General Discussion

I was reading this research from the Pew Institute and was absolutely floored at some of the findings from this survey. It would seem that the progressive nature of our American culture is seeping into the religious aspects as well. I am incredibly happy with these findings, as astonishing as they are to me, and have a somewhat different opinion of the religious after reading it. I had historically seen active participants in organized religion as closed-minded people, but I gladly admit that I was or would have been wrong (in some cases).

pewresearch.org/pubs/876/religion-america-part-two

The parts I found most interesting:

Most Americans agree with the statement that many religions - not just their own - can lead to eternal life. Among those who are affiliated with a religious tradition, seven-in-ten say many religions can lead to eternal life. This view is shared by a majority of adherents in nearly all religious traditions, including more than half of members of evangelical Protestant churches (57%). Only among Mormons (57%) and Jehovah's Witnesses (80%) do majorities say that their own religion is the one true faith leading to eternal life.

Most Americans also have a non-dogmatic approach when it comes to interpreting the tenets of their own religion. For instance, more than two-thirds of adults affiliated with a religious tradition agree that there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their faith, a pattern that occurs in nearly all traditions. The exceptions are Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses, 54% and 77% of whom, respectively, say there is only one true way to interpret the teachings of their religion.

this reminds me of the Left Behind series where the Pope becomes the leader of the state religion and wears all the symbols.

Yeah, I heard about this on various talk radio shows the other day.

They mostly were up in arms about it.  It seemed a common opinion that more American's are going to hell now for believing there is more than one way into Heaven.

Scare tactics.  I guess it's always what people fall back on in these situations when they feel they are losing their hold.

Originally posted by gnomexxx

Scare tactics.  I guess it's always what people fall back on in these situations when they feel they are losing their hold.

I wonder if these people will even acknowledge that they are the minority. It seems more reasonable to try and move forward with society as opposed to segregating yourself. I'm sure they will continue to oppose gay rights, drug law reform, abortion, etc., but I think there's no reasonable basis for denying that the country is headed in a progressive direction.

I've said it since Obama started his run, the grip that old white men have used to constrict this nation for centuries is slipping. The popular opinion has long been in favor of socially progressive laws/reforms. Get ready for these ideals to reach the action phase.

Originally posted by DailyBuzz

Originally posted by gnomexxx

Scare tactics.  I guess it's always what people fall back on in these situations when they feel they are losing their hold.

 

I wonder if these people will even acknowledge that they are the minority. It seems more reasonable to try and move forward with society as opposed to segregating yourself. I'm sure they will continue to oppose gay rights, drug law reform, abortion, etc., but I think there's no reasonable basis for denying that the country is headed in a progressive direction.

I've said it since Obama started his run, the grip that old white men have used to constrict this nation for centuries is slipping. The popular opinion has long been in favor of socially progressive laws/reforms. Get ready for these ideals to reach the action phase.

Please.  Stop with this "Socially Progressive" crap.  Obama is far LEFT.  The vast majority of America is middle of the road moderate.  I know of plenty of people who are not religious at all and don't believe in god but still believe that Abortion is wrong.  I know of plenty of people who are not religious that believe that Drugs are wrong and I know plenty of people who do not believe in god that are homophobes. 

"Socially Progressive" is a nice little code word for socialism.  The vast majority of people in America do not support your so called "socially progressive" laws/reforms.  You can't base your beliefs on the few extremely liberal states that have supported these types of reforms.  California is definitely not a barometer for the United States as a whole. 

Originally posted by DailyBuzz

Originally posted by gnomexxx

Scare tactics.  I guess it's always what people fall back on in these situations when they feel they are losing their hold.

 

I wonder if these people will even acknowledge that they are the minority. It seems more reasonable to try and move forward with society as opposed to segregating yourself. I'm sure they will continue to oppose gay rights, drug law reform, abortion, etc., but I think there's no reasonable basis for denying that the country is headed in a progressive direction.

I've said it since Obama started his run, the grip that old white men have used to constrict this nation for centuries is slipping. The popular opinion has long been in favor of socially progressive laws/reforms. Get ready for these ideals to reach the action phase.

You are so arrogant it is unbelieveable. Ya, the wisdom of  past generations means nothing to you. They were all just dumb rubes and you are the enlightened one.

Originally posted by Cabe2323

  California is definitely not a barometer for the United States as a whole. 

New Rule: Lay off California!   You know, the rest of America has been having quite a laugh at California’s expense lately. But let’s remember this: California has a lot of people.  And the reason it does is lots of other people in other states saying, “Fuck this, I’m outta here!” 

And then those people come here to California, and people ask them, “Don’t you miss the winters?”  No, strangely enough, I don’t.  Much the same way I don’t miss slamming a car door on my hands.

Make fun of California, but if it weren’t for California, East Coast rappers would have to shoot musicians from Branson. 

If it weren’t for California, there’s be almost no TV, and you’d have to come home at night and actually talk to your family. 

You know, the rest of America feels about California the way the rest of the world feels about America. They hate us because we do what we want. They think we’re too blessed and too free, and it makes them nuts in the dreary hovels of Kabul and Tikrit and Lubbock, Texas. 

They pray to their threadbare gods that we’ll get what we deserve. But it won’t happen.  Because you never know what we’re going to do here next. We elected Ronald Reagan and Jerry Brown.  

We’re home to Disney and Hustler, the Partridge Family and the Manson Family.  We can drink a Mudslide and a Sex on the Beach during an actual mudslide while having sex on the beach! 

Our farms feed the world, and Calista Flockhart lives here.

We have bears and great white sharks. And even our washed-up actors are allowed to kill one blonde chick. 

We invented surfing and cyber-porn and LSD and the boob job. And if we didn’t, we would have! 

We have oranges, free oranges, everywhere. What grows on the trees in Scranton, fucker?! 

We have a real hockey team named after a hockey team in a movie!

Our Indian casinos could kick your Indian casinos’ ass.

We give our illegal aliens driver’s licenses.  And we have a governor who digs group sex. 

Would anywhere else in America trade places with L.A. or San Francisco in a piss-soaked New York minute? You bet they would. Because I don’t recall anyone ever writing a song called “I Wish They All Could Be Rhode Island Girls”!