Young American's losing their religion. - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Thor · 05-10-2009, 12:36 AM

A key point, they are not necessarily atheists, or even agnostics. They are fed up with organized religion and the young generation seems to be moving further away from the church.

An interesting read anyhow.

Quote:

"It's a huge change," says Harvard University professor Robert Putnam, who conducted the research.
Historically, the percentage of Americans who said they had no religious affiliation (pollsters refer to this group as the "nones") has been very small -- hovering between 5 percent and 10 percent. However, Putnam says the percentage of "nones" has now skyrocketed to between 30 percent and 40 percent among younger Americans.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/s...7513343&page=1

Hemi-Cuda · 05-10-2009, 12:43 AM

good. only when organized religion is stamped out from our lives will we be a truly free society

RW99 · 05-10-2009, 12:47 AM

Good news afaik. I believe everyone has the right to a religion, as long as one doesn't tell the others what to do

jar_e · 05-10-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

good. only when organized religion is stamped out from our lives will we be a truly free society

Wouldn't truly free mean having the choice of religion or not?

Hemi-Cuda · 05-10-2009, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jar_e

Wouldn't truly free mean having the choice of religion or not?

i have nothing against personal belief. but when an organization tries to impose it's belief on others (aka almost all organized religions) they are trying to limit one's freedoms

the day that the church is no longer relevant is the day that we don't have to hear ridiculous crap like Alberta schools being required to inform parents if they teach evolution, or southern states providing abstinence only education causing a massive spike in teen pregnancy, or the vatican refusing to support condom usage, preferring millions die instead in Africa due to aids

the day that religion has no influence on our lives will be a very good day indeed

CaptainCrunch · 05-10-2009, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

good. only when organized religion is stamped out from our lives will we be a truly free society

Yeah, I think I read that in Stalin's diary somewhere.

Thor · 05-10-2009, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Yeah, I think I read that in Stalin's diary somewhere.

Seriously, your playing that card?

jar_e · 05-10-2009, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

i have nothing against personal belief. but when an organization tries to impose it's belief on others (aka almost all organized religions) they are trying to limit one's freedoms

the day that the church is no longer relevant is the day that we don't have to hear ridiculous crap like Alberta schools being required to inform parents if they teach evolution, or southern states providing abstinence only education causing a massive spike in teen pregnancy, or the vatican refusing to support condom usage, preferring millions die instead in Africa due to aids

the day that religion has no influence on our lives will be a very good day indeed

I made that comment somewhat tongue in cheek but I agree with you to a point. I am a strong believer in separation between Church and state but I'm also a strong believer that having an attitude like yours is almost as bad as the people your talking about. I see it all about choice...if you choose for religion, spirituality, etc. to influence you, so be it. If you don't, so be it. But anyone on either end (extreme religious type or extreme atheist type), stating that the other is wrong and that their way is the way is tiresome and seems hypocritical to me.

Atleast, that's the way I see it.

edit: I should clarify...I wasn't trying to make you out as an "extreme athiest type".

evman150 · 05-10-2009, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Yeah, I think I read that in Stalin's diary somewhere.

Just because Stalin did terrible things doesn't mean everything he did was terrible.

CaptainCrunch · 05-10-2009, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor

Seriously, your playing that card?

It was a quip and just about as disagreeable as the first statement. There should absolutely be a separation of church and state. Nut saying that the removal of organized religious freedom is a condition of a free society is silly.

HotHotHeat · 05-10-2009, 02:00 AM

Thank god.

CaptainCrunch · 05-10-2009, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evman150

Just because Stalin did terrible things doesn't mean everything he did was terrible.

Oh no, I'm totally onboard with mass slaughter, rule through fear, mass starvation and imprisonment. The murder of rivals, and the creation of a massive secret police apparatus.

From an ends justifies the means point of view Stalin bought Soviet citizens incredible freedoms, luxuries, security and justice.

Bagor · 05-10-2009, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Oh no, I'm totally onboard with mass slaughter, rule through fear, mass starvation and imprisonment. The murder of rivals, and the creation of a massive secret police apparatus.

The British Empire?

Thor · 05-10-2009, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

It was a quip and just about as disagreeable as the first statement. There should absolutely be a separation of church and state. Nut saying that the removal of organized religious freedom is a condition of a free society is silly.

I agree, religious freedom is as important as any freedom. Freedom of thought is so important, even if it includes racist Nazi's, Scientology, Mormons, etc..

To me ideas should be protected, but arguing and criticizing them is equally important, thus the reason we need to fight against the resolution in the UN that tries to stifle religious criticism.

photon · 05-10-2009, 08:11 AM

A few people I know who are deeply religious are even eschewing the traditional church institution and trappings and doing things differently, meeting in homes and just being a social group of friends.

Nehkara · 05-10-2009, 08:24 AM

I'm glad to hear this.

Rathji · 05-10-2009, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

good. only when organized religion is stamped out from our lives will we be a truly free society

Only when my freedom to belong to organized religion is eliminated, can society be truly free.

I understand you probably did not mean it in that way, but the way you said that has far worse implications than the effects of any "religion".

peter12 · 05-10-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

good. only when organized religion is stamped out from our lives will we be a truly free society

Cue ridiculously populist and millenarian cliche.

GGG · 05-10-2009, 10:03 AM

Well Jesus didn't even like organized religion so even he is probalby on board. In the bible he was very angry with the Pharisies and Saducies for abusing the religion he didn't like all of the dogmatic practices and he didn't like profiteering going on in the temple. I think that Jesus vision is much closer to people gathering together to celebrate god then any of the organized religions we have now.

tkflames · 05-10-2009, 10:12 AM

Meh, I am the first one to oppose organized religion, but the reality is, Humans are sheep. It is just a matter of who will step in to fill that void for a need to believe in something. For Hitler it was the Jews and being treated unfairly, for many extremists its American values, for the KKK its the Blacks, for many westerners it used to be the communists...etc.