41–50 of 1001 posts
first time in 80 years, anyway. for rather more of the 19th century than we think, regular church attendance was more like 35% of the country.
The spread of information has allowed people to form their own moralistic code and spiritual journey that doesn't rely on having an institutional infrastructure. They are choosing religions that reject elite priesthoods, a trend now going back for thousands of years starting with Zarathustra. I consider this progress.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
They are choosing religions that reject elite priesthoods [...] They choose no religion.
Religion is a way of life. You surely have one, it's just not very ritualistic.
There's a great discourse in one of Dan Brown's books about whether people leave religion because they have found better answers elsewhere, or because they have stopped asking the questions. Separately, I observed that that the areligious are much more likely to have few or no kids while the religious folks put a much greater emphasis on it. As the secular world moves towards a place where there's no pressure to marr…
2-3 more generations to go I suspect based on personal experience where it'll be less than 10%.
My grandparents were religious and my grandma prior to covid hadn't missed weekly service her whole life.
My parents were "partial" religious meaning they went to major events and still have an identity linked to their religion.
I grew up in a religious environment. Decided that belief and faith system wasn't for me in my teenage years and once on my own became an atheist.
My wife and I will raise our children without it being in a religious environment.
There's a great discourse in one of Dan Brown's books about whether people leave religion because they have found better answers elsewhere, or because they have stopped asking the questions. Separately, I observed that that the areligious are much more likely to have few or no kids while the religious folks put a much greater emphasis on it. As the secular world moves towards a place where there's no pressure to marr…
The answer is of course that children choose their own way and don't stay religious just because of their parents.
Frankly, growing up in the church left me with a broken moral code. It was only once I left it in my teens and had to work things out for myself that I feel like I could properly ground myself ethically. Having a moral system imposed on you can do that.
There's a great discourse in one of Dan Brown's books about whether people leave religion because they have found better answers elsewhere, or because they have stopped asking the questions. Separately, I observed that that the areligious are much more likely to have few or no kids while the religious folks put a much greater emphasis on it. As the secular world moves towards a place where there's no pressure to marr…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
They are choosing religions that reject elite priesthoods [...] They choose no religion.
Religion is a way of life. You surely have one, it's just not very ritualistic.
There's a great discourse in one of Dan Brown's books about whether people leave religion because they have found better answers elsewhere, or because they have stopped asking the questions. Separately, I observed that that the areligious are much more likely to have few or no kids while the religious folks put a much greater emphasis on it. As the secular world moves towards a place where there's no pressure to marr…
If you're reasonably 'rational' (but not especially religious) you're not going to look at those numbers and think procreation is compelling for the sake of keeping the tribe alive.
OTOH if you're thinking that your particular religion needs a numbers boost, then the imperative may feel differently.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ehhh Christian churches are some of the largest charitable donators in the world. Unless those taxes are going to the same places to help people I'd vote no. The government isn't going to spend it on things that help people and we know that.
Wouldn't it be similar to corporate tax? Tax profits, so that any existing donations would be tax deductible?
Not sure I really agree with taxing donations - I do think that it would cut down on how much churches bring in (as in people would be less likely to donate), and are able to distribute as a commenter above said.
Now, I do believe that all other related income should be taxed by churches, whereas I think only "unrelated" income is taxable now. So for example:
Church makes original christian music and makes income from spotify (or other sources)
Church records their services and puts them on youtube (and monitizes them)
Church rents out building for weddings or other events.
etc
(some of these may or may not be currently taxable, I am not an expert but my quick search seems to think they may not be)