People are less and less religious. Why? What will change this?

[abucs]

Why would we want to change it?

1. Because the belief that the basis of our created reality is devoid of intelligence is the less rational explanation.
2. Because the history Godlessness in the last century shows the mass insanity that it leads to.

 

[Elizabeth3]

There is no evidence I know of that Catholic, or other Christian education leads to a very much greater adherence to religion as people reach adulthood. The massive investment by the Catholic Church in education cannot be shown to produce useful results.

It seems that with no real cultural or societal support, all the education remains as ideas or theories in books and minds but is never realized and lived in day-to-day reality.

 

[abucs]

The idea that Catholic investment in education does not produce useful results needs to be fleshed out.

Historically Catholic education built the university and hospital systems and extended education to a wider section of the populace. It is from these institutions that modern science was born, nurtured, funded and developed.

Trying to see catholic education as simply a modern day ploy of putting bums on seats on a Sunday is a very unsophisticated and narrow minded viewpoint.

One of the problems with Catholic education in the last half century is that in too many places it has not tried to make its case but simply followed a left wing political replacement religion of universal secularism.

This has led to a huge dumbing down which I expect to see rectified in the next half century.

 

[ConfusedLucy]

I think when you have the majority of people living and working in a non Catholic environment it will always be harder.

 

[pocaracas]

pocaracas:

Why would we want to change it?

1. Because the belief that the basis of our created reality is devoid of intelligence is the less rational explanation.

LOL

1. Because the history Godlessness in the last century shows the mass insanity that it leads to.

LOL
Sweden!

 

[ConsistantlyBaffled]

The internet and a more globally connected world will inevitably make challenges for religion. 60 years ago, finding information about things outside your culture was much more difficult, so people were likely to just believe what everyone around them believed. If I’m unsatisfied with my life, I can go on the internet and find a global library and research every lifestyle under the sun. This also means I have access to rebuttals I would never hear from a Christian.

 

[MatthaiosX]

It’s hard to be religious in this culture that we live in (USA). I find it extremely difficult to be a practicing Orthodox Christian, but I continue to press on. I will admit that it is a struggle, and you ask, what will change this? I ask the same thing. I agree with what others have said…I think it would take great hardship in the form of economic strife or some other disaster to even get us THINKING about religion again, let alone practicing it. Someone else was on the right track when they said that the Internet has changed everything as well. We have information on EVERYTHING. This causes people to question everything and to lose faith. Institutions are now seen as inherently corrupt, therefore people don’t trust the Church at all. People will read something on the Internet and immediately believe it, even though anybody can put anything they want on the Internet without it being credible. It’s a sad situation we are in. I know that, for me, there is one True Faith that has stood the test of time and that is the one that I choose to follow. It can only be found in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

 

[MatthaiosX]

I guess I say this from personal experience, not as an overarching generalization. I have continuously been confronted at work and by family members for my religious beliefs. I find in my personal life that people just don’t agree with it and are almost offended by it. I have icons at my desk at work and I remember one individual the other day walked by and angrily said, “What are you, Catholic?!” I don’t know about you but just in the past week I have been confronted twice about my faith. I see this as the natural life of a Christian though, so I am not necessarily upset about it. You are right though, it is much more difficult to be in a place where people are killed for the faith, so my light burden probably means nothing in the grand scheme of things. Maybe I should have said it is somewhat difficult to be religious in the US rather than ‘extremely difficult’.

 

[ConfusedLucy]

People don’t seem to be so keen on institutions these days. No wonder organised religion doesn’t appeal.

 

[MatthaiosX]

Exactly, this is how Protestantism formed too. “Do-it-yourself” Christianity. Welcome to the new age I guess.

 

[Spyridon]

individual the other day walked by and angrily said, “What are you, Catholic?!” I don’t know about you but

God was bestowing a blessing on you - he blessed you twice in a week!

Glory to God for allowing you to suffer for the Name

 

[Spyridon]

Remember the words of the Apostle in Acts 5:40-41

“After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the Name of Jesus, and dismissed them. So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the Name.”

And remember the words even of Our Lord, God, and Savior himself:

“Blessed are you when people revile and curse you, for great is your reward in heaven - rejoice and be glad.”

 

[Athanasiy]

The reason is often well-being , people have everything they need, too good life, an abundance of material goods.
More comfort, more leisure, more permissiveness, and here come the temptation of diverting from the faith.
I was reminded of the thought of a Romanian pastor who suffered for Christ in Communist Romania and when he came to the United States,he came to the conclusion that to remain faithful with this freedom and abundance is even more difficult than under persecution.

 

[Spyridon]

. If it be that he also have a ghoulish look about him, long black lank hair combed behind the ears, bushy black eyebrows and heavy black moustache as did Vlad the Impal

I’m seriously starting to wonder if you’re just trolling…

I’m more worried that you’re actually serious, however.

 

[Spyridon]

Have you ever considered that your words to me are, in fact, quite sinful

Being critical of ridiculous posts on a forum is not sinful.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I have continuously been confronted at work and by family members for my religious beliefs.

My family all either believed like me or were Christians of other denominations who tolerated my beliefs, so I didn’t have that cross. As for work, the vast majority of my workplaces were large corporate employers or federal government offices that were all very cognizant of federal laws against discrimination and nobody would have made a remark about a person’s religion. I wasn’t one to have my whole cube decked out in Jesus pictures, but I never felt odd coming in to work with ashes or a crucifix on. I’m sure there are other places that aren’t so accepting, but in USA it doesn’t seem like atheism is expected like it is in some other countries.

 

[Spyridon]

When did I call you names or judge you?

I said the post you made was outrageous and wondered aloud if you were even serious or not.

How is that judging you or calling names?

You seriously don’t see how saying “ghoulish looking priests ought to make themselves look like Vlad the Impaler” is outrageous?

 

[Spyridon]

If you’re going to accuse me of name calling, callous judging, and serious sin, then you ought to be able to articulate just what it is I said which was so horrendous.

Welcome to CAF.

 

[MatthaiosX]

Sure, I see what you are saying. And I will admit that it is easier to be religious here than in a lot of other places. I should also add that, my comment on it being difficult was two-fold. The other side of my comment was meant to convey that fact that, given the type of lifestyle we have here in the USA, (economic prosperity, “the world at your fingertips”, etc.) it can be difficult to be religious. Temptation is everywhere. However, maybe my comment is in vain here since I hear that even a monastic life can be wrought with temptation! Alas, I can only speak from personal experience, so since I don’t know what life is truly like as a monastic, I can only speak about life as a layman. I do know that life in the USA makes it very easy for one to be NON-religious. An American could ask, “Why should I be religious anyway? We have everything we need, what’s the point?” And I think we all have to struggle against these thoughts. However, once again, maybe this struggle is just a part of the natural course of life that a Christian lives. We are trying to struggle against the passions, whereas the non-religious don’t have to do that.

 

[Spyridon]

We have everything we need, what’s the point?” And I think we all have to struggle against these thoughts. However, once again, maybe this struggle is just a part of the natural course of life that a Christian lives. We are trying to struggle against the passions, whereas the non-religious don’t have to do that.

Wisdom.

Let us attend.