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The number of people who subscribe to religion in the US, specifically Christianity, has been falling at just about 1% per year since the beginning of the 21st century. The percentage of people in the US that profess to have no religious beliefs at all (nones) have risen by about 1% per year during that period. At current rates those who profess to have no religious belief at all (nones) will be in the majority in the US by the middle of this century. The same drop in religious belief is occuring in Europe as well.
Wikipedia
Atheism and Agnosticism
During the late 20th and early 21st centuries, atheism and agnosticism have increased, with falling church attendance and membership in various European countries.[75] The 2010 Eurobarometer survey found that on total average, of the EU28 population, 51% "believe there is a God", 26% "believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 20% "don't believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force".[1] Across the EU, belief was higher among women, increased with age, those with strict upbringing, those with the lowest levels of formal education and those leaning towards right-wing politics.[71]:10–11 Results were varied widely between different countries.[1]
According to a survey measuring religious identification in the European Union in 2012 by Eurobarometer, 7% of EU citizens identify themselves as atheists.[16] As of 2012, the top eight European countries with people who viewed themselves as "atheists" were the Czech Republic (20%), France (16%), Slovenia (16%), Estonia (15%), Sweden (13%), Spain (10%), Germany (9%) and Denmark (9%). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Europe
At current rates religious beliefs will be largely extinct in north America and Europe by the end of this century as the current crop of religious believers die off and are not replaced.
According to a survey by World Religions Religion Statistics Geography Church Statistics, people who are "secular, non-religious, agnostics and atheists" account for about 14% of the world’s population.
That doesn't mean they believe in YOUR god. Or perhaps you do worship Ganesha?
And just for the record, just because a lot of people believe in "x" doesn't make "x" true.
And lets not for get that the error had/has and evolutionary purpose - you would be better off making such an error with your example otherwise you might be dead. Better to be wrong and alive than right and dead - evolution does not give a crap about 'truth' but survival. And this is also why such deceptions of religions can be useful or even beneficial despite being absolutely WRONG!
Indeed. It is better to be embarrassed than dead.
My friend tells a story about the time he was in the supermarket, and someone hit something with a big wagon full of food. Being an ex soldier, he immediately dropped to the floor on hearing the bang.
I've also spun round at night ready to attack my second shadow. But fortunately no one was there to see that.
Isn’t it interesting that so many adults still believe in God, despite some calling it “fairy tales”? Maybe there’s something to this God thing.
I would say the more interesting thing is how many adults have to *SAY* they believe in god to avoid losing their families, jobs and in some cases there lives.
But I truly believe you believe jimmiej and I thank your god for that. I can just imagine what you would be like without the threat of hell.
That doesn't mean they believe in YOUR god. Or perhaps you do worship Ganesha?
And just for the record, just because a lot of people believe in "x" doesn't make "x" true.
A particular god makes no difference, in this conversation.
It does mean something that an overwhelming % of humans believer in a higher being. It can’t all be indoctrination. That’s illogical.
Yes, it's called teleological thinking. It's were the brain thinks there is a purpose to an action even when there isn't. You hear a sound in a bush and react as if it may be a snake, but it turns out to be just a little fluffy bunny rabbit. But if it had been a big bad snake, you would have been ready to react.
That's why there are so many religions. People instinctively believe there must be a purpose, and over time invented gods to explain things like thunder, or floods.
So the thing to this gods (it should be plural) thing is your brain making an error (as it is prone to do).
Educated adults are not going to continue to believe in a higher authority without some evidence.
Educated adults are not going to continue to believe in a higher authority without some evidence.
That's true. It also explains why the fundamentalist sects are largely populated by the uneducated and intellectually-disadvantaged.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmiej
No, people see hope in God, a better future.
Some people do and if they need such a belief in order to be at peace with themselves and their neighbours, I sure don't begrudge them.
My grudge is against those Christians who condemn the LGBTQ for being how their God made them -- among sundry other sins relating to bigotry and narrow-mindedness.
A particular god makes no difference, in this conversation.
It does mean something that an overwhelming % of humans believer in a higher being. It can’t all be indoctrination. That’s illogical.
That still does not mean that it's true. There are many people, like you (in my opinion), who are gullible and believe in fairy tales. You live in an echo chamber.
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And this is also why such deceptions of religions can be useful or even beneficial despite being absolutely WRONG!
