While both President Obama and his Republicans challengers continue to engage in faith-based politics, a recent poll shows Americans faith in organized religion at an all-time low. Nevertheless, attacks on atheists and agnostics and secularists appear at an all-time high in the West (here and here).
Ironically, while confidence in our politicians are also at an all time low, they have reached out to churches to help push the faithful to the polls.
The new Gallup poll shows only 44 percent of people expressing a “great deal” of confidence in organized religion — down from the 1970s when 68 percent of Americans had a high degree of confidence.
Not surprisingly, Catholics show the sharpest decline. Yet other polls still show atheists trusted as much as rapists. Recent scandals appear to have lowered the respect and trust of religion just as those numbers are failing for political institutions.
We have also seen a decline in actual faith figures around the world with rising numbers of atheists and agnostics.
Source: MSNBC
I hate to be picky, but it is GALLUP, as you have in the text, not GALLOP as you have in the title. Do not trust polls or spell checkers. If however you want to contract for a inexpensive poll, Andy Gallup’s Opinion is available and there is no margin of error.
Thank Dog!
Sadly I expect many of those who have lost faith in organized religions are praying for it to be restored. >.<
The reemergence of Enlightenment? One can hope.
This poll may be right. In desperation “religious”
Leaders who have lost the trust of their followers are looking to government to enforce their religious beliefs through laws that are nothing less than the establishment of religion and because their members no longer want to fund their excesses they are grabbing every cent of tax dollars they can while flaunting the law. It is time for the rest of us to say no more.
Organized religion another name for entitlements……not necessarily enlightenment……
It could stand to fall further such that magic-thinking is no longer thrust upon our shared public policy.
I have always advocated that they get rid of their organs.
I have noticed that “faith” has been transferred from religious institutions to political parties, with all that faith entails. It makes sense that Obamney would be courting their voters in this manner.
I don’t remember people letting political institutions dictate their morality in the way I see now. Political candidates are using the language and trappings of religion not just to gain religious followers but, IMO, to replace religion with their own cults of personality. It is working.
In history, we have seen this conversion of religion into the cult of a leader many times. It has always been a disaster. Emperors ended up with their own religious cults in Rome. I see this is what is happening in the US. It is scary.
I am an atheist (Wow, we have advanced from “cannibal” to “rapist,” way to go guys!!!)
Personally what I think is that religion gives people comfort and trust that there is order and ultimately justice in the world. Never mind if it is false or full of laughably illogical contradictions or that there is overwhelming evidence of that. For many people it is too comforting to believe in the magic and too terrifying to reject it.
Rejecting organized religion is what we should expect from being bathed in news from around the world every waking minute.
I believe that will create some converts to agnosticism and atheism, and allow some people inclined toward disbelief the freedom to declare themselves, but for the most part I think the magic is just too alluring, and if organized religion is just a phase humanity went through, humanity will re-embrace disorganized religion and the general tolerance of the early Romans (they let subjects speak, believe and practice as they pleased, but if they acted or spoke against the State they were summarily executed).
Religion is mythology. It is basically a social institution for people who need a crutch. I’m agnostic. And speaking against the State is your God given right, as long as you don’t say anything threatening.
“I’m agnostic. And speaking against the State is your God given right” (Matt Johnston)
Protagoras, is that you?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protagoras
Blouise, I’m not a philosopher. Figure it out for yourself.
You spelled my name wrong in your last post.
Matt Johnson,
My sincere apologies for the typo in spelling your name … and for assuming you had a sense of humor. An agnostic invoking the name of God is sooo Protagoras. But never mind … my error on both counts.
I am anti-organ.
Blouise,
I don’t even know who Protagoras is. Do appreciate your apology for spelling my name wrong. At the end.
With regard to my sense of humor, where is yours?
I just heard lightning in Wisconsin. Right now. I think the rains are coming.
“With regard to my sense of humor, where is yours?” (Matt Johnson)
Geeze … I thought I had explained that when I wrote “An agnostic invoking the name of God is sooo Protagoras.” (sigh), Oh well, I guess you had to be there …
Blouise,
There is still lightning. And now there’s rain.
