04-25-2008, 10:04 AM
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Your one and only Man of World
   Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Uppsala, Sweden
Posts: 4,665
  
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The future of religion
Disclaimer: This is mostly a discussion of the major religions and the situation in the western countries. I'm fully aware that the situation isn't the same in other places in the world. Some areas are more religious than others. Even the US is considered one of the most religious countries in the world, something you should be aware of, since I'm more or less forced to incluse the US in this (because of the ridiculous amount of US members here).
-------- The downfall of religion is pretty much common knowledge. During the 20th century, many people have broken free from religious traditions and either joined other religions or (most commonly) claimed themselves atheists or agnostics. Of course, the major religions has been suffering for quite a while since its golden age during the middle ages. I don't think anyone can deny the fact that people are less inclined to join a religion nowadays, and I doubt the trend is going to stop. People are more and more coming to the conclusion that the current religious movements are no more than obsolete views of life with unnecessary rules (whether you agree with that or not, that's another thing and is not to be discussed). I reckon it will only be a matter of time before religion will be forced to change its beliefs and practices - or die. While the major religions have suffered the most, many religious groups having a more 'laid-back' attitude have gotten many new members as of late. As such, not all drop-outs of the state churches (for example) become atheists or agnostics, many of them decide to join a religion which allows them to maintain their core belief in God (or whatever) but skipping such things as the bible which by many is looked upon as something that doesn't represent their belief and they don't want to be associated with it. This is the group that believe, but that doesn't practice belief. As I said, I'm very much convinced that the major religions will fall if they don't change. Many people are still believing that there is more to the world than the eyes can see. However, people do not want to commit themself to an obsolete movement that doesn't make sense to them. It will probably come to the situation where you either believe in a "higher power" or nothing at all, seing as it is not the concept of a higher power that make people abandon religion, but their strict believes in pin-pointing the nature of this higher power and the rules that come thereof. Myself, I've always been an opponent of fundamentalists, I oftentimes see nothing but narrow-mindedness coming from this group of people. As such, I'm very pleased to see that their kind is going coming to an imminent end. Of course, extremists will always exist, but they will finally be looked upon as nothing but extremists, and will be respected for nothing more. A change in religion would be pretty fatal for the religious debate. People claim God do not change and that their way of establishing a relationship with him also does not - and can not - change. However, it will have to change if the religion wants to survive, and as such the religious side will have to admit their faulty reasoning - or stand strong, dying out in the process. If you believe that your approach to God is the only right one, and that everybody else is wrong, you're a part of a dying religious generation. Just for the sake of it, I'd like to stick a needle in your eye by saying that God invented (as he invented everything) the concept "survival of the fittest". Here comes a deduction: The fittest survives Religion doesn't survive in its current form Religion in its current form is not fit enough. That is my final stand in this. By the laws of your very own god, you are forced to change. Now, I'd like some dicussion  ------- I expect people to ask me for sources. The fact that people are abandoning religion is pretty common knowledge as I've said, but if you want some sources, sure. I don't want to rely on how many percent this and how many percent that. The fact that people have been rapidly abandoning the believes of their fathers the past 100 years or so is all I need us to agree with. The numbers vary, since this is a hard thing to determine. Anyway, here are a few sources. Quote:
Here's one for you US people: Quote:
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04-25-2008, 10:28 AM
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#2 |
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Steve Irwin. 1962-2006. We'll miss you croc hunter
 Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Alabama
Posts: 5,580
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I do believe that God changes. Look at the Old and New Testaments. He went from jealous and wrathful to killing himself on the cross for us.
People change, as we see all the time. So religion would have to change with the rest of the world or eventually die. So I agree with you. Now what needs to change and what needs to stay the same is debatable. Different people will have different views on this. In order for a religion to remain the same basic religion, you'd need to establich the basic principles and stick to them. As for Christianity, those basic principles would likely be the Ten Commandments. However, the first one says "Thou shalt have no other God before me.". Thise goes along with some people saying "Our God is the one true God, and all others are bound for Hell." and some such. The others are easier to keep, though, and can go along with different beliefs. |
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04-25-2008, 10:38 AM
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an island adventure
 Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Midst a paradigm shift.
