Gallup: Drop in U.S. Religiosity Among Largest in World

[mindlight]

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The "ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM" is the continued support of the Trump Administration by American Evangelicals - a Presidency that beyond "lip service" has made little attempt to reflect Christian values!

One constant throughout the Bible is that God's people should never allow its message to become co-opted by aligning themselves with secular powers - access to government leaders has always come at a high price, with the Church invariably finding itself and its message compromised!

History will not be kind when it comes to examining the words and actions of the Trump Administration - its close association with the Evangelicals will cast a "DARK SHADOW" over American Christianity for decades to come!

On the one hand he stands up for Nigerian Christians and other churches being butchered by Islamist extremists in Africa and around the world. On the other he has generated a reputation for conservative Christians around the world that is quite toxic at exactly the time when people in the West desperately need Christ and the gospel.

When Trump is gone I fear a backlash and a new era of persecution but to be honest this might also be exactly what is needed to wake the church up in the West. Liberal Humanism stands no chance against a church awake, it is only so influential because the church has been asleep for decades.

 

[Bradskii]

...but do not go to church and are clearly vulnerable to the insidious influence of liberal culture.

Kids these days, eh? Imagine them having different values to their parents. I don't know what the world is coming to.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

The dregs!

 

[wing2000]

Yes, it makes one wonder why so many Christians in the US are devoting their energy to supporting Christian Nationalism rather than evangelizing.

I'm not surprised at all. Back in the last 70's, Evangelical pastors figured out that promoting an ideology based on American exceptionalism fills more pews than the gospel.

 

[RDKirk]

And where is there only 10% Muslim population where this has happened?

If were even 55% (such as in Dearborn), would you still be in favor of that happening...any more than you're in favor of Christian nationalism?

 

[7thKeeper]

It is a crisis of credibility for the West that Cultural Christians are being so heavily pruned in recent years. It does not bode well for Western culture and explains a lot of the relative loss of power, wealth and influence also in recent years. The true church is still there. Young people are being challenged by the moral relativism, egoism and materialistic reductionism of liberal atheism but my hope is that they will see through this hopeless culture of despair in time. Meanwhile around the world people continue to be overwhelmingly religious and the global church keeps growing as it has done for 2000 years already.

It's cute that religion or seated belief in religion is somehow attempted to be tied to political power and influence when the causes and reasons behind those things are very materialistic.

 

[BCP1928]

To some moderate extent that's true, but even so, it doesn't mean we should work and pray that Democrats will regain the presidency, congress and senate so we can turn this thing into a Chinese Democracy.

See what you have done? You have "othered" about half the country, basically declared them "off limits" for evangelizing. And they I suppose you will be disgruntled that Christianity has become a losing proposition.

 

[BCP1928]

If were even 55% (such as in Dearborn), would you still be in favor of that happening...any more than you're in favor of Christian nationalism?

Why should I be willing to accept Islamic Nationalism any more than I am willing to accept Christian Nationalism?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

See what you have done? You have "othered" about half the country, basically declared them "off limits" for evangelizing. And they I suppose you will be disgruntled that Christianity has become a losing proposition.

I definitely haven't "othered" about half the country, and if they're sane, they'll be empathetic once they realize that in times past, I too have voted Democrat. More than once. I even voted for Obama. ...................................................Once.

Maybe it's time for people to learn a different way to be Democrat? Maybe trade out their Critical Theory for a little bit'o Critical Realism?

Of course, it wouldn't hurt if Republicans could learn a different way to be Republican, too.

 

[BCP1928]

I definitely haven't "othered" about half the country, and if they're sane, they'll be empathetic once they realize that in times past, I too have voted Democrat. More than once. I even voted for Obama. ...................................................Once.

Maybe it's time for people to learn a different way to be Democrat? Maybe trade out their Critical Theory for a little bit'o Critical Realism?

Of course, it wouldn't hurt if Republicans could learn a different way to be Republican, too.

