Thoughts of a Freethinker

The pattern I've seen is that there are two camps inside the faith studying and commenting on its future. One is actual analysts. The other is promoters. None of the analysts in the faith  see a "revival." All of the promoters claim there is one. There are now, and probably will be for a while in the future, churches that are growing. These are pointed to as models for how all churches could grow if the just did the right things. Some of those attending growing churches, of course, are from churches that closed.  The link points out surveys which have seen an uptick in questions like "the importance of religion". Some churches claim more young single men are showing up. This is offset by a decline of young women.  While the numbers attending church can be counted it is not so easy to measure what goes on at the church service. If some of the growth is at services that feature popular Christian rock music and very brief sermons with light content, should that be ...

Women who hear while growing up their role is to support a husband and raise children have also come to realize their own economic security is not part of that deal. They realize they can be left poor it they have no career outside their home. This is both self-interest and in the interests of children. Liberal and conservative women can see that depending on a man who might disappear, be disabled or lose his job/career is risky. Conservative women are criticized by their own people. Thinking about one's own economic security  not welcome. I wish I had tallied the number of times Christian critics of this blog have said I did not understand God's plan and intent for the genders. They repeated to old adage, "Men were created to reason. Women were created to feel." Besides being endowed with emotions, women were designed by God to have children. Their inability to reason, which men possess, is why they do not understand abortion is murder and men must be the ones with e...

Two professors asked lots of Christians questions about religious freedom and about groups Christian dislike. They found people who believe this is a "Christian nation" hold a variety of religious views on what religious views should be tolerated. These Christians had no use for groups they dislike, especially groups that criticize Christianity.  People who believe we are a "Christian nation" also claim to believe we are a country open to all religions. They do not, however, believe all religions are treated fairly. The one not treated fairly is Christianity. Many articles in Christian Post tell us the most persecuted religion in the world is Christianity. Have any of them noticed the "In God We Trust" on our money? My impression is that one is not an acceptable Christian is one does not believe Christians are beset upon. This is like the common version of history many deep evangelicals have told me about themselves. They were "sinners" before th...

Poland is a country identified with the Catholic Church. While Italy is home to the Vatican, Poland has a long history of devotion to the faith. Recently, however, a conservative publication sounded the alarm that religious instruction in public schools is being lowered in importance and resources. When one reads the statistics of Catholicism, one can see why.  Only 1/3 of Polish adults say the attend weekly mass. As with all polling asking, "How often do you attend mass?" many, thinking no one keeps track, no doubt overstate how often they attend. The number of priests and those entering priesthood training is falling. The same thing is happening in Italy, home of the Vatican. Lots of tricks have been used to get people to church. Decades ago it was the guitar mass. In Protestant churches it was Christian rock and/or adding a contemporary service with little preaching and lots of music. While apparently are some exceptions, attendance keeps falling. The peculiar thing is tha...

It is widely known fertility rates have declined to below the replacement rate. There are groups with vested political and economic interests who hype this as a terrible thing and say send us money to stop this. Only occasionally does one come across a balanced view of the seemingly inevitable decline in the world population. One appeared recently in The Atlantic but I'm unable to link it. We all know the dilemma of fewer births. More old people drawing Social Security and money for healthcare and fewer young people paying in. No let up in the need for "blue collar" workers but fewer workers. Salaries/costs will rise.  The article reaches the same conclusion I have mentioned here many times. What we call the standard of living may well fall, the article guesstimates 10%.  On the other hand, there will be some offsetting benefits. Less traffic, shorter line and smaller crowds. Natural resources will last longer and the severe impacts of climate change will be less. Part of...

A Catholic site recently discussed the question of how long a member should spend in the confession session with their priest. The article asked if 30 minutes was too long? A while back I wrote here about a book published by the Catholic professor who found the practice of confession is much less popular today than it was in the past. The majority of Catholics do not go to confession. Yet apparently some do. Perhaps it is more popular in some parishes. Older members are more likely to practice it than younger. My late friend who was a priest said listening to people drone on about details in their lives was quite boring. Catholic friends I've asked about confession said they learned while children they were to think of something insignificant, hear they are forgiven and leave. But reading the link about half hour confessions gives me the impression some Catholics view confession as a counselling session. They don't see it as an opportunity to get their sins forgiven but a time...