Posts: 949
 
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That's the thing, it's always about the easiet ones to keep. Why is that? For me, personally, keeping God's Ten Commandments makes me happy. And God does not change. Jesus is God in human form. Jesus showed us the loving side of God, whereas people think for the most part He's just jealous and angry.
"God has neither evolved, grown, nor improved. All that He is today, He has ever been, and ever will be. "I am the Lord, I change not" (Mal. 3:6) is His own unqualified affirmation. He cannot change for the better, for He is already perfect; and being perfect, He cannot change for the worse. Altogether unaffected by anything outside Himself, improvement or deterioration is impossible. He is perpetually the same. He only can say, "I am that I am" (Ex. 3:14). He is altogether uninfluenced by the flight of time. There is no wrinkle upon the brow of eternity. Therefore His power can never diminish nor His glory ever fade." ~ 7. The Immutability of God I don't know where you guys get the idea that God changes. The only reason why Christianity would "die" is because the people on earth find it too difficult to follow, and they want to find the easiet way. The future of religion involves the Sunday Law having to be observed by everyone. It's either the Sunday way, or no way at all. Mind you, it's not like that as of current, but eventually it'll become a problem, especially for those who don't observe the Sabbath on Sunday. Look in the past: The Crusades, Hitler attempting geneocide on Jews and Jehovah's Witnesses, and Monk's in Tibet being slaughtered because they stand up for what they believe in. It's already happened so far, and who is to say it won't happen again? People will be persecuted for their beliefs, and that is what I believe the future of religion will bring. Whether or not a person conforms to the changes made so they're not persecuted is soley up to them. As for me, I'd much rather stand up for what I believe in, instead of changing because it makes life easier.
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 I am L i l y ' s and M r R a n d o m ' s number one fan as well. :] Freedom is Coming  thank you sugarpoultry [: [ Bijou Eegale - Maloe, the princess fairy - Julia Anne and Her Duck ] |
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04-25-2008, 10:46 AM
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Steve Irwin. 1962-2006. We'll miss you croc hunter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Alabama
Posts: 5,580
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If God never changes, then the Old Testament shows him as a *******. In there, he calls himself jealous, which is supposedly one of the seven deadliest sins.
He doesn't seem perfect at all to me, but just some powerful guy that sits on his throne and punishes those that don't blindly serve him. He's a dictator, and no one likes those guys. It started with Lucifer, and there's no telling when it will end. |
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04-25-2008, 10:52 AM
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an island adventure
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Midst a paradigm shift.
Posts: 949
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I suggest you read this: Why is God a jealous God?
Punishes those that don't blindly serve Him? Where'd you get that? God wants to save us. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. Verse from 1 Samuel 16:7 New International Version God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.--John 3:17 New International Version And Lucifer started off as an angel, who chose to go against God.
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I am L i l y ' s and M r R a n d o m ' s number one fan as well. :] Freedom is Coming thank you sugarpoultry [: [ Bijou Eegale - Maloe, the princess fairy - Julia Anne and Her Duck ] |
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04-25-2008, 10:57 AM
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#6 |
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Steve Irwin. 1962-2006. We'll miss you croc hunter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Alabama
Posts: 5,580
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Quote:
God trying to save us? From what? He says serve him in every way, or he'll send us to Hell. He basically says serve him or die, so the only thing he's saving us from is his own punishment. That's akin to someone demanding you pay them so they won't wreck your home or business. Edit: As for the link, if God wanted to create something that would serve him only and forever, he should have created robots. He didn't though, and created people with free will.The consequence of doing that is that some people aren't going to serve him. He should just be happy with the ones that do, but instead he decides to punish people that don't. What is the point of free will if we get punished for eternity for not giving up that freedom for him? |
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04-25-2008, 11:04 AM
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Zora Warrior
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 449
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Quote:
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I pledge allegiance to the me, of the United Person of Nietzsche, and to the Me for which it stands: one person above God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for whenever it suits my needs. "There is no cure for cancer. There is, however, a cure for the idea. Ask your doctor about suicide." - Master Shade I am the modern Faust, the invoker of Godwin, and the Second Coming of the Antichrist. Christian Math: 3 = 3 = 1 A cult becomes a religion when it burns its first heretic. |
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04-25-2008, 11:07 AM
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an island adventure
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Midst a paradigm shift.
