretation of your own faith belief, I completely understand.

Myself, along with 2/3 of the worlds population, will be judged in a negative fashion because we don't believe as you do and according to your personal opinion.

You can buy that, I don't.

 

[Hammster]

Whether I can or cannot, it is no difference to me. I am free to go with the flow. You are shackled to a theology and doctrine you must defend and make work (if not for anyone but your own mind). I just posted an opinion based on experiences with people, both in person and online. I feel no need to substantiate my opinion beyond that.

I don't have to defend it to make it work.

 

[Hammster]

That is your personal interpretation of your own faith belief, I completely understand.

Myself, along with 2/3 of the worlds population, will be judged in a negative fashion because we don't believe as you do and according to your personal opinion.

You can buy that, I don't.

Not yet.

 

[gord44]

I don't have to defend it to make it work.

Alrighty! If that works for you then all is well!

 

[bhsmte]

Not yet.

Actually, I used to buy it and don't anymore, would be the more accurate description.

 

[bhsmte]

I don't have to defend it to make it work.

To make it work for you, I would agree.

 

[smaneck]

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

This is what the KJV states.

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

And that is what matches most of the manuscript evidence.

 

[Theway]

If there is a God, no one knows how another will be judged. I understand some need to be convinced they have a handle on this, but no one does.

Actually, we do know how God will judge. The type of judgement you give to others will be the type of judgement you will recieve. Matt 6:14, Matt. 7:2, Matt 18:21-35

Faith Aloners do not like this however because that means it takes effort on the sinners part, (either before or after) before grace is given.

 

[Hammster]

I don't know what translation you are reading but if it says Christ rather than God, it is a mistranslation.

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The word "Christ" is nowhere to be found in that verse and if someone inserted it they have interpolated the scripture.

Okay. Since Christ is God, it's a difference without distinction.

 

[bhsmte]

Actually, we do know how God will judge. The type of judgement you give to others will be the type of judgement you will recieve. Matt 6:14, Matt. 7:2, Matt 18:21-35

Faith Aloners do not like this however because that means it takes effort on the sinners part, (either before or after) before grace is given.

If I thought scripture was factual, I would agree with you.

 

[Robban]

Is that the truth?

I would reckon so.

our works may be thrown in the fire, depending.

Not everyone can get their head around just how and what you Believe,

it is not even certain they are required to either,

we all have a "mission" to be able to complete the job we have to be who we are,

It is said that a person can live happily for 70 or more years and do someone a favour, or help them in someway,

simply because that,s what they were sent to do.

 

[Juelrei]

(replying to the thread title) The Atheists are thrilled to read that! And use it to include the entire Christian body instead of it just being in the UK. Which makes their excitement delusional.

I consider that Pew's findings is a response to the good reports of Christian gospel being preached with results of salvations by the numbers, and the reports of revival going on anywhere in the world.

I also for that reason consider Pews findings to be inaccurate because it is derived by percentage results and not by a more tedious and more accurate actual headcount.

 

[bhsmte]

(replying to the thread title) The Atheists are thrilled to read that! And use it to include the entire Christian body instead of it just being in the UK. Which makes their excitement delusional.

I consider that Pew's findings is a response to the good reports of Christian gospel being preached with results of salvations by the numbers, and the reports of revival going on anywhere in the world.

I also for that reason consider Pews findings to be inaccurate because it is derived by percentage results and not by a more tedious and more accurate actual headcount.

What are you talking about with the UK?

The Pew results are for AMERICA.

And, you can find them inaccurate, but Pew has been doing this for a long time and follows proven polling methods and they have a strong reputation.

 

[smaneck]

Actually, we do know how God will judge. The type of judgement you give to others will be the type of judgement you will recieve. Matt 6:14, Matt. 7:2, Matt 18:21-35

Faith Aloners do not like this however because that means it takes effort on the sinners part, (either before or after) before grace is given.

Don't forget Matthew 25.

 

[Theway]

Don't forget Matthew 25.

Of course... Thank you.

LOL... ironically this shows other surveys and polls by Pew Survey Group to be correct as well....
They showed that Mormons, and other people this forum sees as not Christian, knew far more about the Bible than the average Christian does.

 

[dlamberth]

I can't say I'm too surprised, given "Nones" have been on the rise. It would be normal enough for those Nones to have been part of Christianity, given that's the largest religious group in the country.

I'm still trying to learn this new format.

Listening to an NPR broadcast, the person being interviewed felt that the church decline of our youth had a lot to do with their being turned off by the Religious Right's connection with politics, especially with the Tea Party anger and such. And I'd have to agree. True, that movement does not represent all of Christianity, but they were so loud and hateful that's what caught the new cycles. And that's what our youth saw. The other issue the interview brought up that's turning off the youth is the constant sin, sin, sin message they hear in church. As an example, our youth are just not seeing people who are Gay as being sinful. But that's what they are being told over and over. And lastly, the Biblical creation story just is not jibing with the youth. My editorial on how I understood the interview is that Fundamentalism is turning our youth off to Christianity.

On the flip side, I do not believe that the youth have become any less spiritual. From my own experience they seem to be seeking out other spiritual trajectories. But I'd be really interested to see an actual PEW research poll on that to know for sure.

 

[smaneck]

Here is the problem. Mainline churches that are not fundamentalist are declining faster than the Fundamentalist ones.

I'm still trying to learn this new format.

Listening to an NPR broadcast, the person being interviewed felt that the church decline of our youth had a lot to do with their being turned off by the Religious Right's connection with politics, especially with the Tea Party anger and such. And I'd have to agree. True, that movement does not represent all of Christianity, but they were so loud and hateful that's what caught the new cycles. And that's what our youth saw. The other issue the interview brought up that's turning off the youth is the constant sin, sin, sin message they hear in church. As an example, our youth are just not seeing people who are Gay as being sinful. But that's what they are being told over and over. And lastly, the Biblical creation story just is not jibing with the youth. My editorial on how I understood the interview is that Fundamentalism is turning our youth off to Christianity.

On the flip side, I do not believe that the youth have become any less spiritual. From my own experience they seem to be seeking out other spiritual trajectories. But I'd be really interested to see an actual PEW research poll on that to know for sure.

 

[Juelrei]

What are you talking about with the UK?

The Pew results are for AMERICA.

And, you can find them inaccurate, but Pew has been doing this for a long time and follows proven polling methods and they have a strong reputation.

Thank you for your opinion. But I am not convinced, nor impressed. The strong reputation you speak of comes by consensus that rely on poll percentages based on cherry picking perimeters, not by actual headcount evidence of numbers that are constantly increasing in the direction of salvations.

It still remains that the gospel is being preached, there is awakening unto God and revival of the body of Christ going on, and will increase beyond what many could think of to happen. Pew's poll results mean nothing in the face of that.