Religious changes in the U.S.

[LongTomH]

According to the ReligiousTolerance.org site, we're becoming a more religiously diverse country, with more people (especially young people) not identifying with any organized religion. We are NOT becoming a nation of evangelicals or fundamentalists!

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_prac2.htm

"The proportion of the population that can be classified as Christian has declined from 86% in 1990 to 77% in 2001." ARIS Study.

"There does not seem to be revival taking place in America. Whether that is measured by church attendance, born again status, or theological purity, the statistics simply do not reflect a surge of any noticeable proportions." George Barna.

"...evangelicals remain just 7% of the adult population. That number has not changed since the Barna Group began measuring the size of the evangelical public in 1994....less than one out of five born again adults (18%) meet the evangelical criteria. " (N = 1003; margin of error = ±3.2%).

The United States appears to be going through an unprecedented change in religious practices. Large numbers of American adults are disaffiliating themselves from Christianity and from other organized religions. Since World War II, this process had been observed in other countries, like the U.K., other European countries, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. But, until recently, affiliation with Christianity had been at a high level -- about 87% -- and stable in the U.S.

Don't shoot me - I'm just the messenger!

[Arugula Latte]

1. Wonderful news!

It gives me hope ...

Maybe rational thought can find a tiny toehold in this country...

[tanyev]

2. "evangelicals remain just 7% of the adult population"

Wow. They sure can stomp their feet and make a lot of noise, though. Maybe they all need to be on Ritalin.

[Lerkfish]

7. progressive christians have been trying to make this point...

they are NOT the majority. They are only the most obnoxious and overbearing percentage.

[FreedomAngel82]

11. What I think with

the rightwing evangelist types they are the minority but they are loud mouths and have "religious leaders" who have the ear of some politicans.
For example: see the Terri Schavio ordeal. At the lil protest it was a lil protest. I remember someone posted a photo from the hospice and hardly anybody was there. The media just proclaimed them to be more then what they seemed.

[Warpy]

3. What they lack in numbers they make up in volume

meaning they're a bunch of loudmouths who shout everyone else down and they've been handed one of the political parties to do their yelling for them.

A detailed snapshot of what's really going on in this country is at http://www.theamericanchurch.org/facts/1.htm

I've posted it before, but it bears repeating. There's good and bad news in there no matter what your religious persuasion is.

[bigluckyfeet]

6. The Trouble With a Lot of Churches

Is that that do not preach the Gospel,and are in the business of chasing money,and pushing a political line.

[FreedomAngel82]

12. Exactly!

They also have the media on their side because they are on the republican side. They can't have a real Christian on.

[Lerkfish]

14. ever notice how NONE of these supposed "christian leaders" ever

mention Christ or what he said? They spend a great deal of time complaining about the morality of lack thereof of others, but they never spend any television time in interviews getting down and talking about the sermon on the mount, or any of the positive things about Christianity.

By their fruits you will know them.

[sui generis]

4. unfortunately if 90% of all evangelicals vote and only 1% of all

young'uns with liberal notions vote, we're still outnumbered.

I know it's not that simple but the squeaky wheel is the one that gets all the press time, and knows it.

[AndyTiedye]

8. Even More Unfortunately, The Fundies Own the Voting Machinez

With

All Things Are Possible

[Spider Jerusalem]

5. I don't know that I'd trust the data from that site.

From what I remember, it's one of $cientology's many and various fronts.

[Love Bug]

9. religioustolerance.org is NOT affiliated with Scientology

This site is run by a small group of Canadians (Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance) who promote religious freedom and diversity. Scientology and other cults like it are not interested in diversity, and are only interested in religous freedom for themselves.

From the religioustolerance.org home page:

This website is unlike almost all other religious sites: It promotes religious freedom, and diversity as positive cultural values.

We do not promote our own religious beliefs. We can't because we are a multi-faith group. We try to explain the full diversity of religious belief in North America, from Asatru to Zoroastrianism, including Christianity, Hinduism, Wicca and others.
We try to describe all viewpoints on controversial religious topics objectively and fairly. We cover everything from abortion access to equal rights and protections for homosexuals and bisexuals, including same-sex marriage, and dozens of other "hot" topics.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/purpose.htm

You must be thinking of some other site!

[LongTomH]

10. You could check out the links given on the page:

The authors of the page did document their sources pretty well.

[AX10]

13. I respect the right for ALL PEOPLE to freely worship their faith...

whatever that faith maybe, so long as they do respect the same right for all people and may not inflict that belief upon the society as a whole.

America offers the right to everyone to exercise their freedoms. That is what America is all about. The right wing better take note of this, because "aparthied Falwell & Co" are in the MINORITY!

[BMG]

15. The only problem is, is how hard they try to change things.

Fundies that is; they amass in giant groups and change things. That the issue; lets hope my generation can change things for the better.

Personally; I want to see fundementalism of all kinds igonored by all. Wouldnt THAT be a glorius day?