Posted on 04/02/2013 8:21:11 AM PDT by daniel1212
...The Bible’s Place in Society
If the Bible has such resonance with television viewers, then it stands to reason the awareness of the Christian Scriptures is high in America. And indeed, nearly nine out of ten (88%) Americans actually own a Bible. Despite such a high number, that’s declined since 1993, though only slightly, when 92% of Americans owned a Bible. On average, American Bible owners have 3.5 Bibles in their home, and one-quarter of Bible owners (24%) have six or more.
In terms of demographic breakdowns, about eight out of ten (79%) Mosaics (people aged 18-28) own a Bible, compared with nearly all (95%) Elders (who are ages 65-plus). And while it might not be surprising that religiously devoted Christians own Bibles, the study finds that six out of ten Americans (59%) who have no faith or who identify as atheists own a Bible. Despite many aspects of society that are secularizing, penetration of Scripture remains high in 2013.
Add to that, eight out of ten (80%) Americans identify the Bible as sacred literature, without any prompting from interviewers. That proportion has also dipped from 2011, when 85% of respondents affirmed this perspective of the Bible. Americans’ overall belief in Scripture’s sacredness may also explain why almost two-thirds (61%) of American adults also say they wish they read the Bible more.
Compared to the large number of people believing the Bible to be sacred, fewer than one out of ten Americans (8%) said they thought the Koran was sacred, and only half that many (4%) identified the Torah as holy literature. Perhaps connected to the swelling ranks of the religiously unaffiliated, one out of eight adults (12%) do not regard any book to be sacred text. This percentage has nearly doubled in two years, when the proportion was 7%.
Does Society Need the Bible?
So, how does the broad base of the Bible’s awareness play out on the national stage of public opinion? For many, the moral stature of the country as well as political realities are determined based upon Bible engagement. Just over three-quarters (77%) believe “the values and morals of America are declining.” And when asked what is to blame for this “decline,” one-third of Americans (32%) attribute that shift to a lack of Bible reading. This is a greater percentage of people than point to the “negative influence of media” (29%) or “corruption from corporate greed” (25%). Similarly, nearly six out of ten adults (56%) believe the Bible has too little influence in American society—that’s more than four times the percentage of people who think the Bible has too much influence (13%).
However, the number of American adults who are friendly–or, those who believe the Bible to be inspired and infallible but don’t read the Bible as often—has gone down (from 45% to 39%). Those who are neutral—the people who rarely read the Bible and believe the Bible to be inspired but containing errors—numbered 25% of American adults in 2011, and is about the same in 2013 (23%). The biggest jump of any group are those American adults who are antagonistic to the Bible, meaning they believe the Bible to just be a book of stories and teachings written by men, and they rarely or never read the Bible. That group stood at one in ten adults (10%) in 2011. In 2013, their ranks have grown to 17% of all U.S. adults.
I also saw that as alarming, and among college age it is higher.
God bless
But note that Catholics that are Biblical literalists (11.8%) hold more conservative political views than the Catholic population in general does. The Biblical literalist Catholic is as politically conservative as the Biblical literalist who is Evangelical (47.8%) or Mainline Protestant. (11.2%)
44% of Americans admit that they have cohabited at some point in their lives (men = 46%; women = 41%). Those aged 30-49 were most likely to have cohabited (57%). 44% of 18-29 year olds have as well, followed by 42% of 50-64 year olds, and 18% of 65+. By race, blacks are most likely to have cohabited (47%), followed by white (44%) and Hispanic (39% – which includes any non-white and non-black person). ^
63% of cohabiters had children before moving in together, and 25% of married couples had children before getting married. ^
Only 34% of adults age 18-29 think cohabiting parents is bad for society, compared to 58% of the oldest adults. ^
68% of adults believed premarital sex was wrong in 1968, compared to only 32% who said the same in 2009. ^
Children born out of wedlock has increased from 5% in 1960 to 28% in 1990 to 41% in 2008. 72% of black women giving birth were unmarried in 2008, compared to 53% of Hispanics and 29% of whites. ^
5% of divorced parents have sole-custody of the children (the number of women who have sole custody is double that of men), 35% share custody, and 18% have no custody at all. ^
Women constitute 77% of the total number of unmarried parents living with children. ^
52% of black children, 27% of Hispanic children, and 18% of white children are being raised in single-parent homes. 19% of black adults are living in households with a child but no spouse. ^
83% of unmarried adults who want to get married also want to have kids. 31% who do not want to get married want to have kids anyway (30% do not want kids and 38% aren’t sure). ^
In 1980 only 10% of women age 40-44 were childless. By 2008 that number increased to 18% (white women most likely to be childless)
Between 1960 and 1990, the percentage of children living apart from their biological fathers more than doubled, from 17 percent to 36 percent. http://mensightmagazine.com/Articles/Popenoe/nofathers.htm
Children who are raised without their fathers account for 63 percent of youth suicides, 71 percent of pregnant teenagers, 90 percent of homeless and runaway children, 85 percent of behavioral disorders exhibited by children, and 71 percent of high school dropouts, in the United States. House Concurrent Resolution 147; [2001?]. https://fatherhood.safeserver.com/legislative.htm.
