Christianity Shrinking?

[Trippoli]

I use to be a christian, went to church every Sunday. My dad got busy with work, we slowly stopped going to church, eventually never.

This is not why I stopped being a christian, I am slowly moving away from Christianity and religion all together because of their hatred of other religions and people that are different. They violate the rights to gays and pregnant women.

I look back at Christians and Catholic history, one of the most blood thirsty religions because of the Crusades, slaughtering of Muslims, Inquisitions, and Witch trials that went on in the America's colonies. So yes, it has a very dark past.

Do you think Religions are slowly shrinking in the United States because of its lack of respect of others? Sense people have finally come to their senses in the past 200 years.

[Rashuta]

I use to be a christian, went to church every Sunday. My dad got busy with work, we slowly stopped going to church, eventually never.

This is not why I stopped being a christian, I am slowly moving away from Christianity and religion all together because of their hatred of other religions and people that are different. They violate the rights to gays and pregnant women.

I look back at Christians and Catholic history, one of the most blood thirsty religions because of the Crusades, slaughtering of Muslims, Inquisitions, and Witch trials that went on in the America's colonies. So yes, it has a very dark past.

Do you think Religions are slowly shrinking in the United States because of its lack of respect of others? Sense people have finally come to their senses in the past 200 years.

Not all Christians are like those of our past, atheists have done horrible things too like Hitler and Stalin, there are bad people in all religions but the do not follow our religion, some popes I believe are in hell

[Ravea]

Religion of any sort does a lot of bad, but don't forget the great amount of good it's done too. Personally, I don't go with any of them; I just take stuff from all different faiths.

Anyways, I'd say religion in general is shrinking because people have realized it's really not that hard to live without it.

[Cabra West]

I don't see it shrinking, I'm sorry to say.
I think you do see more open atheists about, but that's probably more to do with the fact that it's slowly becoming acceptable to BE athiest, without having to worry about your job, or your family.

On the amount of good vs bad they've done, it's hard to evaluate. Religions everywhere are responsible for insane amounts of killings, and unimaginable artrocities. Then again, they also tend to be into charities big time. But how do you weigh up one against the other?

I think what is happening these days is that for the first time, secular morality is more charitable and humane than religious morality. In the past, the religions were on the forefront of asking for rights for minority groups, respect for all humans, etc. They didn't always practice what they preached, but their official stance was usually more ethical than that of the rulers of the day.
These days, that has reversed. The churches are now the ones preaching discrimination, while the secular authorities try and give equal rights and equal treatment to all. I think that has disillusioned a lot of people.

[Kusatsu]

Not all Christians are like those of our past, atheists have done horrible things too like Hitler and Stalin, there are bad people in all religions but the do not follow our religion, some popes I believe are in hell

Hitler was a christian, and was raised Catholic. He did not regularly attend church (while campaigning for election he did, and with a passion) but he certainly believed in the bible, and even wrote so in Mein Kampf.

[Krypton-Zod]

I use to be a christian, went to church every Sunday. My dad got busy with work, we slowly stopped going to church, eventually never.

This is not why I stopped being a christian, I am slowly moving away from Christianity and religion all together because of their hatred of other religions and people that are different. They violate the rights to gays and pregnant women.

I look back at Christians and Catholic history, one of the most blood thirsty religions because of the Crusades, slaughtering of Muslims, Inquisitions, and Witch trials that went on in the America's colonies. So yes, it has a very dark past.

Do you think Religions are slowly shrinking in the United States because of its lack of respect of others? Sense people have finally come to their senses in the past 200 years.

Religion is bad for you, there's no doubt about that.

Christianity however isn't the worst of them, anymore. And its in what I call a phase of terminal decline. You see, just like with islam, many people are still counted as followers, but really don't follow it at all, just like a few people I know who would be counted as muslims in a census but who could outdrink me in beer and eat as much meat/pork as I do.