The rain seems to have been temporary. It isn’t raining anymore. But there is still lightning.
Rain is funny that way, it is always temporary. Thanks for the weather reports from an undisclosed location, I am sure there are people out there that like to be notified if it is raining somewhere in the world.
On the Eighth Day the Lord created Dog– to be of assist and give guidance to mankind. After that God quit ruling, went off to nirvana and let Dog run things on earth. If you have a question that is really bothering you go see Fido. Things will get better. Ya gotta have Faith– in Dog.
Tony C.
Presently, the rain has stopped but just heard a big lightning flash. Will keep you informed.
It’s cloudy, but no rain. Just lightning.
And The Willard is not off the hook for what he did to his dog. He will have a lot of answering to do when he gets to the Pearly Gates and my bet is that he will be travelling in a crate to his next destination.
Now there’s light rain, and the wind is picking up.
The rain stopped, but the mild wind didn’t. You can still hear thunder rumbles. Sometimes it blows over.
Now we’re getting more rain.
It’s coming down pretty good. Depends on how long it lasts.
Okay, the rain stopped, but the wind is still blowing.
Now the birds are singing, so maybe the storms over.
Wind’s picking up and it’s raining again. Raining really good.
The rain stopped and the wind slowed down a bit, but the birds aren’t chirping.
Now the birds are chirping. Light rain.
Storm front seems to be going south. Clear skies to the north.
Reblogged this on Glory to man in the highest.
Quand il est converti, un cannibale, le vendredi, ne mange que des pêcheurs
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/13/12723230-virgin-mary-image-on-tree-in-new-jersey-crowds-say-yes?lite
Très drôle, Jérôme.
But I think cannibal jokes are really funny to begin with so you can’t go by me.
Gene H.,
Merci, mon bon monsieur.
:-* :{ }:
Shame this petered out so early.
A morning (for me) read of rain reports from over Wisconsin is always interesting. Is my suspicion correct that all the cold fronts which are converted into storms, tornadoes and other excesses cross the border in Wisconsin?
And a prolonged vigorous discussion on humor and philosophy between Matt Johns(t)on and Blouise would have been cool. Being a friend (still?) of Blouise I would side with her. But believe his obvious (to me) joke:
“I’m agnostic. And speaking against the State is your God given right, as long as you don’t say anything threatening.” can be deeply humourous.
He refers to the obvious uselessness in basing your rights on God, when addressing the state particularly if it feels threatened, is my interpretation. And in keeping with his agnosticism. Not that I encourage fights, but two obviously astute and adult persons who can keep it within the bounds of civility is cool on occasion.
Also enjoyed Blouise’s: “Guess you had to be there.” It may sound “Made in America” but is a universal human reflection, which even an ex-pat can understand.
Maybe I can use it by saying about Jesus; “you just had to be there”
God? Why should he craate us, be concerned with us, or do we inhabit a special place in the universe and in his attention? Question of faith, and your willingness to realize we are all symbionts on the same planet. And we are EFFing it up, very quickly. If it is the gift we received to be lord over, then we sure are doing poorly.
Right now I’m replacing God with survival of life. Seems a better and more plahet-wide guide than any churchly (in wider meaning) utterances.
ID707,
A morning (for me) read of rain reports from over Wisconsin is always interesting. Is my suspicion correct that all the cold fronts which are converted into storms, tornadoes and other excesses cross the border in Wisconsin?
=========
Turns out it wasn’t much of a storm. They’re predicting more later.
================
And a prolonged vigorous discussion on humor and philosophy between Matt Johns(t)on and Blouise would have been cool. Being a friend (still?) of Blouise I would side with her. But believe his obvious (to me) joke:
“I’m agnostic. And speaking against the State is your God given right, as long as you don’t say anything threatening.” can be deeply humourous.
==================
I’m not qualified to discuss philosophy. No doubt you are.
Thankfully, these are the final remaining gasps of a failed system of beliefs. May the Human spirit finally prevail………….
Hi, thanks for sharing.
What kind of furniture are you? What does philosophize mean?