Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN THE APPLE STORE: THE DECLINE OF CHRISTMAS AND THE LOOMING TECH NIGHTMARE
New Geography ^ | 12/28/2014 | by Joel Kotkin

Posted on 12/28/2014 12:37:52 PM PST by SeekAndFind

In the past, this season was marked by a greater interest in divinity, the family hearth and the joy of children. Increasingly our society has been turning away from such simple human pleasures, replacing them with those of technology.

Despite the annual holiday pageantry, in the West religion is on the decline, along with our society’s emphasis on human relationships. Atheism seems to be getting stronger, estimated at around 13 percent worldwide but much higher in such countries as Japan, Germany and China. “The world is going secular,” claims author Nigel Barber. “Nothing short of an ice age can stop it.”

In contrast, the religion of technology is gaining adherents. In a poll in the U.K., about as many said they believe Google to have their best interests at heart as God. Religious disbelief has been rising particularly among U.S. millennials, a group that, according to Pew, largely eschews traditional religion and embraces technology as a primary value. Some 26 percent profess no religious affiliation, twice the level of their boomer parents; they are twice as irreligious at their age as any previous generation.

For millennials, religion is increasingly a matter of personalized “self knowledge” that need not be pursued in church, or as part of their community. Computer scientist Allen Downey has done interesting research that shows that Internet use is a primary driver of declining interest in religion.

(Excerpt) Read more at newgeography.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: christmas; secularism; technology
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-56 next last
To: KoRn

That breaking point will be the return of the Messiah of Israel to rule the nations of our world today, with a rod of iron.


21 posted on 12/28/2014 1:23:54 PM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Like many things produced by the media the opposite is true.

Secularism is collapsing. Theism is growing.

Secular societies like Russia China and Cuba are giving way to Christian belief.

Christians in China outnumber communist party members.

European secularism is futile fodder for Islamic supremacism.

Germans are reclaiming their Christian identity.

The world has never moved as aggressively against secularism as today.


22 posted on 12/28/2014 1:25:00 PM PST by lonestar67 (I remember when unemployment was 4.7 percent / Cruz 2016)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HiTech RedNeck

I point this out not to be contrary, but because, if it is true, it means that technology is far more insidious and powerful than it’s mere content.


23 posted on 12/28/2014 1:26:12 PM PST by 9thLife (Barack Hussein Obama is one of *them*.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Probably has nothing to do with the article but it just occured to me:

One has achieved the absolute highest possible level of arrogance if one is truly an atheist.


24 posted on 12/28/2014 1:28:24 PM PST by Nik Naym (It's not my fault... I have compulsive smartass disorder.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 9thLife

What is the Meaning of The Medium is the Message?
http://individual.utoronto.ca/markfederman/article_mediumisthemessage.htm

This world today is operating under “the medium is the message” ... whereas ... Jesus, as the Son of God, operates under “the message is the medium”.

And thus lies the “disconnect” with many in our culture.


25 posted on 12/28/2014 1:30:01 PM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Star Traveler

We need to bring back industry right here, to America.

Now.

We should not wait for the Messiah of Israel’s return.

We should bring it back right now.

Stop building up China.


26 posted on 12/28/2014 1:31:16 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: adorno

It looks more to me to be more like “the religion of the anti-Apples” ... from your comments ... LOL ...


27 posted on 12/28/2014 1:32:54 PM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Cringing Negativism Network

That ... very simply ... bears no relevance for Jesus, as the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world.


28 posted on 12/28/2014 1:34:53 PM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: HiTech RedNeck

“Technology is neutral. It can be put to good or evil uses.”

Agree, but not entirely. Any kind of ‘distraction’, be it a drug, alcohol, sex without love, video games, etc. can become a ‘narcotic’ that we use to numb our lives - to escape, or to self-comfort against the stress of life. It can take the place of truly living life, and give us a path of least resistance when things get tough and we should be trying harder. IMHO.


29 posted on 12/28/2014 1:35:42 PM PST by pieceofthepuzzle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Star Traveler

What is our REAL downfall is what I saw today.

