The psychological brainwashing and secularization of America mind is almost complete.
Everything is relative and child are just things to be placed in a daycare at 6 weeks so mommy can be free from the chains of motherhood
Freedom will be the next victim, or is already under attack.
I don't accept that so few Christians believe in "absolutes." From my own observations, church attendance is up markedly, even compared to last November.
It serves the interests of the secular state to pontificate that Christians are basically uneffected by 9-11, making them appear both callous and ignorant. And then the pollsters have the temerity to blame this supposed lassitude on the churches!
The only places that are "back to business as usual" are the government-managed mouthpieces, trying desperately to negate all Judeo-Christian influences...again.
This really shouldn't come as a big surprise. Deathbed conversions usually don't mean much -- especially if death is somehow postponed.
After the initial shock of 11 September, most Americans outside of New York and Washington have realized that they were not directly affected. In fact, not much has changed. The anthrax scare had people worried for a time, but it has fizzled. The war in Afghanistan appears to be won; even if there were to be a larger war, there is no draft and therefore no reason to worry. The economy is a concern, but we have been through recessions before.
Jesus Himself warned of this attitude:
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
42 ¶ Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Places where God's word is preached are thriving. "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isa. 55:11) God, in His Soverign grace, is still doing work in the hearts of men today.
We find it very easy discard the parts of His message which run counter to our secular, pleasure-based and materialistic way of life.
As with a Chinese restaurant menu, we pick and choose those elements of Christianity we find "tasty" and ignore the rest- ala carte Christianity!
You wouldn't expect the American people to buy into the whole thing, would you? Who wants an American religion that doesn't make some allowance for abortion, fornication and adultery?
Another survey shows that it is not the mere numbers that differ, but the depth of religious belief: Prayer etc is more intense. Similarly, although religion has been hidden from view in the past, people are now feeling more comfortable with public expressions of their faith.
Other measures of religious behavior were at identical levels to those noted in August. Bible reading remained at 39 percent of adults pursuing the Bible, other than at church, during a typical week. Church volunteerism, after an initial outpouring of involvement, is back at pre- attack levels (23 percent invest some time in church-related service during a typical week). Prayer, also alleged to have escalated, is currently at its normal level, with 85 percent praying to God in a given week. Adult Sunday school attendance moved up slightly (to 22 percent) but not enough to be considered a statistically significant change. Participation in a small group other than a Sunday school class that meets during the week for Bible study, prayer or Christian fellowship remained static, as did having a private devotional time during the week.
Catholics don't usually go to Sunday school, and many don't read the bible. They don't meet in fellowship or prayer meetings. He doesn't measure if a person prays longer, or goes to mass during the week, or if someone who goes to church twice a month out of habit now actually prays. (Catholics consider mass a worship service, not a prayer service).
If the answers are skewered against Catholics, how can he measure Jews, Muslims, Wiccans or non believers who whisper more to "God if you are there?"
http://www.csmonitor.com/2001/1207/p3s1-ussc.html
Americans see religion as gaining clout in public life
Suddenly, a big majority of the public sees religion as a more influential player, a new poll finds. By Jane Lampman | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
For the first time in almost half a century, a substantial majority of Americans see religion as gaining influence in public life.
The shift in public perception is both sudden and dramatic. The number of Americans who say religion now has a higher profile in society has more than doubled just since the beginning of this year - a leap that can probably be attributed, at least in part, to Sept. 11 and its aftermath.
This viewpoint - which, according to a nationwide survey released on Thursday, jumped dramatically from 37 percent in March to 78 percent in November - is shared by virtually all demographic and religious groupings.
"The widespread influence of religion is now more visible, more welcome, and more diverse," says Charles Haynes of the Freedom Forum's First Amendment Center.
Some observers say that the reasons for the shift are varied - whether it be a renewed focus on the more significant questions of life, an acknowledgement of the need for deeper perspectives to guide the nation in coming months, or simply an awareness of greater religious involvement in issues of public concern over the past year.
For some, the results confirm that the nation has entered a new era, in which religion is no longer seen as simply a private matter but very much a part of the public sphere. "It's a quiet revolution that has been building since the 1980s, but this presidency has reinforced the trend," Dr. Haynes says.
At the same time, Americans have responded in the aftermath of the attacks with an across-the-board rise in acceptance of Muslim Americans. Those having a favorable image of Muslims increased from 45 percent in March to 59 percent today, with only 17 percent expressing a negative view.
The findings are from a survey of 1,500 adults carried out in November by the Pew Center for the People and Press in collaboration with the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
The new perception that religion is gaining influence is somewhat puzzling, particularly since, the survey confirms, there is little evidence that peoples have changed their spiritual practices in their personal lives. Only those who were already very religious are praying more or attending church more regularly.
Some suggest this may simply be a response to the innumerable public expressions of faith of recent weeks.
"It probably reflects the recurring TV images of leaders engaged in religious gatherings, and the president's own drawing on his spiritual side in talking about the war on terrorism," says the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
But others see a rising religiosity outside of officialdom, as well.
"It reflects my experience as I travel across the country," counters Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. "People are continuing to talk more openly about religious subjects and realizing many others share their concerns."
Over the past year, a number of controversial public-policy issues have drawn avid religious participation in the debate, from the White House's faith-based initiative, to proposals for a moratorium on the death penalty, to stem cell research and human cloning.
The Pew Forum, created to encourage public discussion on religion and politics, has also documented religious participation in issues that dominated public policy headlines in 2001. Its new report, released yesterday, suggests that a great mix of religions and religious groups are joining the debates - not just conservative groups or Catholics who have engaged on specific issues. "Many other religious groups are finding their voice, so there's a 'diversity push' for more religion in public life," Haynes adds.
Attitudes towards Muslims have improved among all political and religious groups in the United States. The survey shows that Mr. Bush's core supporters, conservative Republicans, made the most substantial leap in acceptance, from 35 percent to 64 percent. "That's probably directly attributable to presidential leadership," Dr. Land says.
Muslims will be encouraged by the fact that, in their case, familiarity seems to breed appreciation. The improved image of Muslims seems closely tied to knowledge about the faith as well as to education levels. Almost three-quarters (73 percent) of those with some knowledge of Islam have a favorable view, compared with 53 percent of those who say they know little.
The poll also explored reactions to the view espoused by prominent conservatives that the terrorist attacks were a sign that God no longer protects the US. A resounding 73 percent dismissed the idea, with evangelicals only slightly behind at 63 percent.
Did the churches and have they, examined these events in light of God's word. Have they awakened to the worldwide persecution of Christians as reported by the Voice of Martyrs, Brother Andrew and others, or do they continue to be preoccupied with other things (e.g., the `mainline' denominations with advancing the homosexual agenda and other abandonments of God's word) and ignore what God is doing in the world? More Christians have been persecuted, harmed and killed for their faith since Islam has had the Oil Weapon than in the preceding 300 years.