Losing Our Religion?
Mar. 4th, 2008 08:42 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
puppetmakerI know I rarely talk about religion here. But I read an article in the Times Magazine about Americans and Religion that was kind of interesting. The article was titled American's Unfaithful Faithful and can be read if you click the link.
Apparently Americans are not only very willing to move or change jobs or spouses but they are also very willing to change religions. Sometimes it is another form of the same religion for example being raised form of Christian religion and changing it for another. The example they gave were the number of former Catholics who now say they are Baptists or leaving one religion for another religion entirely and embracing the tenets of that religion with fervor. Then there are those who sample various religions like a Chinese buffet and drift from one set of beliefs to another. I think it is great that we have these sorts of options in our society. In a number of other countries they have official religions and if you don't adhere to that set of beliefs, you can find yourself in trouble.
To my mind there is a difference between religion and spirituality. Religion engages spirituality but one can be spiritual without being religious. I believe that some of what is happening with this religious dance is that people are searching for their personal spirituality or beliefs. I know a lot of people who have gone through a crises of faith or a search for spirituality. Most of them end up better for it. Either stronger in the faith of their childhood or much more comfortable about themselves as spiritual beings. Again this is my own opinion and your mileage might vary greatly.
Another thing I find interesting that even though people are changing their religious beliefs, the religions themselves are pretty much staying at the same statistical level as the last survey for many reasons. So no religion is really gaining or losing members at a rapid rate. It seems more an adjustment. The only group that has shown a gain is "unaffiliated" which, given the rest of the data, makes sense.
A majority of us believe in something be it a higher power or a flying spaghetti monster or even Bob. How we come to our beliefs is very personal in my opinion. But it seems that as a group we are still seeking/striving for something even though we might not be able to define what that is. And I think that this is going to continue as long as we are allowed the ability to question our beliefs and grow in them or find something that works for us.
I am grateful for religious freedom.
Apparently Americans are not only very willing to move or change jobs or spouses but they are also very willing to change religions. Sometimes it is another form of the same religion for example being raised form of Christian religion and changing it for another. The example they gave were the number of former Catholics who now say they are Baptists or leaving one religion for another religion entirely and embracing the tenets of that religion with fervor. Then there are those who sample various religions like a Chinese buffet and drift from one set of beliefs to another. I think it is great that we have these sorts of options in our society. In a number of other countries they have official religions and if you don't adhere to that set of beliefs, you can find yourself in trouble.
To my mind there is a difference between religion and spirituality. Religion engages spirituality but one can be spiritual without being religious. I believe that some of what is happening with this religious dance is that people are searching for their personal spirituality or beliefs. I know a lot of people who have gone through a crises of faith or a search for spirituality. Most of them end up better for it. Either stronger in the faith of their childhood or much more comfortable about themselves as spiritual beings. Again this is my own opinion and your mileage might vary greatly.
Another thing I find interesting that even though people are changing their religious beliefs, the religions themselves are pretty much staying at the same statistical level as the last survey for many reasons. So no religion is really gaining or losing members at a rapid rate. It seems more an adjustment. The only group that has shown a gain is "unaffiliated" which, given the rest of the data, makes sense.
A majority of us believe in something be it a higher power or a flying spaghetti monster or even Bob. How we come to our beliefs is very personal in my opinion. But it seems that as a group we are still seeking/striving for something even though we might not be able to define what that is. And I think that this is going to continue as long as we are allowed the ability to question our beliefs and grow in them or find something that works for us.
I am grateful for religious freedom.
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no subject
Date: 2008-03-05 01:49 pm (UTC)As to the Cons
Currently
LunaCon
New York Comic Con
ICon
Shoreleave
DragonCon
Possibly Wizard Philly
There are a couple that are in the works but not solid yet.