Two-thirds of Americans think religion is losing its influence on U.S. life, a sharp jump from just three years ago when Americans were nearly evenly split on the question, according to a new Gallup Poll.Sixty-seven percent of Americans think religious influence is waning while just 27% say it is increasing. That perspective demonstrates a continuing downward trend, Gallup said.
I do not see any apparent signs of religion fading, but I do hear more complaints that people fear it is so. That is dangerous thinking because the religious want to fight back against this perceived evil and it perpetrators, us.
NeoWolfe
Your last post promised a definition of “free thinker” but did not provide one. Huh.
What said this:
“Your last post promised a definition of “free thinker” but did not provide one.”
but he obviously didn’t read this:
“Religion is bullshit, clear thinking is the key, not only to rising out of any hole we might find ourselves in, but, as well, preventing ourselves from falling into the next one”
That was a quote from my last post. But, as usual I guess I have to dumb it down a little for YOU. Freethought is seeing the world without being incumbered by social quams, irrational bias, like racism, sexism, and even patriotism, to name just a few. It’s to attempt to rationally peel back the spin and see the facts. It’s digging out those facts, and then forming reasonable opinions, based thereupon. That’s freethought. Not forming an opinion, then searching for a reason to believe it. That’s religion.
Atheism is a theory. And granted, the history and teachings of organized religion give plenty of reason to lend an intuitive suspicion that “god”, as defined by any religion, does not exist. But, it does not prove that an intelligence was not involved in the origin of the universe. But atheism assumes it to be fact. Therefore, atheism is a religion. You are what you hate, no wonder you’re all so grumpy.
NeoWolfe
NeoWolfe
Thanks for providing your definition of “free thinker”. Too bad that most religious folk would consider it to apply to themselves.
Really what phenomenon does it seek to describe and predict?
Remind me again how you “prove” that something doesn’t exist.
So, what is your definition of the word “universe”? Apparently things can exist outside of it by your definition.
How long have you been visiting this website? And you still don’t know what Athiesm is.
What, even though you are a poor student, you are at least challenging what I said:
“Thanks for providing your definition of “free thinker”. Too bad that most religious folk would consider it to apply to themselves.”
They probably would, because they are subject to a lot of self inflicted delusions. But, again you missed the point. The difference is, digging out, and to the best of your ability, finding the pure facts (always subjective, inescapable human nature, truth and the eye of the beholder), then taking those facts and forming an opinion.
As opposed to choosing what you want to believe, then searching for reasons to believe in it.
Freethought and religion have nothing in common, while atheism and religion do.
But then What asked:
“Atheism is a theory.
Really what phenomenon does it seek to describe and predict?”
A theory does not need to predict a phenomenon. It is simply a proposal about about the nature of the universe. Some scientists may blow it off as having no valid basis, others may percieve promise and set up experiments to either prove or disprove.
You propose that the universe is an accident, as well as life. I find that notion counterintuitive, but do not claim it is wrong. Lot’s of things in life are counterintuitive. They treat hyperactivity with stimulants, and depression with depressants. Go figure.
Then What said”
“So, what is your definition of the word “universe”? Apparently things can exist outside of it by your definition.”
That’s crazy. Even if dimentions and alternate universes exist that we have yet to imagine, they are all “nature”. There is no supernatural. It’s all part of the universe. Let’s call the universe, “everything”, if it makes you more comfortable.
you asked me, What, so I answered:
“How long have you been visiting this website? And you still don’t know what Athiesm is.”
I was really tempted to rag you on your spelling of atheism, but I spell like a kindergartner, therefore, dangerous territory.
I knew what an atheist was before I came here, I know what an atheist is now. I have no war with them, I just think they’re a little presumptuous. But, that doesn’t make me right, that’s just how the universe looks through my eyes. But, how I see the universe changes a little every day, because I can’t stop searching. While the pickings are very lean here, bear with me while I search for the mother lode. I’ll come back for the free thinkers when I find it.
NeoWolfe
NeoWolfe
You have been certified.
NeoWolfe
Why hasn’t your head exploded yet?