Not religious- will it matter in the area?

[CantWait2Leave]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

In the next thirty years I look for many denominations to take a huge swing to the left on issues like gender-neutral marriage, socialist programs and pacifism; at least that's what they NEED to do, in order to re-recruit the youth that have been lost.

Don't want to get in a religious debate, but I can't see that happening. It's clearly against the teachings in the Bible and they aren't going to ignore those verses to get more members. That would be wrong on so many levels.

Churches could change their music to more contemporary worship and have a lot of youth outreach. That would help, but changing their beliefs isn't going to happen in the mainstream denominations and I pray to God that it doesn't happen in any denomination. I'm in my mid 20s and from what I've experienced the youth isn't interested in God because they don't feel they need him. They are content with life and feel invisible.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by CantWait2Leave

Don't want to get in a religious debate, but I can't see that happening. It's clearly against the teachings in the Bible and they aren't going to ignore those verses to get more members. That would be wrong on so many levels.

Churches could change their music to more contemporary worship and have a lot of youth outreach. That would help, but changing their beliefs isn't going to happen in the mainstream denominations and I pray to God that it doesn't happen in any denomination. I'm in my mid 20s and from what I've experienced the youth isn't interested in God because they don't feel they need him. They are content with life and feel invisible.

I agree with you. Mainline Christian denominations have been shifting and changing their beliefs to be more fashionable with those on the left, and all it's done is make them lose membership even faster.

In Nashville as in most other areas, it's the evangelicals and Mormons (denominations that aren't about to change their teachings) that are growing in popularity, even among young people.

Still, to answer the OP's question, Nashville is a city with a rich variety of people from all backgrounds. In no way do you need to be a church-goer to make friends in Nashville.

[akm4]

Thank goodness someone is steering us back on track. JMT- you saved me from stirring the proverbial pot

[Lamplight]

Originally Posted by jabogitlu

Still, I live in a small city (55k in a metro of 120k) and most of the people I know around my age (18-30) are atheists, agnostic or "just don't think about it." Of course, I guess birds of a feather flock together and I'm sure there are many here who're quite religious or spiritual or what-have-you.

From what I've observed, it seems there are an awful lot of people out there who believe in God but never go to church. A lot of people my age and younger (30 or less) simply don't think about religion very much, even when they do believe. When you see those statistics that show that 80%-ish of Americans believe in God, I wonder if a lot of those people are probably not really even religious.

[RS-1080]

Originally Posted by Lamplight

From what I've observed, it seems there are an awful lot of people out there who believe in God but never go to church. A lot of people my age and younger (30 or less) simply don't think about religion very much, even when they do believe. When you see those statistics that show that 80%-ish of Americans believe in God, I wonder if a lot of those people are probably not really even religious.

Though I believe in God, I got a late start walking through church doors. I was nearly 40 and sick when I sat up one night thinking why I hadn't. Then I called a local friend up in town that had always invited me, my wife, and kids to church and we talked about alot of things and the very next day I got a surprise. That friend knocked on my door and the Babtist preacher walked in behind her. It was the very next Sunday that I got Babtized in the large Babtist church in town in front of everyone. It wasn't so bad once I done it, but I was alil' nervous going up there nearly to the ceiling and stepping in the large clear glass tank looking down on all those people below. I seen alot of folks cry that day but the roof didn't fall in on nary one of us

I'd never given it any thought myself, but alot of folks said I looked almost exactly like Jesus standing above them. My hair is even parted like his down each side, but I never knew. I bet 150 people came up and hugged me one by one, with my long brown soaking wet hair and brown beard and all. All those years ... I thought I wouldn't fit in. I'm still the only long haired feller in there and they truly treat me like family