The Rise of the None’s

[+Sherapy]

@eight bitsThis is interesting as a twist has anyone heard of the None’s? 

“Let’s begin with a boring statistic: 8.1 percent. According to an American Religious Identification survey, that’s roughly how many Americans in 1990 were willing to identify themselves as having “no religious identification.” Fast-forward eighteen years to 2008 and that same ARIS study number becomes 15 percent. Give it four more years in the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life’s 2012 study it becomes 19.3 percent.  That’s one in five Americans. In other words, in a space of about 20 years, the number of Americans willing to claim no religious identity has doubled and there is no indication that trend is slowing down. This is the fastest-growing religious demographic in America. The statistics aren’t as boring anymore, now are they?

Apparently, “Nones” are on the rise. As the body commissioned to preach the gospel to and disciple all nations, the question becomes, “What is the church going to do about it?”

https://www.9marks.org/review/book-review-the-rise-of-the-nones-by-james-emery-white/

 

‘’Let’s discuss, explore, add to: all opinion’s are welcome. 

Edited October 1 by Sherapy

[cormac mac airt]

6 minutes ago, Sherapy said:

@eight bitsThis is interesting an twist has anyone heard of the None’s? 

“Let’s begin with a boring statistic: 8.1 percent. According to an American Religious Identification survey, that’s roughly how many Americans in 1990 were willing to identify themselves as having “no religious identification.” Fast-forward eighteen years to 2008 and that same ARIS study number becomes 15 percent. Give it four more years in the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life’s 2012 study it becomes 19.3 percent.  That’s one in five Americans. In other words, in a space of about 20 years, the number of Americans willing to claim no religious identity has doubled and there is no indication that trend is slowing down. This is the fastest-growing religious demographic in America. The statistics aren’t as boring anymore, now are they?

Apparently, “Nones” are on the rise. As the body commissioned to preach the gospel to and disciple all nations, the question becomes, “What is the church going to do about it?”

https://www.9marks.org/review/book-review-the-rise-of-the-nones-by-james-emery-white/

 

‘’Let’s discuss, explore, add to: all opinion’s are welcome. 

IMO the best thing the Church can do is accept it. As humanity essentially grows up and discovers the realities of life and existence for itself people will rely less and less on the superstitions of ancient nomadic shepherds and goat herders and more on their own expanding comprehension of reality. 
 

cormac

[+Sherapy]

2 minutes ago, cormac mac airt said:

IMO the best thing the Church can do is accept it. As humanity essentially grows up and discovers the realities of life and existence for itself people will rely less and less on the superstitions of ancient nomadic shepherds and goat herders and more on their own expanding comprehension of reality. 
 

cormac

Love this. 

[cormac mac airt]

1 minute ago, Sherapy said:

Love this. 

Thanks for the kind words. 
 

I foresee a failure to do what I suggested leading the Church, and therefore Christianity, to a point where they will no longer be recognized as what they started out as. Some of this can already be seen by the inclusion of evolution, genetics, celestial mechanics and many other disciplines into some beliefs/denominations where they either never existed before or weren’t recognized as true. Much like a tree in the midst of a tornado if it doesn’t bend it breaks. 
 

cormac

[+and-then]

Oh look... it's almost as if this condition was expected, even a couple of thousand years ago...

"I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

 

[+Sherapy]

20 minutes ago, cormac mac airt said:

Thanks for the kind words. 
 

I foresee a failure to do what I suggested leading the Church, and therefore Christianity, to a point where they will no longer be recognized as what they started out as. Some of this can already be seen by the inclusion of evolution, genetics, celestial mechanics and many other disciplines into some beliefs/denominations where they either never existed before or weren’t recognized as true. Much like a tree in the midst of a tornado if it doesn’t bend it breaks. 
 

cormac

Well said. 

[+Sherapy]

15 minutes ago, and-then said:

Oh look... it's almost as if this condition was expected, even a couple of thousand years ago...

"I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

 

Can you clarify this post. Thanks

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

18 minutes ago, and-then said:

Oh look... it's almost as if this condition was expected, even a couple of thousand years ago...

"I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

 

He might have faith … faith if the heart 

 

[+Hammerclaw]

I'd love to still go to church, if it wasn't for all of the religious people.... 

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

5 minutes ago, Hammerclaw said:

I'd love to still go to church, if it wasn't for all of the religious people.... 

Gandhi did once say “I like your Christ, your Christians on the other hand…”

[+Hammerclaw]

8 minutes ago, Sir Wearer of Hats said:

Gandhi did once say “I like your Christ, your Christians on the other hand…”

He also said, "I am a Hindu, a Christian, a Moslem and Jew," and then they shot him.

