Do you feel anxiety about the decline of religion?

[djeter]

Listen to Fr. Barron on the role of the Church (6 minutes – best 6 minutes you will spend today)

payingattentiontothesky.com/2009/07/28/letting-the-life-out/

In Christ,

dj

 

[Charlotte408]

I just smile at the super-intellectual professional atheists who spend their entire lives fighting a God that they claim does not even exist.

I LOVE athiests…LOVE LOVE LOVE them… they make my heart smile inside <3

especially athiests on this website…they’re the best…I go out of my way to add them as friends…talk to them…keep up with them…i LOVE them…

lol…just this morning I caught one viewing the thread: ‘tell me your conversion stories’ a thread where people were telling what defining moment changed their minds…

hmmm hmm…its INTRIGUES me that they are so interested in something they dont believe in…they ask all the questions, bring out all the answers…they dont even know how close they are to Him…in fact, by being here there already half way there…they just have to accept Him…they’re just sooo close…

I LOVE them for their desire to seek Him…to some it might be offensive, like their out to destroy Him, prove he doesnt exist…but the fact is He DOES EXIST…so I praise them on their journey and look forward to the day they find Him <33

 

[Don_L]

Listen to Fr. Barron on the role of the Church (6 minutes – best 6 minutes you will spend today)

payingattentiontothesky.com/2009/07/28/letting-the-life-out/

In Christ,

dj

Thanks, That’s a great website!

 

[Don_L]

I LOVE athiests…LOVE LOVE LOVE them… they make my heart smile inside <3

especially athiests on this website…they’re the best…I go out of my way to add them as friends…talk to them…keep up with them…i LOVE them…

lol…just this morning I caught one viewing the thread: ‘tell me your conversion stories’ a thread where people were telling what defining moment changed their minds…

hmmm hmm…its INTRIGUES me that they are so interested in something they dont believe in…they ask all the questions, bring out all the answers…they dont even know how close they are to Him…in fact, by being here there already half way there…they just have to accept Him…they’re just sooo close…

I LOVE them for their desire to seek Him…to some it might be offensive, like their out to destroy Him, prove he doesnt exist…but the fact is He DOES EXIST…so I praise them on their journey and look forward to the day they find Him <33

The main missing element in an atheist and a believer is obviously “faith.” Atheists are often, almost believers that simply can’t trust, because they demand PROOF!

The type that would never use a parachute unless the plane was already on the ground.

 

[Charlotte408]

Atheists are often, almost believers that simply can’t trust, because they demand PROOF!

They’ll have their proof…sure enough…sooner or later…thats where **our faith **comes into play…we should have enough faith for the lot of em’…if we had faith in our Lord and that he would open their eyes, everybody’s eyes, we wouldnt be so displeased by the athiests…I love em’ and admire their quest for truth, have faith that the truth will prevail as it always does <3

 

[Wowbagger]

Yes and no.

Yes, because the growing open hostility toward religion (the closer to Catholicism, the worse the hostility) constitutes a great trial of faith, and, ultimately (perhaps I am being paranoid!), I fear an old-timey persecution is a’comin’. And that - despite all the saints that get made during persecutions - would suck. I don’t want to be a martyr!

No, because religion in the West has been deeply compromised of late. Outside the Catholic Church, it really often has become divorced from reason, and populates itself through facially insane doctrines like Biblical literalism and sheer emotion. Ultimately, neo-atheism poses a challenge to those sorts of faiths that will prove fatal. The God Delusion is a trivial, often laughable manifesto to any reasonably well-educated Catholic, but, to the vast majority of those living inauthentically Christian lives, it cannot be answered. True, those affected by neo-atheism will lose their religious faith (for a time), but the upshot is that they will begin to value reason as a tool for human knowledge again. Once they’ve started caring about reason again, the Catholic Church will inexorably sink its claws into them and drag them in – kicking and screaming if need be.

In this way, I see the present decline of religion as part of the Big Plan: neo-atheism burns up the weeds and the chaff of bad religion, but leaves the good wheat standing. Then the good wheat - that’s us - will spread across the field, and the harvest will be all the better for it.

I just hope the fire doesn’t touch the good wheat in the meantime.

