How Religion is Fighting Back



No one, not even the most religious among us, can say religion in the U. S. is growing. The only conclusion is that it is becoming smaller.  There are daily articles on how it should fight back to it "rightful" place of growth and dominance. Books are being given away which sound the alarm of a godless society.

One popular narrative used in articles written by those of the religious right is that its problems are being caused by either supernatural beings, like Satan, or, by scheming and sinister forces of the left. Maybe some say the two have joined forces.

The possibility that religion itself is the cause of its decline never seems to come up when religious people write about it. A prominent New York Times writer today said the main problem in religion is its dogmatic "blowhards." These are the anti gay and anti women/abortion zealots. This group does seem to harm the faith but probably they are not the main problem.

As the link points out, the problem of the faith is that is preaches things that just are not true. At least those who look for answers cannot find them in the faith. People already hooked on it do not look for answers.

There is an unstoppable force of knowledge that pushes forward in spite of efforts to stop it. This force challenges the threats of hell and the claims of miracles like the dead coming back to life. This force challenges to rules of sin that have been cranked out by preachers and priests since way back when.

A few fingers pushed into the crack of the dike of lies will not hold back the force of knowledge. So far, the rate of people leaving the faith is increasing.

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 27, 2019 at 9:19 PM

    Even more progressive Christians often want to lay the blame solely on the intolerant attitudes of the religious right for the steady decline in religious faith. That way they don't have to wrestle with the fact that many people are rejecting even their version of core Christian beliefs.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ardy BOctober 28, 2019 at 2:07 AM

    To groom his political base Trump has declared his love of Jesus and almost completely dismantled the Obama legacy. To that end right wing conservative Christianity has figuratively tied Obama to the whipping post in favor of a charlatan, a pretender. Christianity in America you see is rotting from the inside out. The “Religion of Pity” has turned in on itself. It’s now the religion of self-pity. Much of Christianity claims it is victimized and by extension so is poor Trump, its present day saint. As many a pew and plate stand empty, as its social privilege wanes, maybe the faith will peel back its political veneer, find the courage to respond to injury without revenge and save itself. A tall order because, “In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality at any point.”, Nietzsche.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. little helperOctober 28, 2019 at 7:17 AM

      I'm glad you said "much of Christianity", indicating there are persons and denominations not involved in politics. Although from where I sit "much" isn't as large as you may think. It looks like those denominations who are involved in politics treat it like a religious experience, and a rally or convention more like a pilgrimage.

      I am also glad you say "right wing conservative", indicating / acknowledging a difference between conservative, / responsible Christianity and a right wing syncretism, (a synthesis) of religion and politics.

      Delete
    2. Ardy BOctober 28, 2019 at 4:06 PM

      little helper 7:17 AM; The points in your comment are well taken. Thank you.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maybe the "Original Sin" Should be Reassigned

Image
We can all agree most Catholic priests are fine people and not guilty of sexual abuse. What Catholics must face, however, it that their church harbors executives who are dishonest . There is an incredible story about the Argentine Bishop Zanchetta. The Pope worked with him in Argentina and they are considered friends. Around 2015 Zanchetta sent nude pictures of himself and they began circulating world wide. He also was too friendly with young seminarians and some left because of him.  Three different officials say they made formal complaints to the Vatican about Zanchetta between 2015 and 2017. Yet, in 2018, the Vatican claimed it was unaware of any complaints about Zanchetta. This might be a good time to repeat the Catholic hierarchy claims to have the sole authority handed down from Jesus to what the faith stands for. It condemns as sinners those who practice birth control, have abortions and gay sexual relationships. Handing the hierarchy this responsibility would make som
Read more

The Religious Capitol Invaders May Yet Win

Image
So much about U.S. society and religion can be learned from the Civil War and what happened afterwards. After its defeat, the South started a myth about the unethical soldiers from the North. The South fought for principles of God and states rights. The North did not. It was the South, this propaganda told the country, that had the high moral ground.  The Capitol invaders, encouraged by Trump, swallowed the myth that Biden's election was stolen. Thus, they think they held and still hold the high moral ground. This was reinforced by the cross and prayers during the invasion. Even with Trump is gone, we will see political opportunists like Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley stroking crowds and feeding the same lies as Trump. Like "the South will rise again" these gullible followers will talk of victory over the unclean. After the Civil War the South rallied around the phrase, Lost Cause. For decades, and maybe to this day, there are ceremonies remembering fallen martyrs, Re
Read more

Father Frank Pavone, the Ultimate Crook

Image
Recently, the Vatican defrocked Frank Pavone. His diehard fans are outraged. This is because he cleverly manipulated his fans and the press all the while living well from donations and, apparently, abusing some women. By making abortion the "sin" of the century, and himself the main opposition to this one sin, he himself could get away with any sin he pleased.  As the link points out, Pavone was the perfect priest for the Trump era. Trump is so self-important laws have no role in his life. He felt accountable to no one. Women were there to be had. Pavone and Trump are interchangeable.  Pavone was very successful raising money. In his mind, abortion was so important in Catholic beliefs and he was so important in anti-abortion the money he raised opposing it was his to do with what he liked. The Catholic Church, the brand name he used to raise this money, thought the money belonged to it. When he gave the Vatican the bird, it gave him walking papers. With polls showing the majo
Read more