Comments on: Not News, But Nice to Hear http://atheists.org/blog/2008/12/29/not-news-but-nice-to-hear A Blog of Atheist Thought Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:40:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ontobelli http://atheists.org/blog/2008/12/29/not-news-but-nice-to-hear/comment-page-1#comment-93111 ontobelli Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-93111 It is a very good news for the world that US does't become a theocracy. It is a very good news for the world that US does’t become a theocracy.

]]> By: joelwe http://atheists.org/blog/2008/12/29/not-news-but-nice-to-hear/comment-page-1#comment-93116 joelwe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-93116 Of course, many of those who feel that think religion is losing its influence thinks that it's a bad thing and they are complaining about it. Personally, people seem as religious today as always and I'm in my 50's. however, most religious folk I know are more tolerant of certain things then whan I was younger (ie: divorce, abortion, gay issues etc.)<br /> <br /> I think the most intolerent are not increasing in number, they just are really loud.<br /> <br /> Of course, many of those who feel that think religion is losing its influence thinks that it’s a bad thing and they are complaining about it. Personally, people seem as religious today as always and I’m in my 50′s. however, most religious folk I know are more tolerant of certain things then whan I was younger (ie: divorce, abortion, gay issues etc.)

I think the most intolerent are not increasing in number, they just are really loud.

]]> By: glock21 http://atheists.org/blog/2008/12/29/not-news-but-nice-to-hear/comment-page-1#comment-93117 glock21 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-93117 Sadly this isn't good news. This is just more of the Christians espousing their persecution mentality (ie not having gov't backing of their religion is on par with throwing them into lions' dens).<br /> <br /> This line sums it up pretty well from the article:<br /> <br /> <i>"Those who regularly attend worship services are more likely to say religion is losing its influence; three out of four weekly attenders (74 percent) said religious influence is falling, compared to 24% who thought its influence is on the rise."</i><br /> <br /> This is more proof of the uphill battle we face in bringing sanity to the system when most of the people in that system are insane... and like it that way. Sadly this isn’t good news. This is just more of the Christians espousing their persecution mentality (ie not having gov’t backing of their religion is on par with throwing them into lions’ dens).

This line sums it up pretty well from the article:

“Those who regularly attend worship services are more likely to say religion is losing its influence; three out of four weekly attenders (74 percent) said religious influence is falling, compared to 24% who thought its influence is on the rise.”

This is more proof of the uphill battle we face in bringing sanity to the system when most of the people in that system are insane… and like it that way.

]]> By: dw http://atheists.org/blog/2008/12/29/not-news-but-nice-to-hear/comment-page-1#comment-93119 dw Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-93119 I think this is excellent news. If 67 percent think that religion is losing influence, then isn't it likely those who answered the poll in this way are less influenced by religion? Persecution syndrome, aside.<br /> I think this is excellent news. If 67 percent think that religion is losing influence, then isn’t it likely those who answered the poll in this way are less influenced by religion? Persecution syndrome, aside.

]]> By: glock21 http://atheists.org/blog/2008/12/29/not-news-but-nice-to-hear/comment-page-1#comment-93121 glock21 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-93121 dw... I suppose I'm just being a worry wart on the issue. The current theocratic movement in the Islamic world was based on encroaching western influences and fueled by religious fanaticism that framed it as an assault on Islam. With half of the country recently polled as believing the Constitution was founded as a "christian nation" and believing the Constitution established it as such... <br /> <br /> ...I start getting that proverbial "bad feeling about this" when the fanatics feel they are losing their grip on power. As with any group, such a scenario encourages more desperate measures to retain/regain power... throw in some religious fanaticism and things get scary. As has been witnessed throughout history, such conditions have a tendency of driving moderates to extremism, or tacit support of the extremists.<br /> <br /> The fundy rabble rousers in the US have huge megaphones, and sadly the US is stocked full of rabble... my endless concern is whether religiosity in the US will fade out with a whimper, or go off like a powder keg.<br /> <br /> This story <i>is</i> good news if the opinions reflect reality... it's unsettling if it's a reflection of persecution mentality and not based on any real loss of power/influence.<br /> <br /> Given the cyclical nature of American politics, I'm not swayed by the recent elections as proof of loss of religious power, especially as the winning candidate went out of his way to suck up to the fundies to ensure he was seen as "american enough" to be president and the losing candidate was written off by the fundies for not being a teetotaler for them.<br /> <br /> The post election polling by Gallup put the GOP favorites for 2012... even with self-described moderates included... with Palin, Huckabee and Romney at the top of the list and strong support overall.<br /> <br /> The recent trends may have more to do with where the fundies are shifting their weight... and this poll may be showing a strong potential for a resurgence to protect their way of life next time around.<br /> <br /> I'd love to be proven wrong, but right now I feel surrounded by powder kegs and talk radio minions with pyromania. dw… I suppose I’m just being a worry wart on the issue. The current theocratic movement in the Islamic world was based on encroaching western influences and fueled by religious fanaticism that framed it as an assault on Islam. With half of the country recently polled as believing the Constitution was founded as a “christian nation” and believing the Constitution established it as such…

…I start getting that proverbial “bad feeling about this” when the fanatics feel they are losing their grip on power. As with any group, such a scenario encourages more desperate measures to retain/regain power… throw in some religious fanaticism and things get scary. As has been witnessed throughout history, such conditions have a tendency of driving moderates to extremism, or tacit support of the extremists.

The fundy rabble rousers in the US have huge megaphones, and sadly the US is stocked full of rabble… my endless concern is whether religiosity in the US will fade out with a whimper, or go off like a powder keg.

This story is good news if the opinions reflect reality… it’s unsettling if it’s a reflection of persecution mentality and not based on any real loss of power/influence.

Given the cyclical nature of American politics, I’m not swayed by the recent elections as proof of loss of religious power, especially as the winning candidate went out of his way to suck up to the fundies to ensure he was seen as “american enough” to be president and the losing candidate was written off by the fundies for not being a teetotaler for them.

The post election polling by Gallup put the GOP favorites for 2012… even with self-described moderates included… with Palin, Huckabee and Romney at the top of the list and strong support overall.

The recent trends may have more to do with where the fundies are shifting their weight… and this poll may be showing a strong potential for a resurgence to protect their way of life next time around.

I’d love to be proven wrong, but right now I feel surrounded by powder kegs and talk radio minions with pyromania.

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