Dobson: We have lost all our battles so far, but the fight goes on

[Dan J 277]

growing concern that church attendance in the United States is heading the way of Britain, where no more than ten per cent worship every week.

Church attendance is going down, but America is still very religious, with an incredible 92 percent believing in God or a universal spirit:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8062300818.html

I wouldn't say very religious. An agnostic would believe in God, but would you really call them religious?

I suppose it depends on how you define religious. Webster says someone who is pious or devout is religious, so anyone who holds strong beliefs would fit that definition, whether or not they believe in God, or a universal spirit. If we define religious as those who believe in a higher power beyond perception, then religious would be more inclusive. If 92 percent hold that belief, then would it be safe to say Americans are typically religious? Can you be religious without participating in organized rites?

Religious tends to imply practice of some kind of religion. Agnostics, while they may believe in a God or other deity, don't necessarily practice a religion.

This article describes changing religious identification.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009...gion-ARIS_N.htm

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

growing concern that church attendance in the United States is heading the way of Britain, where no more than ten per cent worship every week.

Church attendance is going down, but America is still very religious, with an incredible 92 percent believing in God or a universal spirit:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8062300818.html

I wouldn't say very religious. An agnostic would believe in God, but would you really call them religious?

I suppose it depends on how you define religious. Webster says someone who is pious or devout is religious, so anyone who holds strong beliefs would fit that definition, whether or not they believe in God, or a universal spirit. If we define religious as those who believe in a higher power beyond perception, then religious would be more inclusive. If 92 percent hold that belief, then would it be safe to say Americans are typically religious? Can you be religious without participating in organized rites?

Religious tends to imply practice of some kind of religion. Agnostics, while they may believe in a God or other deity, don't necessarily practice a religion.

This article describes changing religious identification.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009...gion-ARIS_N.htm

Fom my cite:

The study detailed Americans' deep and broad religiosity, finding that 92 percent believe in God or a universal spirit -- including one in five of those who call themselves atheists. More than half of Americans polled pray at least once a day.

From that Pew study, it would seem more than half of Americans peform a religious act daily, with, or without participation in a religious group. The question still is, "Do you have to identify with an organized religion to consider yourself religious?"

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

growing concern that church attendance in the United States is heading the way of Britain, where no more than ten per cent worship every week.

Church attendance is going down, but America is still very religious, with an incredible 92 percent believing in God or a universal spirit:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...8062300818.html

I wouldn't say very religious. An agnostic would believe in God, but would you really call them religious?

I suppose it depends on how you define religious. Webster says someone who is pious or devout is religious, so anyone who holds strong beliefs would fit that definition, whether or not they believe in God, or a universal spirit. If we define religious as those who believe in a higher power beyond perception, then religious would be more inclusive. If 92 percent hold that belief, then would it be safe to say Americans are typically religious? Can you be religious without participating in organized rites?

Yes you can. There is a difference between religiosity and being religious.

[fozzie 41]

Wasn't it part of Revelations that faith in God would be low before the end of days?

Yeah but they just said that to make people go to church. FEAR!