Prediction on atheism trends in the US

[Mike Lovell]

People in the United States who are irreligious:

Over 60's 6%
18-22 25%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_the_United_States


Predictions for 10, 25, 50 & 100 years?


Oh, and...

"The study also found that "[t]hey tend to be more educated, more
affluent and more likely to be male and unmarried than those with
active faith""

--
Jews, Christians & Muslims
The content of your posts will show how much you
really believe God is looking over your shoulder

[duke]

On Mon, 21 May 2012 20:02:21 -0500, Mike Lovell <mike....@null.local> wrote:

>People in the United States who are irreligious:
>
>Over 60's 6%
>18-22 25%
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_the_United_States
>
>Predictions for 10, 25, 50 & 100 years?

Massive return to the Church.

>Oh, and...

> "The study also found that "[t]hey tend to be more educated, more
> affluent and more likely to be male and unmarried than those with
> active faith""

duke - American American

*****
2012 - end of an error
Vote Republican in 2012
*****

[Alex W.]

On Mon, 21 May 2012 20:02:21 -0500, Mike Lovell wrote:

> People in the United States who are irreligious:
>
> Over 60's 6%
> 18-22 25%
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_the_United_States
>
>
> Predictions for 10, 25, 50 & 100 years?

Studies and polls on this are to be treated with a great deal of
caution, I have found. Aside from the usual problems of
self-selection and unclear wording, the questions often do not
make sufficiently clear the distinction between unchurched,
agnostic and atheist. For that matter, I would find it doubtful
that the respondents themselves always clear on the precise
definitions of these terms.

For a global take on the belief in god (or absence thereof), do
look at this recent study:

http://www.norc.org/PDFs/Beliefs_about_God_Report.pdf

[Joe Bruno]

On Monday, May 21, 2012 6:02:21 PM UTC-7, Mike Lovell wrote:
> People in the United States who are irreligious:
>
> Over 60's 6%
> 18-22 25%
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_the_United_States
>
>
> Predictions for 10, 25, 50 & 100 years?
>
>
> Oh, and...
>
> "The study also found that "[t]hey tend to be more educated, more
> affluent and more likely to be male and unmarried than those with
> active faith""
>
> --

Religious practice and belief is governed by many variables.
Without knowing the value of those variables, it is near impossible to make
logical predictions.

Incidentally, I am male, unmarried, with a college degree and a year of law school under my belt.My education also includes numerous Navy technical schools
in fields like engineering,physics, military law and ship damage control.

My income is just a tad over $50,000 a year.That is all retirement income.

I doubt anyone would call me an atheist.

[sbalneav]

duke <duckg...@cox.net> wrote:
> On Mon, 21 May 2012 20:02:21 -0500, Mike Lovell <mike....@null.local> wrote:
>
>>People in the United States who are irreligious:
>>
>>Over 60's 6%
>>18-22 25%
>>
>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_the_United_States
>>
>>Predictions for 10, 25, 50 & 100 years?
>
> Massive return to the Church.

Based on what?

[Mike Lovell]

On 2012-05-22, Joe Bruno <ajt...@cox.net> wrote:
> On Monday, May 21, 2012 6:02:21 PM UTC-7, Mike Lovell wrote:
>> People in the United States who are irreligious:
>>
>> Over 60's 6%
>> 18-22 25%
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_the_United_States
>>
>>
>> Predictions for 10, 25, 50 & 100 years?
>>
>>
>> Oh, and...
>>
>> "The study also found that "[t]hey tend to be more educated, more
>> affluent and more likely to be male and unmarried than those with
>> active faith""
>

> Incidentally, I am male, unmarried, with a college degree and a year
> of law school under my belt.My education also includes numerous
> Navy technical schools in fields like engineering,physics, military
> law and ship damage control.
>
> My income is just a tad over $50,000 a year.That is all retirement income.
>
> I doubt anyone would call me an atheist.

Well no, obviously it's a trend not a rule.

But actually I might call you someone with atheistic tendencies. You're
dipping your toe in the waters of atheism here.

Curiosity? But why they may ask? :-)

[Mike Lovell]

Thanks,

Yes I think they summarized this on a different WIKI page on the subject
of irreligious around the world.

[Christopher A. Lee]

On Tue, 22 May 2012 14:50:37 +0000 (UTC), sbalneav
<sbal...@alburg.net> wrote:

>duke <duckg...@cox.net> wrote:
>> On Mon, 21 May 2012 20:02:21 -0500, Mike Lovell <mike....@null.local> wrote:
>>
>>>People in the United States who are irreligious:
>>>
>>>Over 60's 6%
>>>18-22 25%
>>>
>>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_the_United_States
>>>
>>>Predictions for 10, 25, 50 & 100 years?
>>
>> Massive return to the Church.
>
>Based on what?

Church leaders also say this - but they're too stupid to realise that
it would be like believing in the Easter Bunny again.

The evangelist types claim that non-Christians "ask them about Jesus"
and immediately become Christian - I've heard this transparent
falsehood so many times.

It's meant for their fellow believers who can't think outside the box
to understand people who don't already believe.

