Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Finally, more and more people are realizing that rational, secular, scientific, reasoning is reality, not belief in some old book written by desert dwelling, bronze aged, superstious goat herders.
You're leaping to conclusions.
It is proof that as religion is de-institutionalized, it starts collapsing, but there's still an interim period where people cling to old beliefs.
Non-attendance at church is not the same as casting off superstitions, though it is a good start.
Concluding...
The OP just jumps on a story without really thinking it out same way with using one bible verse and saying things are failing, makes one look foolish.
Like I said before God will be there whether everyone quits going or everyone starts attending church. God only knows the true heart as someone who carries a bible to church does not make them necessarily a Christian.
Surprisingly I found out that Jehovah's Witnesses, who only count active members, would be a LOT larger if they counted all who attend or identify themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses. Maybe triple or even more than what they report. Base on US numbers they would be above the Baptists, Presbyterians and Lutherans at least.
When I was a much younger fella I once attended a JW meeting to please a girl I was seeing at the time. They could still be counting me for all I know. When it comes to the pursuit of, ummm, well let's just say I used to be shameless. I also attended Baptist service, Catholic service, First Congregational service, Swedish Mission Covenant service, and Greek Orthodox Service, all for the same reason. I was a hound and churches are filled with good looking women. And I was raised Pentecostal myself. I used to be a one man tidal wave, swelling the ranks of religious service attendance right across denominations. And I was an atheist the whole time. Eventually I married another non believer like myself, which considerably freed up my Sunday's for less totally mind numbing ways of enjoying a day off.
Location: In a little house on the prairie - literally
10,202 posts, read 7,910,693 times
Reputation: 4561
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tired of the Nonsense
When I was a much younger fella I once attended a JW meeting to please a girl I was seeing at the time. They could still be counting me for all I know. When it comes to the pursuit of, ummm, well let's just say I used to be shameless. I also attended Baptist service, Catholic service, First Congregational service, Swedish Mission Covenant service, and Greek Orthodox Service, all for the same reason. I was a hound and churches are filled with good looking women. And I was raised Pentecostal myself. I used to be a one man tidal wave, swelling the ranks of religious service attendance right across denominations. And I was an atheist the whole time. Eventually I married another non believer like myself, which considerably freed up my Sunday's for less totally mind numbing ways of enjoying a day off.
When I was a much younger fella I once attended a JW meeting to please a girl I was seeing at the time. They could still be counting me for all I know. When it comes to the pursuit of, ummm, well let's just say I used to be shameless. I also attended Baptist service, Catholic service, First Congregational service, Swedish Mission Covenant service, and Greek Orthodox Service, all for the same reason. I was a hound and churches are filled with good looking women. And I was raised Pentecostal myself. I used to be a one man tidal wave, swelling the ranks of religious service attendance right across denominations. And I was an atheist the whole time. Eventually I married another non believer like myself, which considerably freed up my Sunday's for less totally mind numbing ways of enjoying a day off.
I guess that if you don't toot your own horn, same will not be tooted...
When I was in my 20's I found that Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas was an excellent, excellent place for such shameless pursuits and I would be able to look my mother in the eye when I told her "I met her in church."
Location: In a little house on the prairie - literally
10,202 posts, read 7,910,693 times
Reputation: 4561
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleonidas
I guess that if you don't toot your own horn, same will not be tooted...
When I was in my 20's I found that Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas was an excellent, excellent place for such shameless pursuits and I would be able to look my mother in the eye when I told her "I met her in church."
It's amazing how "enthusiastic" church going women are.
Most follow the "three date rule", well, religiously.
I guess that if you don't toot your own horn, same will not be tooted...
When I was in my 20's I found that Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas was an excellent, excellent place for such shameless pursuits and I would be able to look my mother in the eye when I told her "I met her in church."
I never tooted my own horn. That was kind of the point of my story.
When I was a much younger fella I once attended a JW meeting to please a girl I was seeing at the time. They could still be counting me for all I know. When it comes to the pursuit of, ummm, well let's just say I used to be shameless. I also attended Baptist service, Catholic service, First Congregational service, Swedish Mission Covenant service, and Greek Orthodox Service, all for the same reason. I was a hound and churches are filled with good looking women. And I was raised Pentecostal myself. I used to be a one man tidal wave, swelling the ranks of religious service attendance right across denominations. And I was an atheist the whole time. Eventually I married another non believer like myself, which considerably freed up my Sunday's for less totally mind numbing ways of enjoying a day off.
The number given for members is based on the ones actively engaging in their public ministry, not meeting attendance. You would only have been counted as attending that day or days, but you would not be counted as a Jehovah's Witness. If you were a Witness and did not engage in their ministry you would not be counted.
Church planting actually increases number of churches, but less viable as self sustaining.
Weekly attendance at churches record drop.
Lowest number of baptisms since 1947.
Finally, more and more people are realizing that rational, secular, scientific, reasoning is reality, not belief in some old book written by desert dwelling, bronze aged, superstious goat herders.
I suspect the numbers who have left are quite low. I worked as volunteer treasurer in an SBC church for four years. Convincing the church board to drop someone from the roles was quite difficult--even if the person hadn't attended in years---"Yes, we know they aren't coming for five years since moving across town, but we haven't received a request for their "letter" so we shouldn't exclude them."
There is probably three times as many that really dropped out.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
