Has anyone else noticed that most of the world is run based on a non-theistic worldview? We develop and refine treatments for diseases based on the knowledge that they are mutating, evolving organisms. We study geology and search for oil using principles predicated on the earth being billions of years old, not thousands. We study with great interest the artifacts and writings of cultures that were thriving thousands of years ago, at a time when they were supposedly being completely wiped out during a worldwide Deluge. Though we hear time and again how the vast majority of human species holds some form or other of religious belief, the engine that powers the world and moves it forward runs on science, skepticism, and a complete disregard for the self-proclaimed "truths" of scripture.
2006-09-28 08:22:19 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
And even among those who pay lip service to those religions, a shockingly large number of them blatantly disregard any principle or teaching that is too inconvenient or makes them uncomfortable -- see the article below to see how nearly half of believers think that even atheists get to go to heaven if they've been good, that those who don't accept Jesus still won't go to hell, and so on:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_poll3.htm
Are we really much closer to a naturalist, freethinking society than the theists would care to admit? Is this indifference to the teachings of scripture a sign that man is nearly ready to give up the fiction of religion once and for all? Why do we as a society continue to humor these people and "play along" with their nonsense -- like the TV news anchor on Christmas Eve, reporting how satellites are tracking Santa Claus's movements across America (with a sly nod and a wink to the parents)?
2006-09-28 08:22:29 · update #1
What you're saying has given me hope. I thank you for that.
Perhaps all the christian backlash we see (I don't mean out here, I mean groups like those nutty baptists who protest funerals, and other things like that) are merely the death throes of an entity that knows its death is a sure thing.
I love that phrase - death throes. So dramatic! So I thank you again for giving me reason to use it.
lol at "satanic science." Thanks for that too!
2006-09-28 08:32:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Sure, we're getting closer to a freethinking secular society. We're getting closer by perhaps 1% a year. But Conservative Christianity isn't dying, it's thriving. If you think that America is polarized when it comes to politics, they're even more polarized on religious issues. I don't know whether to be happy or disappointed when I see Christians bashing other Christians. It's pretty much a regional issue. The Northern and Pacific states will probably catch up to Europe in 50 years but the Southern and midwestern states won't reach that level for more than a hundred years. If you're talking about the world in general, though, I would say that religion could still be prominent in many places 500 years from now.
2006-09-28 17:34:50 · answer #2 · answered by Shaqfan11 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doubtful. You're right, society has made a lot of progress, but I mean, look at this country. The Intelligent Design vs. evolution debate is still actually being argued! According to polls I've heard, over half of the country still doesn't believe in evolution, and supports Intelligent Design being taught in science class either in place of or alongside evolutionary theory. We're not going to get anywhere until we can convince this country that evolution isn't some evil Darwinian plot to discredit the church and promote Satanism or something... because that's actually what a lot of people think right now.
Christianity is such a powerful force in the United States and I highly doubt that will change anytime soon. I know your question asked about the world, not just America, but I'm just saying.
2006-09-28 15:28:55 · answer #3 · answered by . 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yep. Humans are evolving past the need for superstitious beliefs. Many of us no longer need or want the crutch of religion. We are learning that our survival depends upon our ability to think instead of "leaps of faith".
What is most interesting to me is that we move through each sign of the zodiac for 2000 yrs. The last 2000 we were in Pisces - the sign of the FISH! (Is that why they put them on their cars?) But now we are rapidly heading into the age of Aquarius! Hooray! Aquarius is intellect, lack of fear, independence and experimentation. Aquarius is like Missouri...a show me state. We are rapidly moving away from the values of the Pisces, which are religion, belief, superstition, myths, dependence and emotionally controlled mindsets. Interesting. I don't really subscribe to astrology...but it's very interesting.
2006-09-28 15:33:41 · answer #4 · answered by Medusa 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes and with all of our knowledge and science we are destroying the earth at an ever increasing rate to the point where nature will bite us hard for being so intelligent. Our political systems have brought us to the brink of nuclear war which will be pure science at its worst. We are so cleaver that we have worked our way into a position that only God will be able to save us from. Wake up and smell the rot of humanity.
2006-09-28 15:29:55 · answer #5 · answered by Perry L 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Hopefully yes. It is only the knowingly hypocritical who claim to believe in both the validity of holy books and the science that disproves them.
2006-09-28 15:31:48 · answer #6 · answered by reverenceofme 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are exactly right. The atheists are using their science to tempt people away from god. To many people have rejected Jesus because of the apparent success of satanic science. In the bible god tells us that he destroyed the Tower of Babel because men tried to think to much. All christians should reject the evils of science and return to the way Jesus lived. We should reject atheistic medicine which is based on satanic evolution theory. We need to go back to prayer and sacrifice to Jesus.
2006-09-28 15:31:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Oh yeah, I'm sure the current crop of nay-sayers will be much more successful than ALL the others who have come before them...
2006-09-28 15:27:08 · answer #8 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I say its going to take another 100 to 200 years..unless its proved sooner...but in the grand sceme..a few hundred years is not that long...as long as parents keep teaching their children this stuff there will always be drones to believe it
2006-09-28 15:25:59 · answer #9 · answered by nicole 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No actually this world is the Alamo of the atheist (naturalists are atheists too).
2006-09-28 15:28:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