 

[Peter_Dawson]

It seems as if developed countries, foremost, are being critically hit by the growth of secularism. The traditional worldview of Judeo-Christianity in Europe and North America is becoming viewed as “bigoted,” “medieval,” and “naive” by our younger generations.

I’ve not heard about it much on CAF, but is this trend reversible? Am I the only one who seems to be worried?

We are probably experiencing the 2 Thessalonians 2 “apostacy” – sometimes loosely translated “The Great Falling Away,” on the theory that if it weren’t really, really big, then Paul would not have bothered mentioning it.

Factors generating this decline are, in my opinion,

(1) our culture’s secular humanism;
(2) television and computer screens and the consummate philosophical homogenization which results;
(3) the failure of our Church to come to grips with the impact of screens;
(4) the sex scandals caused by priests and bishops.

As the Church declines and our culture paganizes, the Devil will get around to tempting our culture to victimize the Christians, especially the Catholics. In the lifetimes of our children – soon, in other words – the blood of martyrs will flow, again, I believe.

 

[katgee]

Charlotte,

That is a great post and thank you for sharing!! I have a sister who has come back and is now quoting the Pope. It is important we do not hide our faith but be tactful and open and ever present to others. I think as well, for the small numbers of those defending their faith, that we call on our Blessed Mother Mary to magnify our prayers and works for the Gospel.

I was on Newsvine for awhile and took on the two big atheists…I spoke in a loving, fraternal way with them. It came out that what they find most difficult are the American Fundamentalists…so many times the people who were most anti religion were damaged by sects while growing up. I encouraged both of them to read Summa Theologica, the erudite more their style. One in particular was somewhat defending me with the more crude online, and I ended up genuinely liking him – with reserve.

Of course there is reference to the priest sex scandal in the church…I came to the defense of the vast majority of good priests, but then others would bring up the deal about all the church’s ‘money’. I explained to the best of my ability the nature and mission of the church, and later read posts enlightened by that.

It was difficult defending Pope Benedict and his statement that condems were not the answer. It was difficult stating why living a sexually liberal life was not good, the value of the traditional role of women, that sex is the instrument that brings children into the world…so handle with care and reserve. The hard line pool would not back off and I found them more difficult than the two main atheists.

But it was most difficult to explain pastorally when it came to the 9 year old girl who was excommunicated in Brazil along with her mother and doctor for having an abortion of her twins, fathered by her incestuous stepfather.

Charlotte, I think your experience reveals what alot of people suspect is that we have a highly vocal, aggressive and combative Far Left Mouthspeak that dominates everything and everywhere, but it doesn’t mean people are following them. It is best to go under the radar and reach out to people, praying and studying the best way to reach people. My sister told me there are those who will come back as she did, as you say.

I would like to invite the atheists on Newsvine to come here.

 

[Don_L]

Charlotte,

That is a great post and thank you for sharing!! I have a sister who has come back and is now quoting the Pope. It is important we do not hide our faith but be tactful and open and ever present to others. I think as well, for the small numbers of those defending their faith, that we call on our Blessed Mother Mary to magnify our prayers and works for the Gospel.

I was on Newsvine for awhile and took on the two big atheists…I spoke in a loving, fraternal way with them. It came out that what they find most difficult are the American Fundamentalists…so many times the people who were most anti religion were damaged by sects while growing up. I encouraged both of them to read Summa Theologica, the erudite more their style. One in particular was somewhat defending me with the more crude online, and I ended up genuinely liking him – with reserve.

Of course there is reference to the priest sex scandal in the church…I came to the defense of the vast majority of good priests, but then others would bring up the deal about all the church’s ‘money’. I explained to the best of my ability the nature and mission of the church, and later read posts enlightened by that.

It was difficult defending Pope Benedict and his statement that condems were not the answer. It was difficult stating why living a sexually liberal life was not good, the value of the traditional role of women, that sex is the instrument that brings children into the world…so handle with care and reserve. The hard line pool would not back off and I found them more difficult than the two main atheists.

But it was most difficult to explain pastorally when it came to the 9 year old girl who was excommunicated in Brazil along with her mother and doctor for having an abortion of her twins, fathered by her incestuous stepfather.

Charlotte, I think your experience reveals what alot of people suspect is that we have a highly vocal, aggressive and combative Far Left Mouthspeak that dominates everything and everywhere, but it doesn’t mean people are following them. It is best to go under the radar and reach out to people, praying and studying the best way to reach people. My sister told me there are those who will come back as she did, as you say.

I would like to invite the atheists on Newsvine to come here.

" It is best to go under the radar
But, Paul calls on us to discern truth and admonish. You can’t really do that under low radar. Perhaps this is the beginning of another age of martyrs and we need to be seen and heard.

Christ never relenquished alternative view time, during the Sermon on the Mount, to Satan, in the spirit of fairness, as the godless would demand.

 

[Angel7]

The reason that developed coutries seem to be becoming secular is because the more you have, the less you “need” G-d. The poor and the destitute only have one person to rest on, and that’s G-d.

Its true, there is a saying, Jesus is all you know when Jesus is all you have, (Or is it the other way around?), anyway, don’t worry, the West (A Powerful center for judeo-christianity Morals in ages past) is becoming very Secularized at a high rate, but there is a solution!!!
Offer a prayer every day (a rosary would be AWESOME) for the salvation of souls, and a prayer for Saint Michaels help. I can feel it’ll work.

Also, The rest of the world is becoming more christian! There are countless Sighting of Jesus in the middle east, and its flipping the middle east upside down. There is a RAPID growth of christianity in China! Probably 80+ and rising, (hard to tell since they avoid the goverment) and in other countries in the FAR east. So the west may be dieing slowly, but the rest of the world is on fire!!! keep praying!:extrahappy:

 

[Angel7]

The main missing element in an atheist and a believer is obviously “faith.” Atheists are often, almost believers that simply can’t trust, because they demand PROOF!

The type that would never use a parachute unless the plane was already on the ground.

God is seeking out those who don’t believe, Jesus will draw everything to him. Think about it, if athiests REALLY didn’t care, they wouldn’t be on catholic answers. G-d is seeking them out, he is drawing them to G-d! We should help Athiests with any questions on the faith whenever possible!

:nunchuk: LOVE IS NOT A WIMP EMOTION!!!

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

It seems as if developed countries, foremost, are being critically hit by the growth of secularism. The traditional worldview of Judeo-Christianity in Europe and North America is becoming viewed as “bigoted,” “medieval,” and “naive” by our younger generations.

I’ve not heard about it much on CAF, but is this trend reversible? Am I the only one who seems to be worried?

No, not in the least. I think it’s to be expected. 2,000 years is a good innings for a religion, so it’s not surprising if Christianity dies out. There may be groups of Christians here or there in time to come, but one can hardly expect Christianity not to die out: everything else in the world does, so why should that be exempt ?​

 

[Angel7]

I personally, feel quite the contrary…

I do see a sort of ‘war’ going on between secularism and religion though…like, I can see how its seems like the odds are stacked up against us…but…its not ‘hopeless’ by far…for someone thats always been religious they might think, that, idk- and im talking about here in america, the west, they might think that religion is on the decline…the obama administration and the whole radical abortion thing…gay marriage all over the news…i’m in school and the way they teach in public schools…its true everything is soo…anti- religious…

but for someone like me…i see the other side…im around nothing but non-religious kinda people…really, you might consider them dreggs of society …lol… whatever …those are just the people i’ve always been around…and look at me now…i returned to the catholic church, and with vigor… more passion than if i had always been in the church im sure…because ive seen firsthand this immoral lifestyle…its like instead of taking it on ‘faith’ i fully entrust myself into the belief on experience…i know what God says is right and true because i’ve seen the lies exposed, you know what i mean??? and no one trying to convert me could have…it was like a higher calling…something bigger than me saying ‘come home’ sorry if it sounds cliche’…

but my point is, im not the only one…a lot of people i know are starting to talk about things that they werent concerned with before…talking about things in a different way…and not because they went to church…something inside them is making them care-

just recently we had that vote here in california for same sex marriage…i went to vote with a group (some college students, some my friends) …all different ethnicities, backgrounds, religions…totally different agendas going on and we never discussed our opinions until after we came out…kinda like ‘so what’d ya vote on??’

and i was shocked to see that we all voted against same sex marriage…just one little example … something bigger is starting to unite us…you might not see it from where you are…but…i think where it matters most, where people need it the most…changes are happening…

I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN!!! I feel like i’ve been to the Edge and back Kinda (though i didn’t go Too far), I look back as im a new person, and I can’t believe how Society is today!

 

[katgee]

About under the radar…this is the response by the older folks who trusted those in the Church who later betrayed them…or avoiding those who would…or avoid being labelled a hothead…or wasting your time speaking to the wrong people…or having those who appear devout only work against you or marginalize you because they were also part of the power and ego John Paul II had defined as a serious problem in the American church.

Going under the radar is being wise, it is building the Body of Christ through humility, prayer and walk in the Holy Spirit.

There were ancient Christians who were put to death for knocking down pagan statues in the streets of ancient Rome. They thought they would die as martyrs. The Church called it suicide.

We must always demonstrate faith combined with charity and reason and discernment…thus the active contemplative way of living the beatitudes combined with an active Sacramental life in union with the spirit of the Church bears good fruit, and yes, with the intent to live for Christ, to lay down one’s life for Him. We were always having that challenge in the 1950’s American Catholic schools…if we were confronted, would we affirm our faith in Christ, and risk death, or say we deny Him to have this life.

 

[grannymh]

No, not in the least. I think it’s to be expected. 2,000 years is a good innings for a religion, so it’s not surprising if Christianity dies out. There may be groups of Christians here or there in time to come, but one can hardly expect Christianity not to die out: everything else in the world does, so why should that be exempt ?​

Please do not lump Catholicism with your above opinion of Christianity dying out.

 

[Neil_Anthony]

It seems as if developed countries, foremost, are being critically hit by the growth of secularism. The traditional worldview of Judeo-Christianity in Europe and North America is becoming viewed as “bigoted,” “medieval,” and “naive” by our younger generations.

I’ve not heard about it much on CAF, but is this trend reversible? Am I the only one who seems to be worried?

I think it is reversible - when it becomes old-fashioned enough, it’ll start seeming unusual and counter-cultural, then a young generation will pick it up again.

 

[Angel7]

No, not in the least. I think it’s to be expected. 2,000 years is a good innings for a religion, so it’s not surprising if Christianity dies out. There may be groups of Christians here or there in time to come, but one can hardly expect Christianity not to die out: everything else in the world does, so why should that be exempt ?​

Because the Lord promsed this when he Built his church on Peter (the Rock), That even the Gates of Hell will not withstand The Church of G-D. Evil wins when Good lies DOrmant, thats my signature. 80% of so called “catholics don’t go to Mass on sundays” only 20% take it seriously. The Church is going through a time of heavy “Sleep” but it will Never die.

 

[katgee]

I do think we need people out there to open people’s eyes to the truth of the history of the Church. I did share on the Church’s work in developing universities, hospitals and hospice, the work of Augustinian Mengel, and so on. It would only go so far. The young people have been brainwashed to believe such things that religion caused more deaths than any other.

One young lady did a research on the history of war and showed most were caused by seculars/imperialists. Another fellow did one, and his showed numbers of wars caused by religion were far less than by those who were not religious…maybe around 6% or so.

To do a thorough study of causes of war should be a concerted effort by those capable of doing so.

Regarding the errors the fundamentalists spread about Catholics, one can check out AmazingFacts blog who lists the top 10 misperceptions…pretty simple and clear. It is a keeper.

 

[Don_L]

No, not in the least. I think it’s to be expected. 2,000 years is a good innings for a religion, so it’s not surprising if Christianity dies out. There may be groups of Christians here or there in time to come, but one can hardly expect Christianity not to die out: everything else in the world does, so why should that be exempt ?​

Actually there is a difference between a low tide and a dried up ocean. We are merely looking at a religion during one of those many tidal changes, since the person who it’s about has guaranteed it’s ultimate success, in spite of the temporary glee of those who have cheered its demise over the last two milleninia.

 

[catholic1seeks]

Anxious for the Atheists!