A child born to a single mother is twice as likely to drop out of high school, twice as likely to have a child before age twenty, and one and a half times as likely to be out of school and out of work in his/her late teens and early twenties. U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, (estimated) Executive Summary:Status of Children in America http://www.prcdc.org/summaries/children/children.html
The general health problems of children from broken homes increase by 20 to 30%, even when adjusting for demographic factors (economic status, etc.). Studies cited in "Twice as strong," The Christian American, March/April 1996, p. 28 http://www.leaderu.com/marco/marriage/gaymarriage5.html#ref221
70% of children in state reform institutions grew up in single-parent or no-parent homes. "Be glad for the undoing of no-faults," Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, February 15, 1996, p. B-5. http://www.leaderu.com/marco/marriage/gaymarriage5.html#ref224
Read more: http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/RevealingStatistics.html#Disclaimer#ixzz2PKgvt8Op
Unfortunately the school systems have taken over our children even before they hit first grade...so by the time they are in college...the “standard” is set...anything goes in the areas of sexual “freedoms”,....and the educational system will teach them how.
Children who are raised ‘without their fathers’ account for:
63 percent of youth suicides.
71 percent of pregnant teenagers.
90 percent of homeless and runaway children.
85 percent of behavioral disorders exhibited by children. 71 percent of high school dropouts, in the United States.
Sad state of affairs when Fathers leave their post.
I saw that. All the news that it see fit to print is not according to God’s “newspaper.’
For Catholics, the supreme authority is not Scripture but their magisterium, and on difficult moral questions, 22% of weekly Catholics say they are are more likely to follow the teachings of the Pope, while 66% (and 78% of all U.S. Catholics) say their conscience; 74% believe it iis possible to disagree with the pope on issues like birth control, abortion or divorce and still be a good Catholic.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/03/05/us/catholics-poll-graphic.html?ref=us#
Read the words........
Jhn 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created male and female created he them.
Jhn 1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. Every living person was given the light.
Jhn 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood [fn] it.
Luk 11:35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
Just because the light of the Spirit is not seen, does not mean that it is not there. It is just not understood.
What do you think being born again means. All truth comes from within, not without. This is where the light of truth has forever been.
Jhn 1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. Every living person was given the light
What is not to understand?
Maybe Genesis 1:26-28 and Genesis 5:3 should be read here. Adam was created in the LIKENESS OF GOD(1:26-28); men are BEGOTTEN in ADAM’S LIKENESS (5:3). God’s likeness was perfect; Adam’s likeness was imperfect and depraved with the law of sin and death working in and bringing it to ruin (Job 14:4; 25:4; Ps.14:3;51:5;, Rom. 5:12-21; 1 Cor. 15:39; and Eph. 2:2-3. Which is what most of the Bible is about. Death did not come by personal sin, as it did in the case of Adam. Death passed upon ALL MEN because of Adam’s sin. (Gen. 2:17). We are born in sin, not sinless. Because we are begotten in Adam’s likeness.
I think you need to check out Romans. Specifically: Romans 3:1-28 for starters. NOWHERE does it say that God’s Holy Spirit indwells unbelievers. He does not. He indwells the believer ONLY. I think you are getting the concept of man’s being made in the image of God confused with some kind of idea of natural holiness that man possesses. As the above verses (among many many others in Scripture) point out, mankind is naturally wicked. He is NOT “holy” in any sense of the word. Hence, mankind’s need for a Savior who is. Any “good” mankind thinks he’s doing apart from Christ is “as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). Christ’s promise of His Spirit is to the believer only (See Luke 24 for the account of Christ’s resurrection and this promise.)
