Christian Message Boards: Religion takes a back seat in Western Europe

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Posted by redkermit (Member # 4059) on :

This is the title of the article on the front page of the USA Today for 8/11/05. Not sure if anyone posted about it, as I haven't had a chance to look around. I wanted to point out a couple of interesting things in the article.

Only 16% of people in the USA surveyed in 2000 say they "never" or "practically never" attend church. I would have thought it would be higher.

A couple quotes:

"As Western Europeans have moved away from traditional worship, more people say they are 'spiritual' rather than religious. Steve Hollinghurst, an Anglican priest, says, 'It's very much what's appealing to people now - spirituality that works with my lifestyle. ... Faith and spirituality are now viewed as consumer products. And that's had an impact on the way people view institutional churches.'"

Quote from a student in Dublin who "says he's merely typical of his generation":

'"I'm very spiritual," he says. "I speak to an energy force I call God, and I get answers," he says. "If you can get a spiritual connection without going to church, why go to church?"'

Posted by TEXASGRANDMA (Member # 847) on :

Unfortunately, being spiritual has a whole lot of meanings today. From worshipping a goddess to worshipping your inner self, sadly being spiritual today often has nothing to do with the true living God. George Harrison was spiritual but we were told here on this site last year that he would not allow anyone to talk about Jesus in his presence. God is tolerated today but Jesus is not. That is like building a house without a door. For Jesus is the door to Heaven and folks there is no crawling through any windows.

We have stars putting together their own religion by picking things they like from all religions. We have Scientology, Kabbalah, and New Age Religions, just a few popular ones at the moment. Though none of these led to a relationship with Jesus, they consider themselves spiritual. Yet many of the masses are joining in these religions, because “I go to the same Church as ___________!”

So yes, I can see a lot of people consider themselves spiritual, but sadly less consider themselves Christian. When you then go into the numbers who do consider themselves Christian, but do not believe you should take the Bible literally, or that God really meant that living the homosexual lifestyle was wrong, or God made me sexual of course God understands why I have a little affair on the side. Many consider themselves Christians but like those who put together their own religion, some Christians go through the Bible and pick and choose what they want to believe.

Judgment day may show a far different number of Christians then the polls taken today.
betty

Posted by GodGiven (Member # 4960) on :

In the end times the spirit of the Lord will be pourn out on all flesh. Everyone will see him. If your worried don't be, worry is a sin.

Posted by MySavingGrace (Member # 4697) on :

I fear an dfeel we should pray for Scientology followers.

I don't know the fully story on it, but I know its not good. It calls all relgion false and a poison, yet they ahve a church and I think call themselves the Church or the Religon of Scientology.

At elast Kabblah is off of Hebrew scriptures. Scientology, I don't get. And, I"ve looked up pictures with it and seen many thing sthat look bibilical or Micahelangelo inspired, yet corrupted and odd. I just sense a lot not right with that practice.

My dad told me most of Europe is turning secular, could be the world too.

Spirituality is good, but God comes first. Without God, how spiritual could I be in the right way?

Posted by hardcore (Member # 4492) on :

quote:
Originally posted by MySavingGrace:
At least Kabblah is off of Hebrew scriptures.

If you do a little research, you might change your mind about this.