I have to correct one thing you say, the crusades were not so much an action, they were a reaction to a few centuries of islamic violence against non-muslims in Arabia, the Middle East and the Levant. Crusades: islamic violence first, christian violence as a reaction after. Considering the islamic violence started in the 7th century and the first crusade was in 1095AD I'd say there has been a case of extreme restraint there. Nevertheless, the christians have done their part in slaughtering those who disagreed, just like muslim warlords did in India. Approx. 60-80 million dead during the islamic occupation between 712AD and 1657AD. Don't be fooled by stories of hindu-islamic harmony before the British came, the British may well have saved Hindu India from extermination.

[Krypton-Zod]

Not all Christians are like those of our past, atheists have done horrible things too like Hitler and Stalin, there are bad people in all religions but the do not follow our religion, some popes I believe are in hell

Hitler was a christian, and was raised Catholic. He did not regularly attend church (while campaigning for election he did, and with a passion) but he certainly believed in the bible, and even wrote so in Mein Kampf.

The nazis planned to 'deal' with the church after the war, after the expected victory. The religions as we know them would have been replaced with some neo-pagan amalgamation of all sorts of occultist rituals (the SS and Himmler were particularly into that) tied to a 'nazi religion', in which Hitler would have been the prophet. Hitler referred to himself as prophet on several occasions. And the reason so many people faithfully followed him to the bitter end is because they too considered him a prophet, and had a 'religious' faith in him. The nazi cultural phenomenon has been referred to as a religion by more than one historian.

[Aligeretha]

I use to be a christian, went to church every Sunday. My dad got busy with work, we slowly stopped going to church, eventually never.

This is not why I stopped being a christian, I am slowly moving away from Christianity and religion all together because of their hatred of other religions and people that are different. They violate the rights to gays and pregnant women.

I look back at Christians and Catholic history, one of the most blood thirsty religions because of the Crusades, slaughtering of Muslims, Inquisitions, and Witch trials that went on in the America's colonies. So yes, it has a very dark past.

Do you think Religions are slowly shrinking in the United States because of its lack of respect of others? Sense people have finally come to their senses in the past 200 years.

Not all Christians are like those of our past, atheists have done horrible things too like Hitler and Stalin, there are bad people in all religions but the do not follow our religion, some popes I believe are in hell

Hitler was born, raised, and lived as a Catholic, he was never excommunicated and was granted a catholic funeral despite the fact that he killed himself. In both public and private Adolf Hitler stated that he believed in God and he thought that he was doing God's Work. Including the extermination of the Jewish people, which does have precedent in Catholic (and Christianity in general) teachings and history.

Stalin was raised Eastern Orthodox and was sent to a seminary to become a priest (he quit before completing it), later in life as the leader of the USSR most historians agree that he did embrace the Marxist view of religion (that it is the "opium of the masses"). However it should be noted that the reason he suppressed the Eastern Orthodox Church in Russia is because they were a potential threat to his power, and NO ONE in the USSR threatened Stalin's power and got away with it.

Of course when he needed them during WWII he was more than happy to work with them, but once the war was over it was right back into the gulags.

So in short, don't try to pawn off the sins of the religious on atheists just because we don't believe in your magical flying old man in the sky.

[Cabra West]

The nazis planned to 'deal' with the church after the war, after the expected victory. The religions as we know them would have been replaced with some neo-pagan amalgamation of all sorts of occultist rituals (the SS and Himmler were particularly into that) tied to a 'nazi religion', in which Hitler would have been the prophet. Hitler referred to himself as prophet on several occasions. And the reason so many people faithfully followed him to the bitter end is because they too considered him a prophet, and had a 'religious' faith in him. The nazi cultural phenomenon has been referred to as a religion by more than one historian.

I don't know what exactly you're trying to prove here, but this doesn't exactly sound atheist, now, does it?

[Heinleinites]

I look back at Christians and Catholic history, one of the most blood thirsty religions because of the Crusades, slaughtering of Muslims, Inquisitions, and Witch trials that went on in the America's colonies. So yes, it has a very dark past.

The Crusades were more about demographics and politics then they were about religion. As far as the Salem witch trials go, over roughly a year-and-a-half,about 150 people were arrested and imprisoned. Out of those 150 people, only twenty-nine were convicted. Of those twenty-nine, only nineteen were hanged. One court only produced three convictions out of thirty-one trials.

