help me out with a project quick survey

[GsrSiHatchie]

ok so im doing this long ARRRSSS paper on why the impact of religion in society is diminishing.
just wanted to ask about how everyone felt basically if they believe literally in everything the bible says IE its teachings and all the myths
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loosely that it just has meaning behind the stories
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or has pretty much stopped going to church all together and cares very little about any type of religion



this is all because pretty much i am argueing that with the evolution of science religions credentials will be debunked and that society will be looking towards something else.

please dont flame and expand if you hate the idea of church and all that stuff 2 or you think people are blasphamous and should rot in HE double hockey stick and what not

[NJGOAT]

First off, I find it funny that you think the impact of religion on American society is diminishing. If anything religion has a greater influence on our society over the past 50-60 years than at anytime in our history. From the McCarthy atheist/communist hunts which added "In God We Trust" to our money and "One Nation Under God" to the pledge, to modern day where evangelical Christians essentialy voted Bush into office...twice. Religious beliefs have never had so much control/influence over our society.

92% of Americans claim a belief in "God", this is a fact. However, only 35% or so actually claim that they attend religious services. So, you really need to define your argument better. Are you arguing that science will debunk the existence of God? Are you arguing that organized religion is losing its place in American society? Are you arguing that the influence of religion on society is diminishing?

As I said in the first paragraph, the facts point to an expanding influence of religion in society, not a diminishing one. You cannot prove/disprove the existence of God and most American's believe in God, so you really cannot pursue that line either. That leaves us with the diminishing acceptance of organized religion in American society. This can be argued and quite effectively as there is a huge difference in the number of people who believe in God vs. the number of people who worship regularly.

To me, this shows a disconnect between modern society and the available organized religions. Essentially people are disenfranchised with the options they have available. Reasons for this can be secular, like the Catholic sex abuse scandal or dogmatic like the Protestant view of Sola Scriptorum that states the Bible is 100% literally correct and not open to interpretation.

[su_maverick]

There is a major difference between having an impact on society and driving the trends of society. Just the mere fact that we are having this debate means that religion in general has a major impact on society. Look at what we are going through right now with terrorism and foreign politics. It is based not on culture but on the Muslim religion. I agree with Goat that though there are a lot of us out there that believe in God and/or a ‘higher power’, many are moving away from some of the organized religions because they have failed to keep up with the natural evolution of society and many find them too stiff and rigid. Religion is not going anywhere. It has long been used to explain the mysteries of the Universe and until we know everything (which will never happen) it will always be there. Religion also has always been the crutch for people who normally would not be listed among the faithful who have fallen on hard times. Look back through history and you will see that whenever there has been a major event in world history (war, economic crisis, social change, massive political change) there will be a resurgence of religion. People will always want to believe that there is something better waiting for them and that this life isn’t all they have to look forward to. How would you feel if your life has been one hardship after another with no joy and the only thing waiting for you after it was an empty void? It gives you some hope to think that there is a better place after your time has passed on Earth. I am not going to dispense my own religious beliefs here but I think that you can see how the general population trends one way or another.

[Honest_Bob]

Originally Posted by GsrSiHatchie

or has pretty much stopped going to church all together and cares very little about any type of religion

Thats me.

[martang]

I think the bible is a well written fiction book.

[DropTopChevy]

Originally Posted by GsrSiHatchie

or has pretty much stopped going to church all together and cares very little about any type of religion

I'm in this boat too.

[sherwood]

i only go to church when people die or get married...thats it. i dont believe in anything.