Posted on 07/01/2018 11:26:40 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Religiously unaffiliated Americans are, unsurprisingly, less likely than their Christian countrymen to attend church regularly or say religion is important in their lives. However, on several common measures, “nones” in the United States exhibit nearly equal levels of spirituality as self-identifying Christians in Western Europe.
A new study by the Pew Research Center, surveying more than 24,000 individuals across 15 countries in Western Europe on their religious beliefs and practices, reveal striking disconnects between Western Christians across the Atlantic.
Equally striking is how similarly religious nones in the United States and Christians in Western Europe match up:
* Only 27 percent of American nones say they believe in God with absolute certainty; only 23 percent of Western European Christians say the same.
* Only 13 percent of American nones say religion is “very important” in their lives; only 14 percent of Western European Christians say the same.
* Only 20 percent of American nones say they pray daily; only 18 percent of Western European Christians say the same.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianitytoday.com ...
Christians in name only. M*slims are moving in to those countries, and will soon show the world what practicing their religion means!
That’s pretty funny. An American atheist
has about as much religion as a Euro Christian.
Perhaps we may consider Schweitzer's words, "He comes to us. . . . ," and come to recognize how "He" reveals Himself in our "toils, conflicts and sufferings," is not necessarily a fact obvious to organized religion's church rolls and records, but manifests itself human heart to human heart.
I was born and raised hardcore Catholic. Took years to get the courage to toss it all away. I am no longer Christian at all, and have little use for organized religion of any flavor.
I am absolutely certain of God, 100%, and pray often each day. And I pray only for knowledge of god’s will for me, and the courage and strength to carry it out.
And it works!!! Never been happier or more serene. And definitely a better person. I walk with confidence that what god wants me to do will be revealed, on god’s time, not mine.
I don’t need or want someone else’s spin. God guides me directly, if I’m open and let it. Mother Theresa’s 15 rules of humility are on my fridge. That’s my day-to-day guide.
Self appointed translators who put themselves between people and god are always suspect. To me, anyway. Not needed.
The study is speaking of American "Nones", who are those without a religious affiliation. Atheists are merely a subset of the Nones.
You need to read your Bible, brother. Especially the words of Jesus.
77% of European “Christians” do not believe in God???
Sorry man. I just don’t believe it.
The Bible predicted a falling away in the last days. It’s starting.
Agreed. God is God. He is what he is regardless of human opinion. Religion is what humans, who can no more understand God than an ant can understand a human, say about God as seen though their cultural bias. I believe in God. Religions are at best only partly right.
There are tons of people from Roman Catholicism and the more mainstream Protestant denominations that do not practice any type of Christianity other than seeing it as some cultural heritage that they somehow share in. The protestant churches that are most liberal as Episcopalian, Methodist and some Presbyterians. Baptist and Pentecostal churches still preach a biblical message and attract genuine believers and they have seen some growth at the expense of the bigger denominations. Our countries are in a bad state however.
I think education has a massive influence. Kids are being indoctrinated into secularism in secondary school and in college. Belief in evolution has had a huge impact in persuading many that they don’t have to believe in God. We need to work harder and have more effective apologetics. As Jesus said, “The night comes when no man can work”. Once a society rejects God and His truth, judgement must follow.
Started in the 1960s.
What don’t you believe? Would you believe that all of the disciples died a horrific death while following a charlatan like say, Jim Jones or David Koresh? They were with him during his brief ministry and knew he was the Messiah. All they had to do was reject him and the Romans, Greeks, and others who had captured them would have let them go. Instead, they were beheaded, stoned, and themselves crucified. Would you go through with that if you thought it was all a fake? As for me, I refuse to think that they all had been brainwashed. Keep searching. As it says in 2 Peter, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
For me, it’s not that I don’t believe all of it. I believe some of it. I just don’t believe the resurection stuff, or the virgin, descending into hell, and lots more. I don’t believe in heaven, where we get our bodies back, or hell, where there is eternal burning lol. Ultimate carrot and stick. All that stuff was drilled into my head in catholic school and sunday school, etc. The whole programming program.
Now I’m former, outside the bubble, and to me it looks like 30% historical truth, and 70% bs. But very effective for keeping people in church, supporting. I was one.
It’s like escaping scientology, to me.
Good post.
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