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The U.S. Is Retreating from Religion
Scientific American ^ | October 20, 2017 | Allen Downey

Posted on 10/20/2017 12:58:21 PM PDT by detective

Since 1990, the fraction of Americans with no religious affiliation has nearly tripled, from about 8 percent to 22 percent. Over the next 20 years, this trend will accelerate: by 2020, there will be more of these "Nones" than Catholics, and by 2035, they will outnumber Protestants.

The following figure shows changes since 1972 and these predictions, based on data from the General Social Survey (GSS):

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.scientificamerican.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Mainline Protestant; Skeptics/Seekers
KEYWORDS: america; religion
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To: Puckster

Mr Christian fellow, your “Old” Testament is true, is it not?

http://biblehub.com/zechariah/8-23.htm

So to identify the Jew whose cloak you are prophesied to take hold of, look for the four sets of strings (”tassels” See Numbers 39...)

Check Miami, Boro Park, Maddison Ave and 47th, Israel, etc. Best of luck!


61 posted on 10/22/2017 8:24:11 PM PDT by Phinneous (Moshiach Now!)
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To: detective

On what basis do they project the trend to accelerate?


62 posted on 10/22/2017 8:25:13 PM PDT by Flying Circus (God help us)
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To: Bryanw92

All know the fact of God’s existence. Even the devils know. They don’t have the Holy Spirit.


63 posted on 10/22/2017 9:17:53 PM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: Phinneous
“Mr Christian fellow, your “Old” Testament is true, is it not?

http://biblehub.com/zechariah/8-23.htm

So to identify the Jew whose cloak you are prophesied to take hold of, look for the four sets of strings (”tassels” See Numbers 39...)

Check Miami, Boro Park, Maddison Ave and 47th, Israel, etc. Best of luck!”

“2 Timothy 3:16-17King James Version (KJV)

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Thankfully, this has already been fulfilled when I was saved by Christ and I took hold of the hem of his robe....good luc....errrr.....G-d Bless!

You might want to ponder the “nations” being heathen and still unsaved that are seeking the hem of a Jews robe.

64 posted on 10/23/2017 6:20:13 AM PDT by Puckster ( "Neanderthals Rule"...we don't need no stinking homo's, homosapiens are a pain in the arse!)
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To: reasonisfaith

Humans are not devils. Totally different creations. They know God because they have physically seen him.


65 posted on 10/23/2017 8:34:00 AM PDT by Bryanw92 (Asking a pro athlete for political advice is like asking a cavalry horse for tactical advice.)
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To: Bryanw92

That’s right.

Knowledge of the fact of God’s existence is separate and different from knowing God personally.


66 posted on 10/23/2017 9:00:02 AM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: Flying Circus

The article shows young people say they reject God and faith more than any group. Therefore it assumes over time the percentage who reject God and faith will increase.


67 posted on 10/23/2017 9:08:14 AM PDT by detective
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To: reasonisfaith

>>Knowledge of the fact of God’s existence is separate and different from knowing God personally.

Exactly. Knowledge of the existence of a higher being or sentient order in the universe is not a knowledge of God. If they were the same thing, then (as the Universalists say) every road really would lead to the mountaintop or all rivers would flow to the sea.


68 posted on 10/23/2017 9:25:31 AM PDT by Bryanw92 (Asking a pro athlete for political advice is like asking a cavalry horse for tactical advice.)
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To: Puckster

Classic challenge. You quote the “new.”

We have the original.


69 posted on 10/23/2017 9:35:01 AM PDT by Phinneous (Moshiach Now!)
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To: Bryanw92

Knowing the fact of God’s existence is knowledge of God.

Knowing God personally is knowledge of God.

Two different kinds of knowledge regarding the same person.


70 posted on 10/23/2017 11:50:18 AM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: reasonisfaith

But if I know of the existence of a god named Zeus or one of the myriad of Hindu gods, I know “of god” but do not know “of God”.


71 posted on 10/23/2017 11:54:53 AM PDT by Bryanw92 (Asking a pro athlete for political advice is like asking a cavalry horse for tactical advice.)
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To: Bryanw92

That’s not who we’re talking about.


