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I recently stumbled across this intriguing project out of Pittsburgh which presents interviews with Millennials who have abandoned their Christian faith, mostly of a (Reformed) Evangelical variety. While much of the discussion deals with ideas, there is also some very honest talk about the emotional difficulties of leaving a community of which one was a part, and sometimes experiencing extremely strained family ties. (I've been there.)
Nothing new about this phenomenon. Young people leaving church. I did it many moons ago. In some respects it's necessary. Your relationships with God has to be your own - not something you heard about from your parents. That relationship takes time to develop. Check back in with this group in, say, 20 years.
Nothing new about this phenomenon. Young people leaving church. I did it many moons ago. In some respects it's necessary. Your relationships with God has to be your own - not something you heard about from your parents. That relationship takes time to develop. Check back in with this group in, say, 20 years.
You make a good point, in that people may slide back into faith in later years. However, the same holds true of people who keep their faith into their 30s, as some of them leave the faith in their 40s and beyond.
The encouraging statistic is that levels of faith are declining across all age groups.
You make a good point, in that people may slide back into faith in later years. However, the same holds true of people who keep their faith into their 30s, as some of them leave the faith in their 40s and beyond.
The encouraging statistic is that levels of faith are declining across all age groups.
I would amend that to say that it is encouraging that levels of faith in particular religions are declining. What that faith is replaced with is a matter for discussion.
I would amend that to say that it is encouraging that levels of faith in particular religions are declining. What that faith is replaced with is a matter for discussion.
It certainly is. Once of the original failings of atheism was that it just focussed on reasons not to believe the religious claims. It hardly ever considered what to put in its' place. There is certainly much more talk about that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by siameseifyoupls
Nothing new about this phenomenon. Young people leaving church. I did it many moons ago. In some respects it's necessary. Your relationships with God has to be your own - not something you heard about from your parents. That relationship takes time to develop. Check back in with this group in, say, 20 years.
That's interesting. I seem to recall some pretty hard discussions with you in the past. It seems to be that there is much more need to engage with those who Let Go of religion as such, while still retaining Theism (or desperately wanting to). We need to tell them (and this isn't just a subterfuge) that it's ok for them to still think there is a god of some sort. Even a creator. We obviously disagree but it isn't anything that atheism in its battle -fatigues is going for. It's only organised religion and its' influence on society that we are 'militant' about. And any theist who has left organised religion behind, is a theist that we can talk to.
Last edited by TRANSPONDER; 10-21-2018 at 10:29 AM..
in the late 60s and early 70s, there was a resurgence within christianity that stemmed from the jesus freaks, a counter culture group that advocated peace. the christians who lived during the counter culture, influenced many age groups, both adolescent and middle aged, to become christians
the good news translation of the bible sold many copies because of the jesus freaks and the counter culture christians.
the resurgence of christianity in the 60s and early 70s occurred because it was a christianity that had nothing to do with politics; it was a christianity without schisms politics.
to tell you the truth, i dont think that it is abnormal for millenials to find alternatives to the politicisation of religion
people dont want to conflate the negative issues of poltics with the good love of jesus
they simply want this: jesus' mercy without the politics, century old schisms, and scandals.
people just want to simply shake hands and feed thr homeless without the issues of politics, scandals and history of various confusing schisms.
some millenials leave instiutiions because they do not want politics involved with jesus; they want jesus without the politics, schisms and scandals that stem from institutions.
it is not just pc culture that influences this exodus from institutions that advocate schisms and the politicisation of politics
some people simply want this: to shake a persons hand without knowing their poltical party or poltical philosphy
personally, i dont want to hear about century old schisms or politics when shaking a strangers hand.
bible:
John 14:27 (KJV) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Matthew 18:21-22 (KJV)
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
I remember the Jesus Freaks. They Seemed to be a weird mix of Billy Graham evangelism and Flower -power. rather like Cannabis candy - bars. I don't think they lasted the Irreligious Onslaught of the eighties that saw an end to the battle against Porn, the pill, sex outside of Bible, contraception, sex education, religion in school, sex, the Life of Brian, sexual equality, sex and sex.
If indeed you have no truck with political Christianity (and that is increasingly what we have here, too) even if you still believe Bible and Church, I can shake your hand, or at least touch Gloves before the bell goes.
I remember the Jesus Freaks. They Seemed to be a weird mix of Billy Graham evangelism and Flower -power. rather like Cannabis candy - bars. I don't think they lasted the Irreligious Onslaught of the eighties that saw an end to the battle against Porn, the pill, sex outside of Bible, contraception, sex education, religion in school, sex, the Life of Brian, sexual equality, sex and sex.
If indeed you have no truck with political Christianity (and that is increasingly what we have here, too) even if you still believe Bible and Church, I can shake your hand, or at least touch Gloves before the bell goes.
that is not true. that would be a popular political depiction because a miserable ideological person would want to generalize jesus freaks as irresponsibles liberals. many of them were quite a diverse mix of conservatives, liberals, young, old who wanted christianity without ideology, denomination, politics and the stale dryness of schisms. there is always a miserable person, however,that will classify a group to fit into some type of ignorant political context
contrary to popular beliefs, churches without ideology, politics and schisms still exist. most of these people do go to church. it is not just an adolescent belief that christians (conservative,liberal, young, old, rich,poor) advocate peace. also, it is not uncommon for people to want something without ideology, politics, scheming miserable people and century old schisms.
people who want such things are not dumb pot smoking adolescents; they are people who want something without politics, ideology, schisms and histories of division
as an individual, i dont want to hear about ideology, politics, century old schisms and the schemes of some divisive person who wants to connive and divide with capital and credit.
i want jesus without ideology, politics, schisms and division.
however, i do think that many religious insitutions do good things that help communities
i do not envy miserable people in nissan trucks who spread political propaganda and the hype of stupidity
i tend to stay clear from propaganda, ideologies, and politics.
people want to shake anothers hand without the BS of everything.
note: saying BS is a minor sin
there is piles of BS. what is wrong with believing in the common good that advocates forgiveness, mercy and empathy without BS politics, ideology, schisms and division.
spare me the poltics. i want to shake a strangers hand without hearing about BS ideology, poltics, division, republicans, democrats, or some schism that happened centuries ago
there is nothing wrong with this: peace
i dont want to hear BS. i ignore BS
BS is not for me. i kindly tell people who propagate BS that i dont want to hear their propaganda and BS.
BS and propaganda becomes powerless when it is ignored.
i am not judging or codemning those who spread propaganda. i just ignore it; i can care less about politics, division or ideologies. that is not for me.
there is nothing political about mercy, forgiveness, empathy, and compassion; therefore, there is nothing wrong with compassion, pacifism, forgiveness, mercy, empathy.
people who want such things are adults, not just pot smoking adolescent liberals
BS is everywhere. BS is prevalent. I ignore the prevalent BS.
as a individual, i believe in pacifism and peace
i love everybody---jews, conservatives, blacks, liberals, buddhist, gays, atheist, secularists
i adhere simply to these things: pacifism, non-violence, compassion, civility, empathy, sympathy and love for all people.
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jesus freaks
