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The U.S. Is Retreating from Religion

blogs.scientificamerican.com

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Re: The U.S. Is Retreating from Religion

#91

Post by astura »

Well... Maybe. You have to keep in mind, at least in my experience, people who answer "none" still often have strong religious beliefs. They don't go to church/temple or identity as religious or know the rules or ceremonies but hold beliefs of whatever aspects of religion that personally appeal to them. My dad is one of them. When asked his religion he'll say "none" but he believes in God, spirits, and prays.

So this may be just a gradual move from organized religion to unorganized religion rather than a move from religion to non-religion.

(Hell, even the people who are part of an organized religion do that sometimes. I have a Catholic friend who believes in reincarnation. I guess that's how you get new religions.)

Re: The U.S. Is Retreating from Religion

#92

Post by fourfaces »

Old_Thrashbarg wrote: post #22
fourfaces wrote: post #4

Materialism, theism and atheism are all religions.

I'm not sure what the intention of choosing to define "religion" so as to include atheism, but it might be more productive to directly state what you are getting at. When I google "religion", I get: "the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods." It reminds me of when a friend once said, "World War II just happened", and I said, "Me tying my shoe just happened, World…

"When I google "religion", I get: "the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.""

Modern atheists came up with that definition. The fact is that opposites are of the same nature. Theism and its opposite, atheism, are both belief systems. Neither of them is scientific. At least, not yet.

Re: The U.S. Is Retreating from Religion

#94

Post by fourfaces »

Tenobrus wrote: post #26
fourfaces wrote: post #4

Materialism, theism and atheism are all religions.

You're using the fact that all are ideologies to attempt to smuggle in the connotations we have with "religion" and apply those to atheism and materialism. Examine those connotations directly and you'll see they don't sensically apply. For example: religion requires faith without evidence, materialism and atheism do not. Almost all religions make demands on the actions of their adherents, atheism almost by definition…

" religion requires faith without evidence, materialism and atheism do not."

This is dogma preached by materialists, of course. The fact is that opposites are of the same nature. Theism and its opposite, atheism, are both belief systems. Neither of them is scientific. Vociferous denials notwithstanding.

Re: The U.S. Is Retreating from Religion

#95

Post by dukoid »

rwcarlsen wrote: post #25

I just wanted to come here and show some respect for religious communities that work very hard to help people and the world become a better place. On hacker news, I would hope we can be rational and respectful about beliefs that are important to (many real and good) people. There are many religious people/beliefs that I agree with - and many I disagree with - we can discuss that like adults. But sarcastic, unkind rem…

People can do good without attached irrationality. In particular, I think no kid should be forced to take part in any of this. I found it greatly disturbing as a kid that adult people / school teachers who should know better and / or should serve as role models would present irrational activities like praying as if they were perfectly normal. Do what you want, but please keep people like me out of it until they are old enough to decide for themselves. If your cult doesn't respect this: sorry, it's certainly not making the world a "better place" for me.

Re: The U.S. Is Retreating from Religion

#97

Post by fourfaces »

phailhaus wrote: post #9
fourfaces wrote: post #4

Materialism, theism and atheism are all religions.

a-theism literally means "lack of belief". Bald is not a hair color.

"a-theism literally means "lack of belief""

This is nonsense, of course. It shows a definite predilection among atheists to deceive themselves and others. Atheism is definitely a belief. But go ahead and believe otherwise, if you know what I mean.

Re: The U.S. Is Retreating from Religion

#98

Post by poulsbohemian »

poulsbohemian wrote: post #2

Thank God.

I made this ironic remark flippantly, but in all seriousness, regardless of one's personal opinion on religion, it has provided social structures and conventions that secular society has struggled to duplicate. Case in point, the Pope made the statement last year that loneliness and isolation are one of the greatest challenges facing society today. Even as an atheist, I agree with him - for example, this article about basement dweller type men (you know who you are): https://hazlitt.net/longreads/legion-lonely. Point being, once upon a time, places of worship provided community that has begun to fade. Certainly government continues to look to places of worship as a partner in solving hunger and homelessness, both of which are problems that neither the religious nor secular worlds seem able to fully combat.

Re: The U.S. Is Retreating from Religion

#99

Post by ceejayoz »

the-dude wrote: post #52
ceejayoz wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it's a complete lack of hair. Nudity is not a set of clothing.

See my other reply too, but let me ask : would you call Steve Ballmer bald or not?

I'd call him mostly bald.

He's welcome to style what hair he has left.

Re: The U.S. Is Retreating from Religion

#100

Post by dragonwriter »

arconis987 wrote: post #38

I wonder what kinds of communities will replace religious communities. I worry that people may tie their identities to political tribes more and more. What communities provide a healthy sense of identity and belonging that are not religious or political?

> I wonder what kinds of communities will replace religious communities.

Why do you assume that there will be a replacement? Could not community be declining as well?

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