Current Events > U.S. church membership down sharply in past 2 decades

(+) Yeah! (+)

when i signed up for church membership i filled out a massive google forms online packet that included essay answers, biblical trivia, a text-based lecture on how even if we don't believe in calvinism we have to pretend we do, and a waiver that we had to sign off on agreeing that we cannot sue them

the following year or two of my life was a miserable, miserable adventure

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LinkScorbunny posted...

People will turn their nose up at you if you said I need more proof

or or they will invite you to their church

you should come to mine

we have ave church on Sunday, Sunday school for age groups and types of people, then we go to a nice lunch

there is also worship once a week at night if you are music fan

we have small group on Wednesday for young men at someones house

lol

a simple "nah" is sufficient.

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BruceWayneJr posted...

Thank God!

I see what you did there

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I made the mistake of telling this one dude at work that I wasn't religious even though I attended a famous Catholic school after he asked about it, and then he spent the next 30 minutes trying to convert me using some argument based on entropy. Something along the lines of "how did something happen out of nothing". I couldn't argue his point, mostly because I didn't give enough of a shit about religion to arm myself for any random encounters with a fundie, and just let him ramble. The most suspicious thing though during that whole exchange was that he claimed he found Christ after surviving a car accident decades ago.

End result of that conversation is that my opinion didn't change at all and now I actively avoid his section of the building

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man

church membership was 70% when i signed up for gamefaqs

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I mean isnt it obvious all religions are basically BS. Like god said to Abraham blah blah, like wtf this is some fairy tale nonsense basically that people worship lol

A lot of angry atheists and satanists out there

Which is scary given how much power christianity still has today. They are shrinking in numbers yet control one of the USA's two political parties.

And not even a majority of Christianity has that power, just the more extreme version. A minority of what will soon be a minority.

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I don't care if someone is an atheist, that's on them.

It's the arrogant "lmao you believe in sky daddy fairy tales" atheists who are annoying.

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There are Atheists who give all of them a bad name just like there are Christians that give all a bad name.

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I wish the church would give me back the piece of tooth that they got me to cut out of anxiety

also kool sig, I actually just gave a presentation that cited occam's razor

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Awesome posted...

A lot of angry atheists and satanists out there

They get shunned b society

most real people belong to a religious group

also their family WILL be ashamed, remember its 100% their business

Sweet.

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Im also
assuming all of the anti-religion people dont celebrate Christmas/Hanukkah, Easter, Ramadan, valentine day etc

LinkScorbunny posted...

Im also
assuming all of the anti-religion people dont celebrate Christmas/Hanukkah, Easter, Ramadan, valentine day etc

Few of those aren't religious and are pagan, not sure what your point is

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Hypocrites celebrate religious holidays and are not religious

which makes me wonder how their parents think of

and do they think theyll go to heaven or hell

do you guys even pray? Why not?

Ill keep you in my thoughts and prayers, like I currently do for victims of racial abuse and COVID hit areas

Good riddance.

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Correct me if Im wrong, but isnt going to church optional for Christians? I thought that was one of the things separating it from Catholicism

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this is very troubling news

the people need to worship because if they dont it can turn into an apocalypse


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Ermac posted...

Correct me if Im wrong, but isnt going to church optional for Christians? I thought that was one of the things separating it from Catholicism

technically speaking yes, though pastors have diatribes prepared in response to the notion

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Religion is evil

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MacadamianNut3 posted...

The most suspicious thing though during that whole exchange was that he claimed he found Christ after surviving a car accident decades ago.

I always question these things. Wouldnt God just... not have you get in the accident?

I feel having a moment of realization is better suited for near disasters. Not disasters that could be worse.

Whoa, my car got totaled! And my back might need physical therapy for a bit. But Im alive! God does exist!

I dunno. Rubs me the wrong way.

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Zanzenburger posted...

I've always felt religion (and spirituality in general) tends to be a more personal thing. If your only reason for being religious is because you were raised that way, it won't last the moment you are hit with doubt or a conflicting viewpoint.

The most consistently-religious people are those who chose it due to life circumstances, either because they have lived a tough life and are looking for a light, or have experienced some major moments of positive experiences that strengthens their faith. Personally, I fall into the latter of the two, but I can understand why people aren't religious/spiritual. I've gone through periods of doubt myself, but it's led me my own version of faith and spirituality, not the ones my parents raised me with.

Yeah, I'm the same way. I'm a Christian because of things that happened throughout my life that lead me to Christ. So good, some not so good.

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Northlane posted...

Religion is evil

May the grace of Apris be with you.

