re: Christianity still loosing adherents

it's tied to education/income really. The more education you have along with a better income, than the less likely it is you will be a church goer. I think more people will be spiritual in the next 50 years over religious.

Quoting Tarynosaurus Rex:" I think it's awesome."

*fist bump*

*losing*

...and this is no surprise. Any Christian who actually believes their Bible, should find comfort in this. It was already prophesied.

Quoting ~Julie Blue Eyes~:" *losing* ...and this is no surprise. Any Christian who actually believes their Bible, should find comfort in this. It was already prophesied."

This is true aswell....

Quoting ~Julie Blue Eyes~:" *losing* ...and this is no surprise. Any Christian who actually believes their Bible, should find comfort in this. It was already prophesied."

Did the world end the last time Christian numbers took a little dive?

Eh, they lost me a few months ago.

I told my mother this and she says that it's proof that the rapture is coming and that I need to repent so that I can rejoice in heaven.

Quoting Leisurely Duchess:" Did the world end the last time Christian numbers took a little dive?"

No. However, I have read stories of "sharp decline" quite recently. It's more than a "little dive" and pretty soon, it will be a mass exodus.

Historically, Christian numbers have declined and increased, but the decline of Christianity, say, after 1948, is most prophetic. Since Israel's inception in 1948, prophecy has taken on a whole new spin.

Also, I believe the numbers to be generous; those claiming Christianity. I know TONS of people who say they believe in God, but are no more "Christian" than I am the queen of England. If I'm understanding correctly, the article states that about 59% of the people included in these numbers simply state a belief, not true adherence to the faith.

Quoting MysticWitchKat:" it's tied to education/income really. The more education you have along with a better income, than the ... [snip!] ... the less likely it is you will be a church goer. I think more people will be spiritual in the next 50 years over religious."

This is a good point. It is generally true that religiosity declines as social health increases, which would include better education. By "religiosity declines" it is not meant t automatically imply that atheism increases, but that religion tends to depart from fundamentalism, soometimes into irreligion, but with a lot of people keeping at least some kind of creator god belief while rejecting almost all other conventional religious beliefs. Atheism does increase in those cases, but deism and pantheism does as well.

Quoting ~Julie Blue Eyes~:" No. However, I have read stories of "sharp decline" quite recently. It's more than a "little dive" and ... [snip!] ... article states that about 59% of the people included in these numbers simply state a belief, not true adherence to the faith."

 

Tell us the other "prophecies".

Quoting Leisurely Duchess:"   Tell us the other "prophecies"."

Reading it is so much better.  

Quoting ~Julie Blue Eyes~:" Reading it is so much better.  "

No, because different Christian groups have twisted verses around and end up with different prophecies and different end times. I can't just assume you think the Rapture is coming on the 21st.

Muslims do the same with their crappy interpreting of scripture. But at least their "prophecies" are more specific, the typically invoke science, math and technology, and noot just point out "duh" things that have already happened in history, or are logical conclusions from deductive reasoning, or are events that have a tendency to repeat themselves in different cultures.

I don't see how anyone could be shocked by this...

Homophobes chased me out of Christianity. I recall going to Sunday school (mom made me) and the topic of homosexuality came up. I defended gay rights and was attacked for it.

That ruined the whole religion for me. I have gay aunts and cousins and I can't associate with a religion like that.

Quoting Leisurely Duchess:" No, because different Christian groups have twisted verses around and end up with different prophecies ... [snip!] ... logical conclusions from deductive reasoning, or are events that have a tendency to repeat themselves in different cultures."

I agree with you about it being open to interpretation and I also believe the Bible is largely based on faith, alone.

Christianity is based upon the belief that you need a Savior and that nothing you can do can make that happen. You rely solely on God's grace to be saved.

No other religion offers that, hence my adherence to the faith.

I, like many others, find that the truths that are apparent in the Bible, lend to that same faith concept. Since the Bible also leaves many things open to interpretation, all one can do is believe in something intangible, led by the promises and prophecies already fulfilled.

Any Christian who says that they have all the answers is being grossly mislead by their own pride.

Quoting ~Julie Blue Eyes~:" I agree with you about it being open to interpretation and I also believe the Bible is largely based ... [snip!] ... already fulfilled. Any Christian who says that they have all the answers is being grossly mislead by their own pride."

No other religion offers that, hence my adherence to the faith.

Islam also preaches that humans need salvation and that only god can grant it. Do you think Christianity is really that unique or do you simply not know much about other religions? And if that's your reason for believing, it's a bad one.

Some groups of Christians preach that faith and works are required, so yes they would say that there are some things you can do.

The Bible supports the "faith only", "works only" and "faith & works" doctrines equally because it's too incoherent to outline clear, unambiguous doctrine. Cherry picking "interpretation" is always required; whatever one part of the Bible a Christian believes, they must find some justification for discarding or creatively interpreting another part that contradicts it.

Slightly off topic, that's the secondary reason that Christians do not get morality from the Bible. They cherry pick it following their own personalities and moral compasses. The primary reason they don't get morality from the Bible is because the Bible is not a moral guidebook in the first place, for every moral teaching there are ten immoral ones.

Quoting Leisurely Duchess:" No other religion offers that, hence my adherence to the faith. Islam also preaches that humans need ... [snip!] ... Bible is because the Bible is not a moral guidebook in the first place, for every moral teaching there are ten immoral ones."

The two religions do share some terminology and even some theology (monotheism, for instance) but Islam is fundamentally different from Christianity.

Islam is a "works" oriented religion, while the Christian faith is based on salvation, grace through faith, only as the result of the shed blood of Christ.

Basically, you can't get to Heaven without Jesus and His sacrifice. NOTHING else gets you there, according to the Bible.