You obviously travel in different circles than I do--most of my family and friends are Democrats who lean left, as does my Church, but I just don't hear that much about critical theory. nor am I aware of it having much influence on my life. It just doesn't seem like a bogeyman to me.

 

[Fervent]

You obviously travel in different circles than I do--most of my family and friends are Democrats who lean left, as does my Church, but I just don't hear that much about critical theory. nor am I aware of it having much influence on my life. It just doesn't seem like a bogeyman to me.

The average Democratic voter is worlds removed from the politicians running the Democratic party.

 

[durangodawood]

The average Democratic voter is worlds removed from the politicians running the Democratic party.

They arent wound up about "critical theory" either, from what I read.

I suppose there could be a secret cabal who are the keepers of the theories.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

You obviously travel in different circles than I do--most of my family and friends are Democrats who lean left, as does my Church, but I just don't hear that much about critical theory. nor am I aware of it having much influence on my life. It just doesn't seem like a bogeyman to me.

I'm non-partisan and an equal opportunity critical thinker, and I do my best to avoid running like a lemming in vicious circles or sit in selective echo chambers that both the Left and the Right all too conveniently and insistently provide for everyone.

So, if someone out there thinks I've "othered" them in some way, maybe they need to put the Tik Tok down and read more widely---maybe they could start by reading, "Screwtape Proposes a Toast."

 

[Hans Blaster]

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A new posting?

 

[Hans Blaster]

If were even 55% (such as in Dearborn), would you still be in favor of that happening...any more than you're in favor of Christian nationalism?

And have the Muslim majority of Dearborn turned that city into a theocracy?

(I oppose all theocracy and always have.)

 

[RDKirk]

And have the Muslim majority of Dearborn turned that city into a theocracy?

(I oppose all theocracy and always have.)

So, the percentage is irrelevant in your viewpoint. And that's a consistent viewpoint.

 

[Hans Blaster]

So, the percentage is irrelevant in your viewpoint. And that's a consistent viewpoint.

No. Someone claimed 10% would tip things over. I asked it there was a place with 10% Muslims and if it was a theocracy.

To that you provided the example of Dearborn at 55% Muslims. So, I now ask a question:

Is Dearborn a Muslim theocracy?

If *no* then even 55% isn't enough and the 10% claim is bunk.

If *yes* it still doesn't answer the fear mongering about 10% Muslims as it is an actual majority. (And I oppose the theocracy, just as much as I would oppose a Christian one.)

 

[Aryeh Jay]

A new posting?

No, response about Carnival cruise. They sail past the Navy base in Norfolk Virginia.

 

[RDKirk]

No. Someone claimed 10% would tip things over. I asked it there was a place with 10% Muslims and if it was a theocracy.

To that you provided the example of Dearborn at 55% Muslims. So, I now ask a question:

Is Dearborn a Muslim theocracy?

If *no* then even 55% isn't enough and the 10% claim is bunk.

If *yes* it still doesn't answer the fear mongering about 10% Muslims as it is an actual majority. (And I oppose the theocracy, just as much as I would oppose a Christian one.)

Your viewpoint is consistent that you don't want a theocracy despite the proportion of the population practicing a particular religion, whether 10% or 55%.

 

[BCP1928]

I'm non-partisan and an equal opportunity critical thinker, and I do my best to avoid running like a lemming in vicious circles or sit in selective echo chambers that both the Left and the Right all too conveniently and insistently provide for everyone.

OK, from that fair and neutral position you should be able to explain why an academic discipline like CRT has any influence over me, especially--in the present context--over my opinion of organized religion.

So, if someone out there thinks I've "othered" them in some way, maybe they need to put the Tik Tok down and read more widely---maybe they could start by reading, "Screwtape Proposes a Toast."

Here:

To some moderate extent that's true, but even so, it doesn't mean we should work and pray that Democrats will regain the presidency, congress and senate so we can turn this thing into a Chinese Democracy.

Accusing Democrats of wanting to turn the country into a "Chinese Democracy" is not othering them?