Do you think Religions are slowly shrinking in the United States because of its lack of respect of others? Sense people have finally come to their senses in the past 200 years.

You need to figure out whether or not you're talking about Christianity specifically, or religion in general, you kind of veer back and forth. I don't think Christianity specifically, or religion in general is shrinking. These are global statistics, but since America is part of the world, I'm sure you can extrapolate.

- The US Department of State estimates that Protestant Christianity may have grown 600% over the last decade in Vietnam.

- The World Christian Database as of 2007 estimated the growth rate of Christianity at 1.32%.

-From the period between 2000 and 2005, Pentecostalism experienced a global growth rate of 488% expanding from 115 million to 588.5 million global adherents.

[Aligeretha]

You need to figure out whether or not you're talking about Christianity specifically, or religion in general, you kind of veer back and forth. I don't think Christianity specifically, or religion in general is shrinking. These are global statistics, but since America is part of the world, I'm sure you can extrapolate.

- The US Department of State estimates that Protestant Christianity may have grown 600% over the last decade in Vietnam.

- The World Christian Database as of 2007 estimated the growth rate of Christianity at 1.32%.

-From the period between 2000 and 2005, Pentecostalism experienced a global growth rate of 488% expanding from 115 million to 588.5 million global adherents.

Yes but all that growth is occuring in the Third World, not in the United States where signs are emerging that show that Christianity is shrinking in terms of numbers and growth. In less than a generation the US will be in the same place that Great Britian is now, a large population of non-religious/atheist people that are starting to flex real sociological/political muscle. There more religious muslims in the UK than religious christians and the majority of non believers are figuring that out.

Soon it will be the US's turn to discover that it has become a Non-Religious Country, like a thief in the night.

[Krypton-Zod]

The nazis planned to 'deal' with the church after the war, after the expected victory. The religions as we know them would have been replaced with some neo-pagan amalgamation of all sorts of occultist rituals (the SS and Himmler were particularly into that) tied to a 'nazi religion', in which Hitler would have been the prophet. Hitler referred to himself as prophet on several occasions. And the reason so many people faithfully followed him to the bitter end is because they too considered him a prophet, and had a 'religious' faith in him. The nazi cultural phenomenon has been referred to as a religion by more than one historian.

I don't know what exactly you're trying to prove here, but this doesn't exactly sound atheist, now, does it?

It wasn't christian either, the nazi radicals briefly tried a church struggle in the 1930s but Hitler postponed this church struggle until after the war, because he thought it was a waste of time doing it before. Hitler did refer to christianity a number of times, but that was done because he knew people liked to hear that. In private, Hitler frequently condemned religion, especially what he saw as the 'weak' christianity (as opposed to 'militant' islam, which he admired to a certain degree) and christian tendencies to forgive. Hitler would tolerate no rival for the peoples affections.

It was, as I said, a mix of paganism and religious fervor infused with an unhealthy dose of nazism.

[Cabra West]

The nazis planned to 'deal' with the church after the war, after the expected victory. The religions as we know them would have been replaced with some neo-pagan amalgamation of all sorts of occultist rituals (the SS and Himmler were particularly into that) tied to a 'nazi religion', in which Hitler would have been the prophet. Hitler referred to himself as prophet on several occasions. And the reason so many people faithfully followed him to the bitter end is because they too considered him a prophet, and had a 'religious' faith in him. The nazi cultural phenomenon has been referred to as a religion by more than one historian.

I don't know what exactly you're trying to prove here, but this doesn't exactly sound atheist, now, does it?

It wasn't christian either, the nazi radicals briefly tried a church struggle in the 1930s but Hitler postponed this church struggle until after the war, because he thought it was a waste of time doing it before.

It was, as I said, a mix of paganism and religious fervor infused with an unhealthy dose of nazism.

Looking at all that passed for "Christian" these days, I'd say it would still have easily fallen within that circle. There are plenty of cults and sects out there, even within the Catholic church itself, that have a very similar mix of ideas.