Posts: 949
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Lucifer was the head of the angelic choir, and one of the head angels, so why would he want more power? He was corrupt. God is not corrupt. Therefore he seperated himself from God. Him and his following of angels were all cast down to earth, when they tried to take Heaven over. It shows the God is the Almighty one. Satan knows He's going down, and he wants to take as many people with him as possible.
Look at it this way: If you don't love God, and you don't enjoy serving Him, then how much fun would you have in Heaven? You wouldn't enjoy it overly, that much is true. It all comes down to faith, Daphnes, and I can only say so much, to the point where only faith can handle the rest. I have faith that God is real and He wants to save us from Hell. It also comes down to personal choice. You may choose not to serve Him, and that's good for you. However, I chose the other option. However, this is going off topic and has little to do with what Hombre de Mundo wanted to discuss. If you wish you discuss this further, then feel free to continue through PM. I don't mind. Quote:
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I am L i l y ' s and M r R a n d o m ' s number one fan as well. :] Freedom is Coming thank you sugarpoultry [: [ Bijou Eegale - Maloe, the princess fairy - Julia Anne and Her Duck ] Last edited by brokenjoker; 04-25-2008 at 11:20 AM. |
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04-25-2008, 11:43 AM
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I'll take a Potato Chip...And eat it!
 Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Lolzburgh; O Rly?
Posts: 8,537
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Quote:
Quite frankly anyone who tries to force people to have the Sabbath on one day or another really needs their priorities checked, since the sabbath is a day of rest created by God on the seventh day the actual time you rest yeilds no signifigance, And that is not even to mention the fact that there is no way since the begining of time that Humans have been keeping the weeks perfectly, for all we know the Sabbath could actually be on wednsday, Humans created the concept of the week and where probabbly wrong on their placement of the sabbath anyways. The Sunday law should not matter, because I don't think God cares when we keep the sabbath as long as the heart is in the right place.
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04-25-2008, 12:02 PM
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Sage of Wisdom
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Cymru
Posts: 1,449
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Knowledge is a lamp on a table at the centre of a room, religion is the shadows in the corner. At first the lamp was dim, and we could see little, so religion was just to explain the things we couldn't see. As the lamp grew brighter, the shadows disappeared, and we could see further. But there are still shadows in the further corners of the room. I think we're in an age where we are in a position to brighten the lamp even further, but the shadow is incredibly persistent.
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   Galactic Empire - Stormtrooper Sage of the Navy Sig made by Sugarpoultry. Thanks! Those who are strong: Fear us. Those who are weak: Seek us. We are The Order of the Black Knights |
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04-25-2008, 12:03 PM
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I'll take a Potato Chip...And eat it!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Lolzburgh; O Rly?
Posts: 8,537
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Quote:
Worst Anology I have ever heard, but it was funny in it's inaccuracies.
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04-25-2008, 12:15 PM
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Antagonist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Southern Coast of WA
Posts: 979
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Quote:
For example, we now know that people don't get possessed by demons. Years ago however, many people probably would have believed that somebody suffering from a fit was actually possessed by the devil, and needed a quick exorcism from the local priest. Now, such a fit would be far more likely be a case of epilepsy or a stroke, rather than Satan trying to get into your mind.
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 Why God is famous: Most famous for his creation of the universe, space, time, reality and penises, he has received mixed responses since. Despite this involvement, many have wondered whether God is really doing it for the lulz, considering his inexplicably random acts of world flooding, and absences at many major events throughout history - most famously at Auschwitz. While millions of still-born fetuses hit the ground with a thud, and millions more are ravaged by disease, it is some relief to know that his face will appear in home-made pies with alarming regularity. 
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04-25-2008, 12:19 PM
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I'll take a Potato Chip...And eat it!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Lolzburgh; O Rly?
Posts: 8,537
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Quote:
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04-25-2008, 12:26 PM
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#14 |
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Sage of Wisdom
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Cymru
Posts: 1,449
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Quote:
And if that isn't the fundamental aspect of religion, then it was invented as a societal control mechanism. If THAT isn't the fundamental aspect of religion, then it was to teach people about God. Which is humourous.