[sbalneav]

Christopher A. Lee <ca...@optonline.net> wrote:
> On Tue, 22 May 2012 14:50:37 +0000 (UTC), sbalneav
> <sbal...@alburg.net> wrote:
>
>>duke <duckg...@cox.net> wrote:
>>> On Mon, 21 May 2012 20:02:21 -0500, Mike Lovell <mike....@null.local> wrote:
>>>
>>>>People in the United States who are irreligious:
>>>>
>>>>Over 60's 6%
>>>>18-22 25%
>>>>
>>>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_the_United_States
>>>>
>>>>Predictions for 10, 25, 50 & 100 years?
>>>
>>> Massive return to the Church.
>>
>>Based on what?
>
> Church leaders also say this - but they're too stupid to realise that
> it would be like believing in the Easter Bunny again.

I've seen some accounts of people who "used to be atheists" who re-found their
faith. While I won't rule out the possibility, it seems hard to believe. Most
people who become atheists appear to do so not on a whim, but after a prolonged
period of actially thinking *very seriously* on the topic. (Certainly, it was
that way for me). I can't imagine setting aside all that careful thought, and
then saying, "Nah, I was wrong about all that".

But I could be wrong about that :)

Duke's bald assertion, however, demands at least an attempt at him justifying
it.

[duke]

On Tue, 22 May 2012 14:50:37 +0000 (UTC), sbalneav <sbal...@alburg.net> wrote:

>duke <duckg...@cox.net> wrote:
>> On Mon, 21 May 2012 20:02:21 -0500, Mike Lovell <mike....@null.local> wrote:
>>
>>>People in the United States who are irreligious:
>>>
>>>Over 60's 6%
>>>18-22 25%
>>>
>>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_the_United_States
>>>
>>>Predictions for 10, 25, 50 & 100 years?
>>
>> Massive return to the Church.
>
>Based on what?

Cyclic, and the moment a world crisis hits, many will return in droves.

[duke]

On Tue, 22 May 2012 17:22:11 +0000 (UTC), sbalneav <sbal...@alburg.net> wrote:

>Christopher A. Lee <ca...@optonline.net> wrote:
>> On Tue, 22 May 2012 14:50:37 +0000 (UTC), sbalneav
>> <sbal...@alburg.net> wrote:
>>
>>>duke <duckg...@cox.net> wrote:
>>>> On Mon, 21 May 2012 20:02:21 -0500, Mike Lovell <mike....@null.local> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>People in the United States who are irreligious:
>>>>>
>>>>>Over 60's 6%
>>>>>18-22 25%
>>>>>
>>>>>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_the_United_States
>>>>>
>>>>>Predictions for 10, 25, 50 & 100 years?
>>>>
>>>> Massive return to the Church.
>>>
>>>Based on what?
>>
>> Church leaders also say this - but they're too stupid to realise that
>> it would be like believing in the Easter Bunny again.
>
>I've seen some accounts of people who "used to be atheists" who re-found their
>faith. While I won't rule out the possibility, it seems hard to believe.

NOt really. They were never "atheists", but instead agnostics. They could not
come to grips with the evidence. Now they can. I was a lapsed Catholic for 20
years, and then finally accepted that I was wrong.

> Most
>people who become atheists appear to do so not on a whim, but after a prolonged
>period of actially thinking *very seriously* on the topic. (Certainly, it was
>that way for me). I can't imagine setting aside all that careful thought, and
>then saying, "Nah, I was wrong about all that".

>But I could be wrong about that :)

>Duke's bald assertion, however, demands at least an attempt at him justifying
>it.

An atheist, by definition, denies/rejects the existence of God. Now what
evidence does one have for such a firm statement? The answer is none. Many
people question, and hence fall way. But falling away is not turning to
flat-out rejection. I'm living proof of that.

[Mike Lovell]

On 2012-05-23, duke <duckg...@cox.net> wrote:
> An atheist, by definition, denies/rejects the existence of God. [...]

Poor Duke, how long has he been posting here?

Still doesn't know what an atheist is.

He is perhaps the very definition of ignorance. Impressive.

[Jeanne Douglas]

In article <slrnjrq6pl.53...@usenet.home.b0h0.com>,

Mike Lovell <mike....@null.local> wrote:

> On 2012-05-23, duke <duckg...@cox.net> wrote:
> > An atheist, by definition, denies/rejects the existence of God. [...]
>
> Poor Duke, how long has he been posting here?
>
> Still doesn't know what an atheist is.
>
> He is perhaps the very definition of ignorance. Impressive.

Not ignorance. WILLFUL ignorance.

--
JD

"the lybian lier"

[Christopher A. Lee]

Most theists are wilfully ignorant about this.

They get it wrong, we correct them and they haven't the courtesy of
common sense to grant it.

Even if they can't understand it they should at least accept that
this is how we see ourselves.

But instead they try to "prove" they were right but instead just tell
us how arrogantly and stupidly rude they are.

The walls their religion has erected around their minds block it out
because if they accepted that we were honest about what we are and
they actually understood it, it would cast doubt on their foundational
beliefs.

After all, they can't trust atheists. so we must be lying about
ourselves.

It's the easier "explanation" and it actually confirms their booted
prejudice.


confirming their bigoted prejudices that we are un

[sbalneav]

As you've been told repeatedly, this is trivially not the definition of an
atheist. You're an "American American", Here's the definition from your
"American" dictionary:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism

2) a: a disbelief in the existence of deity

Do you see any "denial" or "Rejection" in there?
By the way, when are you going going to provide some cites for your "Massive
return to the Church" statement?