By the way, the fact that mankind was given the truth only means he’s accountable for not believing on Christ for the forgiveness of sins. As for the idea that mankind has some type of inner cleanliness — Christ debunks that in Matthew 15:18-20:
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” From the inner core of mankind he is sinful from birth. There is no “inner goodness”, “inner truth”, or “inner light”. There is only darkness apart from Christ.
Also see Jeremiah 17:9 - “For the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can conceive it?” Certainly no indicator of any inner goodness or light!
So sad to see that you deny the light of truth, the foundation that only Christ could have laid.
1Cr 3:10-15
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
Do you deny that the light of truth (spirit) which was laid by Christ himself does not exist. Perhaps you might consider that the Counselor that Jesus promised helps bringing the light to light so that it no longer shines in darkness. Hence being born again.
If this is not the case, then how is it that the truth/light shines in total darkness?
When one believes on Christ for the pardon of all of his/her sins, THEN one is indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Not before. Else there is no need for Christ’s sacrifice if we are already “holy”. I do not deny Christ’s holiness, but yes, absolutely I do refute the unBiblical stance that mankind is holy apart from Christ. Scripture does not teach that.
Did I ever say anyone who lives in Scriptural darkness is Holy. If I did, then I apologize, it was not my intent. This does not change that light of truth was not present. It just was not understood and shone in darkness.
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The implication of believing everyone has the Holy Spirit living in them is a denial of Scripture which states clearly that mankind is inherently sinful. Which is it for it cannot be both? Either man is inherently wicked, as Scripture states, or inherently “good” because he is indwelt automatically at birth with the Holy Spirit. Besides being a contradiction to Scripture, this latter is a spiritual impossibility because we know from Scripture that demon possession is real. A body cannot be both indwelt with the Holy Spirit and with a demon. It is a spiritual impossibility. One can have either — but not both. You keep citing Scriptures about “light” and “God’s light” and, forgive me, but it does sound as though you are equating that with a New Age type “God lives in all of us; we are all Heaven-bound” universalism. Scripture not only does NOT teach this but it teaches the exact opposite. NO WHERE in Scripture does Christ speak of giving the Holy Spirit to anyone except in the context of being one of HIS. The whole world does not get the Holy Spirit by some sort of “default”. We know this from the fact that Christ reiterates over and over and over again that “narrow is the way” to Him. The Holy Spirit is the mark of the believer — not some special “light” given to everyone. It’s the mark God places on those who know Him. It happens upon regeneration of the Hell-bound sinner (which describes all of us upon birth).
First premise, I do not believe that any person that God created perfectly can in anyway shape or form, be 100% evil, no matter what they do or say.
Second, you obviously have no concept of light shining in darkness. I have given you Scriptual proof, and paraphrasing for your benefit: if then your light shines in darkness, how great then is the DARKNESS?
Third, no one can come to the Father unless called. Nothing, anyone can do or say can by pass or circumvent this requirement.
Fourth and finally, you may choose to see evil and look down on it you like. Truly, I am perfectly fine with this. I have absolutely nothing but love for you. Because, this is what has been given to do. I trust God in everything and I choose to see goodness in all that I can. So, yes I do believe that there is something inheriently good in everyone, even if that good light shines in total darkness. I do believe that love has a greater capacity to heal than evil has to destroy. Just look what God did through love.
just for good measure, did I not say that the Holy Spirit brings the light that shines in darkness to light? Did not Paul state clearly that He, God caused through Spirit, the light of all truth to shine in and through them.
So you are so quick to want to categorize me and label with some label in order to what? Make you feel better or me? Does this labeling, sanctify Christ and glorify him? Rather, than worrying and concerning yourself about me, should you not by the grace of God, be more concerned with your own heart. Because, as Jesus said, actions speak louder than belief. Ie. The Good Samaritan. I said, I would be slammed on my first post. Doesn’t take much does it?
Of course, the road to truth and salvation is narrow, and it is a lot like the treasure in the field that Jesus spoke about. Do not concern yourself with a speck in my eye when you may have a log in your own. This is of course not saying that you have, but saying, always be more concerned about your own spiritual well being than of others.
And don’t ever forget Love, for darkness has no abode with the light of love.
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