Are there cracks in America’s Christian foundation?

[trotsky]

Never mind those misguided folks at Pew. Several religious leaders weigh in to calm the flock and protect them from the disheartening news of their recent survey.

http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2015/05/texas-faith-are-there-cracks-in-americas-christian-foundation.html/

You can go read the whole thing if you want, it's funny to see all the contortions they're doing in order to avoid confronting the truth. There are some good contributions from the religious minorities: a rabbi, a UU pastor, a Muslim interfaith leader, and a "none." But to summarize:

1) The data can't be trusted. Because reasons.
2) Those poor misguided Pew folks didn't take into account the power of the Holy Spirit. (The X-FACTOR!!)
3) A 9% drop is greater than an 8% drop so really 8% isn't a big deal.
4) See #1 again.
5) Atheists are stupid and evil, and atheism is a belief system too.
6) The media misrepresented the results. (Refer to #1 again for good measure.)
7) The people leaving religion are wrong and just didn't have the right faith.

And there you have it. Again I am happy to see the worst faith offenders doing anything but looking at themselves and their own churches. This will only help hasten their demise.

[mountain grammy]

1. News flash for religious leaders..

the fundamentalist bullshit turns people off. Get religion out of government and out of politics NOW! It's as toxic and corrupting as big money.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. I could not agree more. You made a significant point.

I am just glad that the religious leaders are not likely to be reading your advice, because they might be inclined to take it. And that could lead to fewer people being turned off by them.

[skepticscott]

2. I love his money shot

Some have called for change in teaching, but usually by those who just simply know nothing about theology. No, what is needed is a renewal of faith, rooted in truth and the Holy Spirit — genuine renewal.

This is the kind of blather that the faitheists over in Religion tout as theological profundity (usually with a shot at the allegedly uncomprehending "New Atheists" thrown in), but WTF does it even mean? A "renewal of faith"? More like, STFU, stop questioning and just BELIEVE WHAT YOURE TOLD! And "rooted in truth"? If something were demonstrable truth, why the fuck would you need "faith" to be convinced of it? And of course, throwing in the vague and undefinable Holy Spirity thing is just the cherry on top of an intellectual dung heap.

[trotsky]

3. Yes of course.

It's not a problem with religion - it's just that we haven't tried the TRUE religion!

[onager]

7. But...we need GENUINE renewal!

How's that different from a regular old non-genuine renewal? Beats me. I think it's something like...

The Emperor's jockstrap is made of finest linen, not ordinary cotton.

It reminds me of the hilarious scene with the phony street preacher in Flannery O'Connor's Wise Blood (from memory):

"Y'all listen to the prophet! His church is different. Because it's...uh...hmm...ah...it's NEW!"

[AlbertCat]

8. but WTF does it even mean?

Something to do with quantum vibrations.....


or is it the Universal Consciousness (TM)?


At least it's not Sciencism!.... or something....

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. 'whistling past the graveyard' doesn't begin to cover it

Worst are the Catholic priest, who just says 'forget reality - I hold The Truth'; the "Distinguished Professor of History" who just says "screw your question", and then lies that the "vast majority" of 'nones' regularly attend church (Jeez, hasn't he heard that even the majority of Americans claiming a faith don't regularly attend church?); and the guy from the Dallas Theological Seminary who does a victory dance over the Catholics and mainline Protestants with "having a faith that is really a faith in God may be the lesson in that difference". With friends like that, the mainline churches don't need enemies.

[edhopper]

6. many believers

think that when they question their faith, it is a test, so they must, somehow, find a way back to it.
The have to ignore the very real questions that would lead to dismissing their faith.

[AlbertCat]

9. It takes tons of energy to keep these faiths from looking like....

..... the bunch of bunk they are. All that work for years and years to keep the reality of it at bay. No wonder it's hard to give it up.... you must put so much into it. My atheism seems effortless.

And I love the appeal to theology.

Theology is what intelligent people came up with to make their struggle with keeping the fact that it's bunk away look scholarly. To me it's like learning Klingon.... when you coulda learned, y'know, French or something. Theology is arguing whether Santa Claus comes down the chimney head first or feet first.