| Paul I |
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| 07/28/12 03:30 PM |
Changes in Religion in the US
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Interesting and surprising info:
http://www.npr.org/2012/07/28/157538238/...ft=1&f=1001
| paradocs |
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| 08/01/12 11:38 AM |
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Re: Changes in Religion in the US
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I wonder if the "religious right" is psychologically capable of dealing with the concept that theology actually EVOLVES .
| Paulwa_dup1 |
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| 08/02/12 09:38 PM |
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Re: Changes in Religion in the US
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To me when theology (at least fundamentalism theology from the bible) then that equates to evolution in context and is false to me. I am not angered by changes in theology but I know in what I believe and would never follow these changes. God never changes and neither does His word, they are eternal and can always be trusted as the ultimate truth.
Paul
| Deo |
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| 08/02/12 10:09 PM |
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Re: Changes in Religion in the US
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Everything evolves. Your present conclusions about god and religion evolved from a lifetime of experience. It would never exactly be the same another person. Did you have these exact beliefs decades ago?
Deo
| starlight.2 |
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| 08/03/12 03:23 PM |
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Re: Changes in Religion in the US
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Originally Posted By: Paul I
nonreligious numbers have doubled. YATAH!
| Paulwa_dup1 |
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| 08/03/12 03:45 PM |
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Re: Changes in Religion in the US
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Deo, my core beliefs as written in the bible have never changed my entire life. My knowledge on some matters not stated plainly may change if I have not understood the points exactly. The Gospel portion spoken by Jesus has never changed.
That is one of the beauties of God, He never changes, by His own word He has told us.
Paul
| Deo |
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| 08/03/12 11:34 PM |
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Re: Changes in Religion in the US
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Well stated Paul. Is that an admission that beliefs or perceptions change with new knowledge, evidence or experience.
I am an atheist and like the gospel portions as spoken by Jesus. Can't say the same about the rest of the books.
Deo
| Paulwa_dup1 |
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| 08/04/12 04:41 PM |
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Re: Changes in Religion in the US
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Other than what I have stated I do agree with you. I have just finished hand printing all the words of Jesus in a notebook and to whom those words were spoken too. 115 pages over the last few months. It was an excellent bible study.
Perhaps you are more agnostic than atheist.
Paul
| kan5a5 |
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| 08/06/12 07:17 AM |
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Re: Changes in Religion in the US
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as i've said a bunch of times, having grown up in a very conservative evangelical church, much of what i was taught about Revelation involved an apocalyptic clash between the United States (Godland) and the USSR (Godlessland), divorce and women's lib were both preached about as if they'd ruin this country. now there is not an evangelical church that would reference the Soviet Union in their interpretation of Revelation and whether they'd have a woman preacher or not, there is not an evangelical church that would not welcome a family that included a female doctor or CEO (especially her cash) married to a house-husband. later conservative churches refused to respond to the global AIDS crisis because they thought anyone infected deserved it.
"Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone's lifestyle, you must fear them or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don't have to compromise convictions to be compassionate" R Warren
quotes like the one above, encouraging less hateful discourse among christians, would not have been employed during the rise of the politically motivated religious right.
i think many christians would claim, like paul, that their 'core beliefs' have never wavered, but if how you perceive, discuss, and implement them relative to others has evolved, what difference does it make?
all denominations and schisms within christianity were essentially formed out of a desire to be superior in their interpretation or implementation of beliefs compared to other churches. now non-denominational churches welcoming members from any denomination are the big thing. predestination, eternal security, and a firm eshatological timeline figured into the divisions between christians camps. now, you'd be lucky to have a church member under 35 who has an informed theological view of any of those topics.
even now, evangelicals are backing away from public debates over evolution, creation, intelligent design, and the age of the earth. it is becoming less important.
so again, if everything about your religion can evolve except your 'core beliefs,' what does that really even mean?
| Paulwa_dup1 |
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| 08/06/12 05:45 PM |
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Re: Changes in Religion in the US
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I think the core beliefs are pretty much set in stone but there is much scriptures that are maybe not so iron clad and can only be truly understood by maturity as a believer. There are many christians (I deal with this subject because I am a christian and not of other religions) who see the scriptures in a harsher view as compared to those who take Gods love into account and sees those scriptures in a more mild view. It all leaves God as judge. For those who have veered away from a God path of truth there will be judgement. I think the only time Jesus became angry and physical was with the moneychangers at the temple where he actually became angry and physical towards them and did not sin. There will be huge numbers of finger wagging christians who will fall to their knees before the court of God one day to receive their punishment or perhaps lack of reward. Christians could do well to remember Jesus chose to associate with sinners during His time on earth because they needed His love and knowledge more than those who were following God's laws as best as they could.
God is Light, Truth and Love because He created us and knows we need His salvation to escape satan and sin and seperation from God.
Paul