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Galactic Empire - Stormtrooper Sage of the Navy Sig made by Sugarpoultry. Thanks! Those who are strong: Fear us. Those who are weak: Seek us. We are The Order of the Black Knights |
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04-25-2008, 12:39 PM
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Gerudo Thief
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 54
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Quote:
What would you say if I said I know of a modern day possesion? A personal relationship with one infact. We're not talking fits, we're talking a dual personality that knows things not accumilated in that persons life time. We're talking about a personality not of that person. -And back to the main discussion and the first post, the Bible even claims that the church will fade away, We're in the end times of the church Biblically speaking. You say its survival of the fittest? I say it has nothing to do with fitness but ability to adapt to climate change. The world is said to be the devil's domain, he has more dominion every day, there for adapt and follow him by not following God, or reject the climate and eventually become extinct. Extinct here anyway, Heaven is a climate christians would fit in very nicely. (Heaven by Christian termanology that is) NuHylian |
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04-25-2008, 12:51 PM
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#16 |
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Antagonist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Southern Coast of WA
Posts: 979
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Quote:
Also, if the churches are going to fade away and more and more people are turning away from God, then quite frankly, God hasn't done a very good job of convincing people to his side if Satan's winning domain over Earth. Just a thought. Puck: I would answer you again, but Sage of Earth said everything better than I could have done.
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Why God is famous: Most famous for his creation of the universe, space, time, reality and penises, he has received mixed responses since. Despite this involvement, many have wondered whether God is really doing it for the lulz, considering his inexplicably random acts of world flooding, and absences at many major events throughout history - most famously at Auschwitz. While millions of still-born fetuses hit the ground with a thud, and millions more are ravaged by disease, it is some relief to know that his face will appear in home-made pies with alarming regularity.
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04-25-2008, 01:09 PM
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Adviser
 Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Dublin
Posts: 1,253
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Quote:
Anyways, I am actually considering "founding" my own religion, "Reform Monotheism". The "target audience" is for the people who you basicaly just described. So far, I have not assigned any religious text, and a personal relationship with the single deity is encouraged, however, the belief in this single deity is a requirement to be a member of this this religion. I'm not planning to bash out any other religions, or lack of religions, and in fact, no threat of "eternal hell" will be included in my religion. I don't want to scare people to joining it, and I don't actually believe that hell exists (not sure though). We have a few cool things in our religion, including the logical reasoning of ultimate forgiveness, which we believe God has (the "we" and "our" were used for my proposed religion to sound more popular than it actually is). Homosexuality is fine, and regarding abortion, well I am rather unsure about that area. I'm titled towards "ok in the early semesters", but I could be persuaded to it being wrong (for the record, my mother is against abortion).
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  "Try painting a picture with just a single shade of white (on white canvas). How interesting can you make it?" |
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04-25-2008, 01:13 PM
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Sage of Wisdom
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Cymru
Posts: 1,449
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Quote:
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Galactic Empire - Stormtrooper Sage of the Navy Sig made by Sugarpoultry. Thanks! Those who are strong: Fear us. Those who are weak: Seek us. We are The Order of the Black Knights |
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04-25-2008, 01:19 PM
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#19 |
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Gerudo Thief
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 54
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Personal experiance counts for nothing on this board though it should. It is an eyewitness account of things unexpalined by modern science yet explained by scripture. But I already see I made a msitake in opening myself up to people who have closed there ears befor I spoke so...
Ah yes proof, the only proof I have to offer is my own experiance and those who went through it with me, and as I know that won't convince you there's no point in me giving it. Nor would I drag people onto this board to try and convince you. I can offer one eyewitness, myself, that unless you agree to take it into consideration there's no point in me going into detail now is there. All I have to say is you can't completely rule out demonic possesion as mental dissorders for there have been people cured from it by Jesus, and why would the introduction of Jesus cure a mental dissorder. My testimony either makes me Insane, a Liar, or a person with a reason to believe. And reasoning can't sort that out for you over the internet, because unless you have my experiance, unless you were there, and even if you were, you'de most likely not believe. There is no litmus test of science for demons. NuHylian |
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04-25-2008, 01:28 PM
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#20 |