I know we hear everyday from this religious zealot or that…that we are all gonna die because of our support of abortion or gay rights or not having “In God We Trust” tattooed on our butts….if these types it is always something that we are doing that we must repent for and ask for guidance….
For me, I am Deist, I believe in God but that he does not interfere or really care what is happening on this tiny little planet….he/she gave us a brain and by doing that he/she gave us the capacity to solve our own problems and leave him/her out of the loop altogether……
For years now I have felt that religion was playing a smaller roll in people’s lives than it has in the past…and there may be a reason of that…….as reported in the People’s World…..
the report‘s authors say that more than just decline is in store for religion in some countries. It may be on the verge of extinction in nine nations: Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Switzerland.It should be noted that this means the decline in the number of people who claim to adhere to any organized religious group. In surveys, fewer people than previously said that they were Catholics, Protestants, Islamic or any other religion. These numbers do not portray what these people, who no longer consider themselves followers of any particular faith, actually believe. Some are atheists, some are agnostics and some may have other ideas entirely.
Researchers studied the ongoing decline of religion around the world and nationally – the unaffiliated are the fastest growing religious minority in all 50 states of the U.S. – and tried to understand the dynamics responsible for the decline’s speed. Instead of trying to find an ideological reason, they looked at religious affiliations as social groupings in society, and tried to set a statistical framework that would allow predictions.
The results are unlikely to bring joy to the pope or any other spiritual leader: “The model indicates that in these societies the perceived utility of religious non-affiliation is greater than that of adhering to a religion, and therefore predicts continued growth of non-affiliation, tending toward the disappearance of religion.”
Well now…maybe people are starting to learn to take responsibility for their “sins”, if you will……and stop trying to find someone/anyone to take their burdens on as their own……maybe humans are growing up…..becoming an adult could only help the planet and its people…..
“For me, I am a Deist, I believe in God but that he does not interfere or really care what is happening on this tiny little planet….he/she gave us a brain and by doing that he/she gave us the capacity to solve our own problems and leave him/her out of the loop altogether…”
I also believe God does not interfere with the happenings on this or any other planet (except through evolution). However, because brains and the ability to solve problems evolved we know that God cares. Because some of us care enough to show compassion and share resources, we also know that God cares. Most importantly, because we love that which is closest to our heart–others, beauty, art, adventure, spring, etc.— it (love) answers the question Why exist–why does anything at all exist as opposed to nothing at all? Existence (God included) exists to share (and share in) the sublime. Evolution, life, and God are what happens when love (the divine) is shared! Thanks for this post!
Great comment! Thanx for the kudos glad you liked it….
I think man made god in his image as a way to explain “things”. We now know so much more about “things” that we have less use for a god who will take the blame for what we dont understand. The result is a decline in worship or “god-fearing” if you will.
Yes. Good Post. I as you know, don’t believe in a god. But then, on this subject, you and I agree 99.9%, since your god doesn’t give a damn and won’t interfere, so is therefore irrelevant to humankind and mine is exactly the same because he/she/it doesn’t exist.
Either way, if humans are assholes it’s because they are and NO ONE ELSE IS TO BLAME BUT THEM! Once we all accept that, maybe – just MAYBE – we can start to move forward as a species, but I won’t hold my breath waiting for that day…
Incidentally, I agree totally with Phillip – man made god in his own image, because we always want someone else to blame!
Damn! We’re a spineless species… 😈
Thanx….I do not recall who but some one said, “If God did not create man, man would have created God”…..so you guys point is well taken…
Yeah – which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Which was first…?
The egg off course – or the chicken… 😈
Either way something had to be laid….LOL
In some places, religion is as connected with the culture as the food. When it goes, so goes the culture.
Watch and see.
Interesting Terrance…..about a year ago I wrote a post about the ME and the water situation….when it goes so does diplomacy…very similar…well down!
You’re right of course, Terrance… Then again, there are cultures that few would miss if they disappeared, aren’t there?
No doubt about that, Quin. But perhaps those same cultures wouldn’t miss us either.
The liberal in me (however small) tells me when cannot decide what is right, wrong, or moral for another culture, because our opinions on that are the direct result of our own culture. So, I dunno.
Cant say that I would miss Fundamentalist Christianity or Extremist Islam.
Phillip I would not miss any type of organized stupidity…..
Exactly