A young married White couple sitting at a stoplight, with three dogs in the backseat of the car, rather than children. I’d bet my house that all of those dogs had ‘human’ type names as well. THIS is the decline of Western civilization. It’s a slow motion train wreck, right before our eyes.

I can’t tell you how often I see that. Even people I’m related to that are my age(younger), rather than getting married, they just shack up with a girl, and they get dogs instead of having children. Even those that DO get married will get some dogs rather than having kids. Hell, some even refer to their pets as “kids”. Makes me sick.

Meanwhile, ‘Octo-moms across the nation are breeding like rabbits in housing projects and trailer parks across the nation, and they WILL over take us.

I just wonder how it will be handled when these ‘Millenials’ get old and die, and want to leave their estate to their grand-dogs. That may be a problem.


30 posted on 12/28/2014 1:37:55 PM PST by KoRn (Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Star Traveler

I don’t know.

All I know is someone needs to stand up for America.

Democrats are sold out. The GOP is sold out. Everyone is sold out.

Our businesses are sold out. Everyone is sold out. And meanwhile, it is getting worse, and worse. Every single year.

This year, is seems to be getting ... yet worse.

Bring back American industry. Who will stand up for America? Thus far, both parties have been OUT TO LUNCH. Everyone is sold out.

We may need a new party. A pro-American party. Nothing racial, just a party dedicated to Americans.

How about it GOP.

Stand up, which you still can.


31 posted on 12/28/2014 1:42:56 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

Sorry in the last sentence:

“While you still can”.


32 posted on 12/28/2014 1:45:00 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I know that Google does NOT have our best interest at heart!!!!

Google spies on us, supports the “gay” agenda, and disses the Christian faith whenever it can!!!! (See, for example, that bogus “’Tis the Season” Google doodle!) To add insult to injury, Google makes anyone who owns a business website and/or blog jump through an ever changing and more arcane series of hoops to get their sites noticed by potential customers.

As for God, I was united with Him in Orthodox Holy Communion this morning, and experienced His love. And He came to us as a little Child at Christmas, and opened the way to Paradise for us through His death on the Cross and His Resurrection!!!!

Compared to all that God has done and is doing for us, Google is paltry indeed!!!!


33 posted on 12/28/2014 1:54:38 PM PST by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

When you have nothing to hold on to but your defunct iPhone, you will jump off the highest ledge available. And there will be no one to care.


34 posted on 12/28/2014 1:54:58 PM PST by txrefugee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

I see the new Christian missionaries coming from the southern hemisphere nations or “global south nations”, bring the good news of the Gospel of Jesus BACK to the west.


35 posted on 12/28/2014 2:07:28 PM PST by Biggirl (2014 MIdterms Were BOTH A Giant Wave And Restraining Order)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Honorary Serb

I’m sick of the whole identity politics. Why can’t we have real patriotism, where we recognize: hey, we’re all American, or all of whatever nation, instead of looking for me vs you garbage that the PC is overflowing with.


36 posted on 12/28/2014 2:17:07 PM PST by Morpheus2009
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Star Traveler

That makes me worry about Mr. Palin.


37 posted on 12/28/2014 2:27:22 PM PST by bicyclerepair (Ft. Lauderdale FL (zombie land). TERM LIMITS ... TERM LIMITS)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: 9thLife
Not if there's no Interwebs.
38 posted on 12/28/2014 2:34:11 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Black lies matter. 'White privilege' is dog-whistle for 'kill white people.')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: bicyclerepair

I don’t know why you would want to worry about Todd, in relation to those verses.


39 posted on 12/28/2014 2:37:55 PM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
“The world is going secular,” claims author Nigel Barber. “Nothing short of an ice age can stop it.”

And that is why, God in His mercy is going to send us an Ice Age shortly.

(I subscribe to the Russo-Danish school of climatology that is based on astrophysics rather than atmospheric general circulation models.)

40 posted on 12/28/2014 2:38:27 PM PST by The_Reader_David (And when they behead your own people in the wars which are to come, then you will know...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-56 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson