Has America Gone Atheist?

[eptatorata]

tkdnick:

I can’t.

Do you agree that currently no atheistic politician can be elected to public office?

And second, there are other options besides just Christian and Atheist.

And this does what to the numbers?

I was merely pointing out that if we apply the survery of American population to Congress, then about 84% would consider themselves Christian.

Only if the surveyed sample and the members of Congress are both represenstative samples of the population at large. Are they?

 

[tkdnick]

eptatorata:

Do you agree that currently no atheistic politician can be elected to public office?

Sorry, I can’t agree to that because I just don’t know. It’s possible that, though it’s probably not probable. From my personal opinion, I would say that just about everyone in Congress would say they are Christian; however, I could certainly be wrong!

And this does what to the numbers?

Well IF the numbers are truly representative, then the remaining 16% who are not Christian have all the other categories: Atheist, Agnostic, Buddhist, Muslim, Bah’ai, etc., etc.

Only if the surveyed sample and the members of Congress are both represenstative samples of the population at large. Are they?

Right, only if both samples are truly representative. Sorry, I don’t know if they are, though I doubt Congress is truly representative of the population.

 

[Gilbert_Keith]

puzzleannie

You said of atheists:

they at least would be absolved of blame for offending God if they don’t acknowledge God.

That would be true if God did not plant the natural law in all of us. But since He did, I don’t think atheists get a free pass on immoral conduct.

 

[Gilbert_Keith]

tkdnick

From my personal opinion, I would say that just about everyone in Congress would say they are Christian; however, I could certainly be wrong!

You are on to something here. Since an atheist would have a hard time getting elected, would he/she conceal atheist convictions?

*Is it therefore possible that we have many atheists in government service who only pretend to be Christians?

 

[eptatorata]

Gilbert Keith:

You are on to something here. Since an atheist would have a hard time getting elected, would he/she conceal atheist convictions?

Perhaps.

Is it therefore possible that we have many atheists in government service who only pretend to be Christians?

Perhaps.

Perhaps the pews are full of them, too.

 

[tkdnick]

Gilbert Keith:

You are on to something here. Since an atheist would have a hard time getting elected, would he/she conceal atheist convictions?

I would certainly hope not!!! That would be awful!!!

 

[eptatorata]

tkdnick:

I would certainly hope not!!! That would be awful!!!

Are atheists to blame for everything you don’t like about society? Do you believe the roughly 10% of atheists are all members of a vast conspiracy that seduces the remaining 90%? Oddly enough, similar charges are levelled against the Religious Right.

 

[tkdnick]

eptatorata:

Are atheists to blame for everything you don’t like about society?

Did I say that??? NO! I said it would be awful if an Atheist was pretending to be a Christian in an effort to get elected to office. Just like it would be awful if a Christian pretended to be an Atheist to get something.

Do you believe the roughly 10% of atheists are all members of a vast conspiracy that seduces the remaining 90%?

WHAT??? Where are you getting this stuff from?

 

[eptatorata]

tkdnick:

Did I say that???

My apologies, in context it looked like standard-issue atheist bashing to me. It is sad indeed if somebody has to misrepresent personal beliefs for any reason.

The question to the broader audience stands, however. The opening posts is unambiguous about blaming atheism for any contentious issue where the general public does not follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. Are atheists a convenient scapegoat or are they such a powerful minority that they can sway a society at large?

 

[tkdnick]

eptatorata:

My apologies, in context it looked like standard-issue atheist bashing to me.

Nope, no standard “anything”-bashing for me.

 

[tkdnick]

eptatorata:

The question to the broader audience stands, however. The opening posts is unambiguous about blaming atheism for any contentious issue where the general public does not follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. Are atheists a convenient scapegoat or are they such a powerful minority that they can sway a society at large?

Do you have a theory as to why our world is in the state it is in?

 

[Maccabees]

Knocking atheist is but one part of the problem to me the bigger problem is those who proclaim to be catholic yet rule and govern as secularist or post modernist ie Kennedy, Kerry,
heck on the Supreme court Judge Kennedy is supposed to be catholic but is now referring to European law to justify his unconstitutional decisions, he’s anti-life, pro-gay etc
THis is bigger problem and this goes beyond catholcism of course many protestants in governemnt proclaim a faith and do the same thing proclaiming their faith is seperate than the governance its simply non-chistian to be christian one hour of the week and all the hours in the week your the same as anyone else.

 

[eptatorata]

tkdnick:

Do you have a theory as to why our world is in the state it is in?

Human nature.

People change, morals change except for the Golden Rule, societies change. Whether any particular change is for the better or worse isn’t always easy to answer if when gifted with perfect hindsight.

 

[Ahimsa]

tkdnick:

Do you have a theory as to why our world is in the state it is in?

Increase a nation’s prosperity, and you oftentimes see a loosening of moral strictures. It happened to the Methodists (even though don’t aren’t exactly a ‘nation’) in the 19th century.

 

[TheGarg]

4 marks:

And “protestantism” owes its origins to “Roman Catholicism,” and “Roman Catholicism” to “Judaism.” There are often many “protestants” who are more vocal against such things as abortion, euthanasia, and the cultural slide down the slippery slope of relativism in America than there are Roman Catholics. Listening to talk shows here in “Kennedy country” (Boston, MA), you would think it was a sacrament to let Terri Schiavo starve to death. Lots of practicing “Roman Catholics” out there are not as committed to the cause of life as many “protestants” I have known who are willing to get arrested for the cause, face jail time, and pay fines for the cause if need be.

Anti-“protestantism” is just as pitiful as anti-“Catholicism,” and I, for one, cannot stand for it.

Then sit down, my words are still true…protestantism breeds acceptance of evil…the more these “churches” break off, the more tolerant of Evil they are…

 

[Genesis315]

I do not think America has gone atheist. As has been mentioned above, true atheists aren’t that common and I doubt a declared atheist could get elected in this country. I think most people believe in a god. The problem is that it is not the true God. People have molded their own version of God to fit their own personal opinions and beliefs. I’ve met people who say things like, “I don’t think God will care if I have sex before marriage” or that God approves of homosexuality, contraception, divorce, and abortion. These people are not atheists. They believe in a false god.

 

[Gilbert_Keith]

GENESIS

I do not think America has gone atheist. As has been mentioned above, true atheists aren’t that common and I doubt a declared atheist could get elected in this country.

Is it posible that the true number of atheists is not really known simply because it is not yet expedient to be known as an atheist, and that atheists are a disproportionately large percent of the “educated” classes as opposed to the population at large?

And since the so-called “intelligentia” are supposed to run this country, and especially the courts, wouldn’t their influence in shaping morals be far greater than the influence of the average Catholic, Jew, Protestant, or Muslim?

I ask, does anyone seriously believe that politicians like Kennedy and Kerry are true Christians, given their chronic support of causes that fly in the face of Christ’s teachings?

So if Christians and other religious groups are truly running this country, I ask again, how do you explain the moral swamp we are in?

 

[Scullinius]

puzzleannie:

We should worry about the wolves in our own ranks before blaming the atheists. they at least would be absolved of blame for offending God if they don’t acknowledge God.

Well, it seems to me that a refusal to acknowledge Him would be in an of itself offensive to Him… especially since He created us for His greater glory… don’t you think?

 

[Exporter]

On March 24th (yesterday) the Judges in Florida decided to kill Terri S. by stavation.

The authorities stationed POLICE at the hospice to PREVENT A PRIEST FROM GIVING TERRI EXTREME UNCTION.

Yes we have the government using police to prevent the giving of Last Rites to a Catholic in Florida. This is the Government INTERFERRING with the PRACTICE of religion. What’s next?

 

[Exporter]

eptatorata:

Are atheists to blame for everything you don’t like about society? Do you believe the roughly 10% of atheists are all members of a vast conspiracy that seduces the remaining 90%? Oddly enough, similar charges are levelled against the Religious Right.

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EPTARATA, If you have something to say from you n/a stance toward religion - start a thread, and say it. I am sure a few will read it.