http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/25/AR2008022501182.html?nav=rss_email/components
Question to ponder:
Why do you think so many Americans are discarding the faith tradition of their upbringing and dropping out of organized religious affiliation altogether?
What changes in our society might you expect to see in the future as a result of so manyAmericans discarding their religious traditions?
12 comments:
I think that more and more Americans are disregarding the religions of their parents as part of a trend. A trend that has slowly been overcoming America. The trend of the parents playing a smaller role in the influence of the children and the friends playing a larger role. I think and interesting poll would be too see how many Americans are following the same religions of their friends.
I agree that parental influence plays a large part, but I think, also, that the rise of a consumer culture has a lot to do with the decline in religious affiliation among young people in America. When we can buy happiness, why should we pray for it?
I think that a lot of Americans are dropping their faith because there's not enough time to be involved with a religion. They pretend that they still believe but then they just forget to believe.
A major part of why I think religious faith is declining has to do with our increase in knowledge. Religion was brought about to answer questions we don't have the answers to (We talked about this in classss!). As our knowledge has increased we have begun to form our own opinions, beliefs and become more individual thinkers. We question faith because we're finding our own answers. I have a lot of friends that don't have a religion because they don't believe what the Bible, Koran or whatever else says. They feel it is silly to be believe in miracles and stories that have no reason behind them. I'm a Catholic and I attended church every Sunday. Do I believe? I think so. Sure there is doubt in my mind, but even so it's a nice thought. Not everything has to be scientific and perfectly explained. :D
-Cori Martin
~Cory Wrote This~
America is a very Need-to-Know basis and egotistical country.
Many people turn to science instead of religion because our knowledge in science has grown so much since the age where religion was important. The question of why were here and where we came from is "answered" through science. People seem to like the "answers" given in science because they are explained and are more understanding, they are written out in paper and proof from the Earth. In religion, God(s) or mystic forces created this Earth, this Universe, but this leaves a gap of knowledge. No proof can be given that God exist, and that scares people. They do not want to be tricked. But what some people do not understand is that there are HUGE gaps in the science, but no one knows of this...they're to busy bashing religion. Science does not have all the answers.
Also, believeing in a higher power means putting yourself lower. And in Christianity, you must admit you are a sinner and you do wrong. This deters people because this a blow to their ego. they do not want to give up power to something they can not absolutely prove with a formula or a document created by world renouned scientist.
People are scared of the unknown, but some things must be left unknown because we are not able to understand something so great.
Bonjour, Mrs. Stotler! (This might be a bit of rambling, sorry!!)Science, Cory? People do believe in what science has proven, but it cannot answer some unanswered questions, now can it? Take the plagues in Egypt, or the round-abouts in that area. At that time, it was to believed that the gods had caused it, but science has proven that it was something different, that the locus were migrating, the larvea contaminated the grain, making the first borns die since they ate first and usually the most. But science does not explain how we can to be, sure, evolution, but what started it all? How is everything in existence? I am indifferent, I do not know what I believe in, I will not say that I am a devil-worshiper like the kids at school say, but I do not practice a religion, I practice the act of living and thinking for yourself at this moment in time. I was never taught from the Bible, nor have I ever attended Church. Why? Because no one I knew has ever wanted to go, no one forced me to go. I think that's what's happening to the kids these days. The parents are too busy in their lives to force religion or deciple upon them. Also, the term "atheist" is used alot now in society, they do not believe because they have no reason to believe. Also, some follow their friends in what they do, just to "fit in" or to "seem cool." And Wow, you got Mrs. Morris to respond. Oh, and Cory. HAIL WEST PORTLAND!!!!!!
~H. Baker
No,Heather, your comments don't seem rambling; they seem thoughtful. If we are becoming a more secular society, I wonder if it will cause MORE conflict because people will have less spiritual grounding, or if it will cause LESS conflict because religion is something people fight about a lot because they feel so strongly about it. What do you guys think?
I think the older generation will have a round off with the younger generation. We are fairly tolerate towards other religions, but it seems that some churchs, as I was talking to a good friend of mine earlier about this, seem to want to compete with each other and be hypocritical towards each other and other people because they go to a different church. Religion isn't what it use to be, the churches are changing, it's money this, or money that. Do they really need that high of a steple? We know we can't reach the gods, people. I don't think a war would happen over it though. Afterall, isn't this country about accepting the different?
~H. Baker
from Anthony B
Yes! There are many simple and complicated reasons why religion is declining and the traditional faith of our fathers is not being followed. There are many books covering the different theories and possible reasons for this. What I think we should be concerned about - very concerned about - is the second part of your question-what happens to our society when we leave faith behind? Historically, when God leaves a society or group of people, God is replaced with a substitute. Sometimes, inanimate objects are used as the substitute, sometimes a person - like rock stars or heroes. Could this be happening to us now? The recent surge in Obamamania is typical of a society that lacks religious grounding. The Lemmings just follow without questioning. We have our mesmerizing speaker to lead us to some kind of change. Adolph Hitler was a man who was a great speaker and a great leader who energized his country to change. I don't think it is fair to say that Obama is Adolph Hitler, but maybe we should be asking what kind of change Obama wants. His voting history in the Senate has been partisan politics- the very thing he says we need to get rid of in Washington D.C. - the thing he wants to change. In other words he thinks he should be changed? Why did he not lead the way to change before now? Why aren’t more people asking him tough questions? Maybe they don't want to. Maybe they want a savior substitute so badly they don't want to ask.
Some people are forced by parents toward a religion as children but when they get older they have more freedom and decide not to go anymore. They only went because they were forced.
-Carrie Boone
I agree that our parents have a lot to do with our choice in religion. My parents aren't religions at all and I'm not either.I'm not saying I don't believe I'm just saying that we tend to follow what we know. I have went to church a couple of times with my older sisters and I found it to be a lot different then I had imagined. I thought that they just read from the bible, which I dont understand at all but it wasnt like that he used examples of everyday life in a way that we could relate. It touched me in many different ways and made me step back and look at the life I lived and the choices I make. It was very emotional. I enjoyed it but at the same time like ashley said there's really not time for it espically at the age we are now and all the responsabilies we are taking on. I do hope that one day say when everything slows down a bit and my child gets at the age when he/she can attend church that it'll be something to get involved in and if somewhere down the road my child decides church isn't for them aleast I can say I put it out there. You can't force people to believe it's something you have to feel inside.
In my opinion, Americans are discarding the faith tradition of their upbringing and dropping out of organized religious affiliation altogether because they do not feel there is time to attend church and church-related activities such as Bible study. In reality, if people would prioritize their schedules, they could go to church regularly and become apart of a variety of church activities. However, in today's society, church is not a top priority for some people. This topic of discussion reminds me of a story my pastor shared in church. The story was about a professor filling a glass jar with different objects. The professor said that you should put the golf balls in the jar first and then everything else you put in the jar will fall into place. In life, church should be placed first, like the golf balls, and then everything else in your life will come together.
-Katie Close
Post a Comment