Gallup is reporting that religious affiliation in the US has dropped below 50% for the first time. What strikes me is how steep the drop has been in the past two decades.
Why do you think this is? I have felt for awhile that the erosion of the separation of church and state by Mormons and Evangelicals in particular has disillusioned a lot of people.
I guess it also depends on how you define religion. But I agree with you completely, if there is little difference between secular preaching and church preaching then, you know, pick your poison.
Separation of Church and State? How separate can they be when religious organizations and the properties they own are not taxed? When ministers, priests and rabbi's are paid to serve as chaplains in the armed services? I agree though, that the supposed "wall of separation" between church and state is crumbling at an unprecedented rate.
While it may be true that only 47% of adults profess membership in a religious organization, the percentage of members of congress professing faith is probably greater than 98%.
I think another thing that has contributed to this is the false belief that science and religion can’t co-exist. A topic that caused quite a conversation on here a little while ago.
I find it all very encouraging.
Slammy, Science and religion can only co-exist if you conveniently cherry pick from each. If that's working for you and your lot - good for you.
The rest of us ...
For centuries, the northern kingdom of Israel claimed that they were worshipping Jehovah even though most of their religion centered around things which were not in the law which God had given through Moses.
It was primarily because of their religion and other aspects of their lives that God sent the Assyrian Empire against them.
Counterfeit "Christianity" might as well fade away because those who follow after it are wasting their time anyway.
There were no supra-congregational organizations in the first century because God did not authorize them.
I hate it when people act like in order to be part of a certain faith you have to vote a certain way. Too often in Mormonism, there's pressure to vote Republican. I don't know if you caught Dallin H. Oaks' talk from this past conference, but he aggressively went after that very notion. That the church has no political affiliation and that members shouldn't be pressured to vote a certain way. We need to hear more of that.