72 posted on 10/23/2017 12:26:40 PM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: reasonisfaith

>>That’s not who we’re talking about.

You and I know that. But they do not know that. To them, one “Sky Fairy” is the same as any other. Like all humans, they feel a pull towards something that they interpret as religion, because a body of faith rules is all they can comprehend because of a missing sense that they lack.

Remember that I already distinguished between the Anti-theists who are angry that there is a God and the true atheists who cannot feel his presence any more than they can feel the presence of Zeus, Gaia, the Force, or some Hindu god.

I’m trying to describe the absence of something like the sense of smell or taste. You and I can’t turn it off, but the person who doesn’t have it just assumes that everything smells and tastes the same. My father hasn’t has the sense of smell or taste since 1963, but he “likes” some food and doesn’t “like” others. We finally found out that it is because of texture. So, he can detect food, but can’t taste it, yet his mind makes him “dislike” some foods based on texture alone. That is the person who does not know God but can sense a greater power in the universe.


73 posted on 10/23/2017 1:15:09 PM PDT by Bryanw92 (Asking a pro athlete for political advice is like asking a cavalry horse for tactical advice.)
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To: Bryanw92

To perceive truth is not in the same category as smelling, tasting, touching, seeing or hearing. It’s a higher function than these. Perception of truth is what we’re dealing with here.

The only difference between those who acknowledge God’s existence and those who refuse to acknowledge it is the latter perceive deception to be wisdom. They don’t understand this is like perceiving blindness as sight.

All can see their folly—visible in their pretense. They pretend to be what they are not, and they hide their wrongdoing.

But most of all, we can see their error in the way they lie to themselves. This is the first lie they tell, and the last.


74 posted on 10/23/2017 2:15:57 PM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: reasonisfaith

>>But most of all, we can see their error in the way they lie to themselves. This is the first lie they tell, and the last.

The beauty of grace is that you can be a wrong as you want and it does not matter the slightest bit. Your correct or incorrect impression of God doesn’t matter as much as his impression of you.


75 posted on 10/23/2017 2:47:39 PM PDT by Bryanw92 (Asking a pro athlete for political advice is like asking a cavalry horse for tactical advice.)
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To: Bryanw92

And if you’re ultimately wrong about how to respond to God’s existence, it could be a terrible mistake.

16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 6:16-19


76 posted on 10/23/2017 4:53:37 PM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: reasonisfaith

>>19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Ahh. The proof text that condemns me for disagreeing with you! You and I sin a thousand times a day. He hates them all.


77 posted on 10/23/2017 5:10:18 PM PDT by Bryanw92 (Asking a pro athlete for political advice is like asking a cavalry horse for tactical advice.)
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To: Bryanw92

The Christian submits his will to the Holy Spirit and turns from sin.

Sins of the heart are not the same as active sin. The Christian does less of both as he walks with The Lord. Active sin decreases to nothing, or nearly nothing.


78 posted on 10/23/2017 5:32:16 PM PDT by reasonisfaith ("...because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (2 Thessalonians))
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To: detective
American history is a series of religious revivals -- Great Awakenings -- followed by "burned over" periods after the revival has passed.

Depending on who you talk to, what was going on in the 1970s and 1980s was the third or fourth or fifth Great Awakening.

Most likely there will be another.

79 posted on 10/23/2017 5:43:21 PM PDT by x
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To: Phinneous

The author of the “original” and the “new” are one-in-the-same.

I’m not Catholic, nor Protestant, nor non-denominational in my conversion from the flesh, the world, to Christ.

Here-in lays the foundation of my conversion....”
Isaiah 30:20-21King James Version (KJV)

20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”

If you choose to respond with a snarky attitude, as your short response implies, I will give myself over to prayer for you.

G-d Bless.


80 posted on 10/23/2017 7:06:28 PM PDT by Puckster ( "Neanderthals Rule"...we don't need no stinking homo's, homosapiens are a pain in the arse!)
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