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I just don't care about religion, do what you want but leave me alone.

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It's outlived its usefulness for the most part, which was explaining things we didnt have a answer to for thousands of years. I remember watching a documentary way back in HS about the scientific creation of earth.

Then my teaching telling me god created it which didnt make a lick of sense and left me with numerous questions I probabaly wasnt supposed to ponder.

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Prismsblade posted...

It's outlived its usefulness for the most part, which was explaining things we didnt have a answer to for thousands of years. I remember watching a documentary way back in HS about the scientific creation of earth.

Then my teaching telling me god created it which didnt make a lick of sense and left me with numerous questions I probabaly wasnt supposed to ponder.

When I went to a catholic school, I got in trouble once for questioning how/if Noah managed to get bugs on his boat lol


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Y'all motherfuckers need Odin.

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what do you call when Batman skips church?
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ReDaZnDraGoN97 posted...

Of course. Religion is seen as a joke... which is sad

nah organized religion is seen as a joke. People are very spiritual, arguably even more so than theyve ever been.

On topic: theres been a real shift in secularism as a society which is why Christians feel so persecuted but the reality is that while thats occurring a lot of people are more in touch with nature, space, meditation and all that. Its a better balance imo and the only people who are really mad about it are the ones losing money. That and the zealots.

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I'm spiritual, not religious
I'm a Libra, if it matters

Shattered by an e-mail, your words will drift away
Castles in the sand, can only last one day

...

AND IT FEEEEELLLSSS LIKE SUMMMERRRRR
na na na na, na na na na, na naaaa

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I'm glad that religion is on the downturn but there is something to be said about how church would foster small town community spirit. I think there's a problem with nothing to replace it.

And no, sitting at home shitposting on the internet to people you don't like is not a replacement, lol

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some of the bible psalms remind me of slimfast testimonials, except they're people singing about god crushing their enemies

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DaveTheUseless posted...

when i signed up for church membership i filled out a massive google forms online packet that included essay answers, biblical trivia, a text-based lecture on how even if we don't believe in Calvinism we have to pretend we do, and a waiver that we had to sign off on agreeing that we cannot sue them

the following year or two of my life was a miserable, miserable adventure

Yeah, that's a huge red flag right there. >.>

it sure is

i did a dumb thing because 'these are my friends!!111'

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Religion especially in the West has been declining for many years now. I got no issue with that.

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Good

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UnholyMudcrab posted...

Good

I say that as a Christian myself

Underrated post.

As a Christian, I hate religion. God hates religion. Religion is trying to find God, when hes already found us. The end time church is mostly going to be built out of ironclad Christians who will get martyred for their beliefs, and not waver. God aint got time for 1 hour a week, maybe put some change in the offering bin, then go watch porn Christians.

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Seventh Day Adventism vs. eating a bucket of nails

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DaveTheUseless posted...

Seventh Day Adventism vs. eating a bucket of nails

Fun fact: Seventh day Adventists live longer than any other religion (and lack of religion), having less premature deaths and cancer, due to their emphasis on living healthy lifestyles such as no smoking and good eating habits.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/seventh-day-adventists-life-expectancy_n_5638098

It's the Seventh-day Adventists, who live an average of 10 years longer than the American life expectancy of about 79 years.

https://www.pcrm.org/news/health-nutrition/seventh-day-adventists-have-lower-risk-cancer-and-death

The authors attribute lower cancer risk, increased quality of life in later years, and benefits to other health outcomes in the AHS-2 group to lifestyle habits, including nonsmoking, exercise, and reduced consumption of meat and suggest these results may transfer to the general U.S. population by adopting similar habits.


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Many Mormons are friendly and well-mannered people who are taught values by their church that help them in their communications with others and their communities

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DaveTheUseless posted...

Many Mormons are friendly and well-mannered people who are taught values by their church that help them in their communications with others and their communities

AT face value, but the vast majority of those you mentioned harbor holier than though attitudes and secret resentment towards everyone else. Which still makes them terrible people in my opinion.

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But I wanna not drink soda and become a god of another planet :(

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Damn_Underscore posted...

I don't care if someone is an atheist, that's on them.

It's the arrogant "lmao you believe in sky daddy fairy tales" atheists who are annoying.

People will "feel sorry" for someone who doesn't have faith that a specific unseen god is real, and then unironically turn around and lament society's "feels over reals" mentality.

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Church is boring and dumb, why bother with it?

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I had a meeting with a fundamentalist pastor I used to know (associating with him was the biggest mistake of my life) who, with tears in his eyes, told me that he's scared for me

It was a real eye-opener

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