Atheism on the rise

Qingu · 03-08-2007, 06:56 PM

This article is kind of old, but I thought it was pretty interesting:

http://duggmirror.com/politics/Athei...ca_Increasing/

And maybe the following observations are old too, but:

Sam Harris' new book, Tthe End of Faith, sold half a million copies. His other book, Letter to a Christian Nation, and Dawkin's book, The God Delusion, are also best sellers.

Being an atheist myself, I haven't really kept up much on my fellow atheists' evangelism. But I watched Dawkins on Youtube and he was being interviewed about his book. He said that he had wanted to write it several years ago, but the publisher said it would never see the light of day. But after 6 years of Bush and 5 years of paying attention to Islam, Dawkins speculated that things in America have changed and many people are disillusioned about religion.

I think this is interesting because it could be the start of a trend similar to the one that left most of Europe secular/atheistic within just a generation.

Bryan · 03-09-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qingu

This article is kind of old, but I thought it was pretty interesting:

http://duggmirror.com/politics/Athei...ca_Increasing/

And maybe the following observations are old too, but:

Sam Harris' new book, Tthe End of Faith, sold half a million copies. His other book, Letter to a Christian Nation, and Dawkin's book, The God Delusion, are also best sellers.

Being an atheist myself, I haven't really kept up much on my fellow atheists' evangelism. But I watched Dawkins on Youtube and he was being interviewed about his book. He said that he had wanted to write it several years ago, but the publisher said it would never see the light of day. But after 6 years of Bush and 5 years of paying attention to Islam, Dawkins speculated that things in America have changed and many people are disillusioned about religion.

I think this is interesting because it could be the start of a trend similar to the one that left most of Europe secular/atheistic within just a generation.

why do they have a picture of a Vulcan in the article? are they trying to appeal to trekkies?

on a more serious note, maybe the good that comes out of this is that there will be fewer fake Christians filling our pews and we can then actually do something to help them. As it stands, fake Christians that come to church and sit in the pews aren't really a target of evangelism and so they get lost in the mix.

Qingu · 03-09-2007, 04:14 PM

Do you really think that would be a good thing for Christianity? Those "fake Christians" serve as a buffer zone that reinforces the legitimacy of your brand of Christianity among mainstream America.

How many "fake Christians" do you think there are? And what would happen to the power of Christianity in America, not to mention the economic power of individual churches to survive, if most of these people were convinced that it's not only logical but socially acceptable to give up the religion they were raised with?

jengoesup · 03-09-2007, 08:36 PM

That's scary...

**H.M. Murdock** · 03-09-2007, 09:38 PM

You can't make a pancake without kicking some ass.

Er...

At any rate, a loss of social, economic and political power in the church is not a "bad" thing, unless we define "good" as the basic pursuit of... social, economic and political power. It's hardly within the church's realm of general authority to actively pursue most of what those three things entail, and so it's no loss to the church- merely churches that depend on such things to get by.

jfahler03 · 03-11-2007, 08:33 PM

I'll side with Bryan and H.M. on this... I think that the only thing that the "fake" Christians (those who might believe... but not really know or care why) add to Christianity is numbers. And with numbers, Christianity has ruined a lot of things (read: presidential elections).

I'm now a proponent of religious pluralism (see my posts a few years ago, this wasn't always the case). As long as the world can move toward pluralism, I wouldn't mind being a minority of any sort.

Then again... maybe I'm trusting people way too much...

Lightknight · 03-11-2007, 10:25 PM

Cults typically have a hayday too every now and then.

Bryan · 03-11-2007, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qingu

Do you really think that would be a good thing for Christianity? Those "fake Christians" serve as a buffer zone that reinforces the legitimacy of your brand of Christianity among mainstream America.

How many "fake Christians" do you think there are? And what would happen to the power of Christianity in America, not to mention the economic power of individual churches to survive, if most of these people were convinced that it's not only logical but socially acceptable to give up the religion they were raised with?

quite frankly, I don't care about the power of Christianity in America. What I care about is that churches being closer to 100% real Christians, so that we know who is not truly saved and can evangelize more effectively. And I trust God enough that if the fake Christians left along with their money (even though they are probably the ones who give the least), then God would still provide enough for churches to operate.

Of course a church that was 100% pure in its membership will never happen, as there will be those to whom the Lord says, "Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness, for I never knew you."

Qingu · 03-11-2007, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lightknight

Cults typically have a hayday too every now and then.

Atheism is a cult? In what way?

Is this what you think is happening in Europe?

Lightknight · 03-11-2007, 10:44 PM

Unfortunately, the prosperity doctrine mess is shooting up which means a heck of a lot more funding for churches. I say unfortunately because it is a full-o-crap teaching that preys on the poor.

Lightknight · 03-11-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qingu

Atheism is a cult? In what way?

Is this what you think is happening in Europe?

I'm merely pointing out that even cults have moments where their membership is increasing. Why should atheism be any different?

Qingu · 03-11-2007, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lightknight

I'm merely pointing out that even cults have moments where their membership is increasing. Why should atheism be any different?

Because it's not a cult?

And Christianity was a "cult" at one point. I just don't see what the point of your statement was. Are you trying to say that atheism is going to be like a passing fad? If so, support your assertion?

Lightknight · 03-11-2007, 10:52 PM

Whatever, Athiesm is wrong. Fanboy-it all you want, my point stands.

Qingu · 03-11-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lightknight

Whatever, Athiesm is wrong. Fanboy-it all you want, my point stands.

no ur wrong

jesus fanboy

Look, I didn't ever mean for this thread to turn into an apologetics debate. Notice I haven't taken this opportunity to bash Christianity. Obviously, it's a given that you and most of the people on this forum think Atheism is wrong.

The fact is that there is a trend. I've heard comments from people on "my side," and I'm interested to hear comments from your side as well.

Lightknight · 03-11-2007, 11:02 PM

Lol, I'd hoped that would be your response. (Being that my post was hopefully obviously not like my previous ones to you)

Again, though, I was serious about nearly any religious group having a trend at some point or another where there is an increase in their numbers. Unless it remains at 1. This does include Christianity. But I used the word cult to emphasize that ANY religion can claim such a statement at some point.

Also, note that in reference to those three topseller books, Churches are buying them and using them as apologetics material (stuff to refute) just like they did with the Davinci codes. Lame, I know, but it is a significant number.