[Heinleinites]

In less than a generation the US will be in the same place that Great Britian is now, a large population of non-religious/atheist people that are starting to flex real sociological/political muscle.

I think that might be somewhat of wishful thinking on your part. Newsweek: "According to the American Religious Identification Survey, the percentage of self-identified Christians has fallen 10 percentage points since 1990, from 86 to 76 percent."

Yeah, it's fallen in America, I'll give you that. But it's only fallen 10 per cent over twenty years. That's half a per cent a year, roughly. I don't know, I don't think a drop of self-professed Christians from 86% to 76% over twenty years exactly presages an imminent post-modern secular humanist utopia. Remember, 76% is slightly more than 3/4's.

Also from the Newsweek article and ARIS study: "Let's be clear: while the percentage of Christians may be shrinking, rumors of the death of Christianity are greatly exaggerated. Being less Christian does not necessarily mean that America is post-Christian. A third of Americans say they are born again; this figure, along with the decline of politically moderate-to liberal mainline Protestants, led the ARIS authors to note that "these trends … suggest a movement towards more conservative beliefs and particularly to a more 'evangelical' outlook among Christians." With rising numbers of Hispanic immigrants bolstering the Roman Catholic Church in America, and given the popularity of Pentecostalism, a rapidly growing Christian milieu in the United States and globally, there is no doubt that the nation remains vibrantly religious—far more so, for instance, than Europe."

[SaintB]

I think the percentage may be falling, but the numbers really aren't going anywhere. For every 1 that renounces another one is born.

[Surpsainia]

Depends on where you look really. In some parts of America and Europe its shrinking, in other parts its growing. Especially in Africa and other parts of the world. But then this is nothing new. The Europeans have slowly been turning away from god since the 19th century. Advances in science and culture have left a lot of people questioning why they follow an ancient text. Its teachings are no longer needed by most because there are already answers that people seek which usually make more sense than "god did it," or "it was the will of the lord." Sure there are still those who feel some comfort from the christan teachings and thats fine.

I think what puts most people off is how some people use religion for there own means like some of the people listed before in this thread. Or worse, believers who think there carrying out gods will.

But on the whole its not shrinking, so long as the population keeps rising and there are preachers out there.

[Happi-Land III]

Do you think Religions are slowly shrinking in the United States because of its lack of respect of others?

If only. There's more and more religious nutcases in America every time I look at the place. Those TV priests who "cure" sick people by punching them are a prime example, because it's such a pile of hokum. If religion was shrinking in the US, those places wouldn't be packed houses every time.

[No Names Left Damn It]

Not all Christians are like those of our past, atheists have done horrible things too like Hitler and Stalin, there are bad people in all religions but the do not follow our religion, some popes I believe are in hell

Hitler wasn't an Atheist, he claimed he was doing God's work, and Stalin didn't kill anyone in the name of Atheism, whereas millions have been killed in the name of religion.

[Safed]

Not all Christians are like those of our past, atheists have done horrible things too like Hitler and Stalin, there are bad people in all religions but the do not follow our religion, some popes I believe are in hell

Hitler was a very religious man.

[Okin]

People generally seem to beleive that if you are an atheist you have no need for god or an afterlife and that if your a theist you have a need for both. I was raised an Orthodox Christian and still follow many of their beleifs. However, I do not need God or an afterlife, I simply beleive that God is real. Many people have turned from being part of an organised religion to simply beleiving in a higher force. So what I am trying to point out is that many people (Mostly atheists) beleive that all Theists get a comforting feeling from beleiving in God and an afterlife but in alot of cases that is not true. I beleive in God, but I am an agonstic on the subject of the afterlife, I don't need either one of them though. But just because I dont need them doesnt mean that I don't beleive in one or the other.
It is true that many people do get comfort form beleiving in God, and I agree that the church in the past has said (and done)many bad things. I don't go to church because of what it has become. I simply worship God in my own home.
You say the number of beleivers is shrinking, do you mean beleivers in the organised religion of Christianity or people who beleive in a higher force but have Christian views. They are two very different things. Please dont reply to this with a "What was the point of that" or a "Whatever".

