the volatile marketplace of religion in America

[Dronning Dagmar]

Survey: Americans switching faiths, dropping out - on CNN

Quote:

Story Highlights

• Survey: U.S. about to lose its status as a majority Protestant nation
  
• Non-denominational churches are gaining members
  
• 25 percent of adults leave faith of their upbringing
  
• Survey found a dropping confidence in organized religion

So… is it so hopeless in the U.S., as some here have suggested? I think that third bullet is a pretty big deal. Even if someone is just switching from Presbyterian to Lutheran or whatever, it shows they are able to question what they are being taught and aren't afraid to do something about it when they find that something doesn't mesh with their own mind.

OTOH, most of the people who are leaving religion altogether still aren't self-identifying as atheists. Does this bother you? Is it important for a person to have an opinion on diety existance one way or the other, or is "apatheism" (you know, "I don't care, it doesn't matter") a valid position?  

[Xiporah]

It sure doesn't bother me. I read an abridged version of the artical in the paper this morning.

If people want to identify themselves as 'Spiritual, but not religious' as my mother puts it, I could care less as long as they leave me out of it.

 

[-GS-Sailor Nemesis]

"I'm not religious, but I'm spiritual."

"Wow. Well, I'm not honest, but you're interesting."  

[SkeletonPhoenix]

If it stops people from listening to the church and making them think of there own veiws then good.