[Grim Reaper 6]

27 minutes ago, Sherapy said:

Can you clarify this post. Thanks

It's a quote from the Bible, unfortunately I don't know the exact paragraph and verse!!!!

[Grim Reaper 6]

28 minutes ago, Sir Wearer of Hats said:

He might have faith … faith if the heart 

 

[Grim Reaper 6]

1 hour ago, cormac mac airt said:

Thanks for the kind words. 
 

I foresee a failure to do what I suggested leading the Church, and therefore Christianity, to a point where they will no longer be recognized as what they started out as. Some of this can already be seen by the inclusion of evolution, genetics, celestial mechanics and many other disciplines into some beliefs/denominations where they either never existed before or weren’t recognized as true. Much like a tree in the midst of a tornado if it doesn’t bend it breaks. 
 

cormac

Hey Cormac hope all is well my friend! I certainly agree with you, over the last 30 years science has started to become the replacement for religious beliefs and practices. In the past easy access to information didn't exist, so people put their faith in the good book. However, today more and more religious beliefs can be explained away using scientific doctrine, this is why religious organizations are recognizing scientific doctrine now. It's a case of getting upon the bandwagon or slowly continuing to fade away!

Peace!

[cormac mac airt]

9 minutes ago, Grim Reaper 6 said:

Preceded by JEWS.IN.SPACE. 
 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sz7JGCj4Q5k

cormac

[eight bits]

26 minutes ago, Grim Reaper 6 said:

It's a quote from the Bible, unfortunately I don't know the exact paragraph and verse!!!!

Luke 18:8

One of the less popular parables:

18:1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray and not give up, 2 saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God and didn’t respect man.

3  A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’ 4  He wouldn’t for a while; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5  yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’ ”

6 The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says. 7Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them? 8  I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

==========

@Sherapy: Very cool thread.

The "rise of the nones" will be an opportunity to test one of Uncle Carl's ideas. Jung (son of a Swiss Reformed Church minister and almost became a theologian but fortunately chose medicine instead) thought that an important part of what a church provides is defense against direct "spiritual" experiences, which for many (most?) people would be overwhelming psychologically.

My understanding is that while many of the nones are simply secular, there is a portion who are "seekers." It might be interesting to see whether they return to organized churches after they find what thay seek, but find it different from what they expected.

 

Edited October 2 by eight bits

[Grim Reaper 6]

5 minutes ago, eight bits said:

Luke 18:8

One of the less popular parables:

18:1 He also spoke a parable to them that they must always pray and not give up, 2 saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God and didn’t respect man.

3  A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’ 4  He wouldn’t for a while; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5  yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’ ”

6 The Lord said, “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says. 7Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them? 8  I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Thanks for adding this, I knew it was a Bible verse unfortunately I have not picked up a bible in 50 years, so I had no idea which one. 

Thanks for the backup my friend!!!!

[Grim Reaper 6]

9 minutes ago, cormac mac airt said:

Preceded by JEWS.IN.SPACE. 
 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sz7JGCj4Q5k

cormac

Yep, I heard their mission was to find out if Space Jesus was really out there. Heaven knows they tried to solve this mystery very hard, however it turned out not to be Kosher!!!!!!!!

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

20 minutes ago, Grim Reaper 6 said:

Yep, I heard their mission was to find out if Space Jesus was really out there. Heaven knows they tried to solve this mystery very hard, however it turned out not to be Kosher!!!!!!!!

 

[Grim Reaper 6]

6 minutes ago, Sir Wearer of Hats said:

 

 

Edited October 2 by Grim Reaper 6

[tcgram]

Since I follow the teachings of Christ, the best I can do is love others, regardless of what/who they believe in.   I answer questions about my own relationship with God, if I can (I am not a biblical scholar by any stretch of the imagination), and simply live my life and try to be an example of Christ.   Excellent thread, @Sherapy

[Grim Reaper 6]

4 minutes ago, tcgram said:

Since I follow the teachings of Christ, the best I can do is love others, regardless of what/who they believe in.   I answer questions about my own relationship with God, if I can (I am not a biblical scholar by any stretch of the imagination), and simply live my life and try to be an example of Christ.   Excellent thread, @Sherapy

Thanks very much for sharing and that was beautifully said!!!

[Occupational Hubris]

None's unite! There are dozens of us! Dozens!

[+Sherapy]

40 minutes ago, Occupational Hubris said:

None's unite! There are dozens of us! Dozens!

Edited October 2 by Sherapy

[+Sherapy]

46 minutes ago, tcgram said:

Since I follow the teachings of Christ, the best I can do is love others, regardless of what/who they believe in.   I answer questions about my own relationship with God, if I can (I am not a biblical scholar by any stretch of the imagination), and simply live my life and try to be an example of Christ.   Excellent thread, @Sherapy

Thank you sweet lady, you are a beautiful person.