[Molested Sock]

-snip-
This is not why I stopped being a christian, I am slowly moving away from Christianity and religion all together because of their hatred of other religions and people that are different. They violate the rights to gays and pregnant women.

Rights?
Rights are just a matter of opinion, they are defined but not actually existent, they can come go, be extended or reduced at anytime.

Now if you are to say that you think it is ok for people to practice acts that 'God' doesn't like or for people to end life as they are an inconvieniance, that is a different matter.

I look back at Christians and Catholic history, one of the most blood thirsty religions because of the Crusades, slaughtering of Muslims, Inquisitions, and Witch trials that went on in the America's colonies. So yes, it has a very dark past.

Almost all religions are one of the most blood thirsty if you put it like that, the Jews invited the non-circumcised around for a barbeque and then put them to the sword, practically the whole Old Testament is a celebration of Jewish masacres, Muslims too butchered people during the Crudsades and Muslims now commit acts of terrorism by crashing Planes into buildings or fighting America and her allies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Egyptians persecuted the Jews and others.
Nazi Germany and it's belief in the Nordic Gods, how many people did they kill?
Soviet Russia, the godless nation, how many did they kill?
Especially in regards to the Crusades, the leaders of the Kingdoms that partook of the Crusade were interested in their own wealth and not just on reclaiming the Holy land, besides not all Crusaders went about hacking and butchering people.

Religions don't kill people(Excerpt for the Ori), people kill people.

Do you think Religions are slowly shrinking in the United States because of its lack of respect of others? Sense people have finally come to their senses in the past 200 years.

America doesn't own Christianity or religion in general.

Your thinking is horribly flawed.

[Buffett and Colbert]

Yes, Christianity I believe is deteriorating from it's former glory (at least in the United States from what I know). But that is not to say theism is. You have many teenagers converting to Hinduism nowadays...

[Buffett and Colbert]

People generally seem to beleive that if you are an atheist you have no need for god or an afterlife and that if your a theist you have a need for both. I was raised an Orthodox Christian and still follow many of their beleifs. However, I do not need God or an afterlife, I simply beleive that God is real. Many people have turned from being part of an organised religion to simply beleiving in a higher force. So what I am trying to point out is that many people (Mostly atheists) beleive that all Theists get a comforting feeling from beleiving in God and an afterlife but in alot of cases that is not true. I beleive in God, but I am an agonstic on the subject of the afterlife, I don't need either one of them though. But just because I dont need them doesnt mean that I don't beleive in one or the other.
It is true that many people do get comfort form beleiving in God, and I agree that the church in the past has said (and done)many bad things. I don't go to church because of what it has become. I simply worship God in my own home.
You say the number of beleivers is shrinking, do you mean beleivers in the organised religion of Christianity or people who beleive in a higher force but have Christian views. They are two very different things. Please dont reply to this with a "What was the point of that" or a "Whatever".

What... Oh shit...

Ok well howabout this. Give me proof, that is not in scripture, that God, heaven, etc exist.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I use to be a christian, went to church every Sunday. My dad got busy with work, we slowly stopped going to church, eventually never.

This is not why I stopped being a christian, I am slowly moving away from Christianity and religion all together because of their hatred of other religions and people that are different. They violate the rights to gays and pregnant women.

I look back at Christians and Catholic history, one of the most blood thirsty religions because of the Crusades, slaughtering of Muslims, Inquisitions, and Witch trials that went on in the America's colonies. So yes, it has a very dark past.

Do you think Religions are slowly shrinking in the United States because of its lack of respect of others? Sense people have finally come to their senses in the past 200 years.

I believe so because clearly back in the UK church attendances have fallen dramatically and some areas in the UK actually have Christianity as a minority, particularly in Southall, West London.

[Frogu]

Back then, wars were then norm. Prophets and leaders would frequently claim they had been ordered by God to strike down some neighbouring nation. No one ever told their soldiers to show mercy to the enemy. It was a culture eat culture world. One way to raise army quickly was to say it was an order of God. When you conquered a nation, they would kill the men and boys and sometimes the women to cripple the nation for a long time or forever.