Atheism to Defeat Religion By 2038
“Religious people are annoyed by claims that belief in God will go the way of horse transportation, and for much the same reason, specifically an improved standard of living.”
Is there someplace I put a bet on that not happening?
Not “annoyed,” just know it isn’t going to happen. … btw, some people still use horse transportation.
Not “annoyed,” just know it isn’t going to happen. … btw, some people still use horse transportation.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
You can bet on anything at http://www.intrade.com/v4/home/ Intrade
Is there someplace I put a bet on that not happening?Self-appellation: “the world’s leading prediction market”
The article does define “defeat” as majority, though that doesn’t make for nearly as interesting a headline…
But I wouldn’t be surprised to find atheism a majority by then. Atheism is gaining a voice and a following.
But I wouldn’t be surprised to find atheism a majority by then. Atheism is gaining a voice and a following.
This was suggested back in the late 60s/early 70s and did not occur in its time frame. Not certain, but this was probably stated back in the mid 20th century with some of the scientific religious folks of that era and the atheists/agnostics of that era and it did not occur. And, I am sure it will be said again in another 30 - 50 years after this prediction does not occur, or occurs only modestly. Those who claim to be religious and/or Christian in the various polls fluctuate up and down over time. Quite often it increases with bad economic times and decreases with good economic times.
Will it be a majority - who knows, but I would be surprised. A recent poll put those who identified themselves as Christian at over 70% (low number from survey). I would be a little surprised if that many shift between now and 2038. Those who identify themselves as religious (no religion specified) are even higher in percentages. But statistics are funny critters and can be abused as well as used ;) .
Will it be a majority - who knows, but I would be surprised. A recent poll put those who identified themselves as Christian at over 70% (low number from survey). I would be a little surprised if that many shift between now and 2038. Those who identify themselves as religious (no religion specified) are even higher in percentages. But statistics are funny critters and can be abused as well as used ;) .
I doubt even a majority is likely by then… using the same kind of reasoning he does, but looking at different data, he’d find that population growth rates are highest among very religious people in developing countries.
But more to the point, humans have no choice but to have faith in something. Atheism is religion.
But more to the point, humans have no choice but to have faith in something. Atheism is religion.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
I understand that atheists believe in something, whether it’s themselves or humanism. I even understand that an atheist can claim to have no religion all he wants, but it’s just his fallen heart hiding the truth. And we could have a semantics debate of the word “religion”. I also know that since I wasn’t around for the last major atheism push, I am probably underestimating its significance.
But what I see and read are a lot of people who are not just atheists, and not just voicing it loudly, but are actually getting quite angry about the fact that “religion” hasn’t died yet. There has been an upswing in the number of “reasoning” conferences (read: atheists bashing religion), and a lot of people who are “dancing on the grave” of religion already.
The atheists actually bear a lot in common with those who push a homosexual agenda, so it’s not hard to understand where the vitriol comes from. And it’s about as easy to stand up to atheists as it is homosexuals.
My wife tells me I fall closer to the side of paranoia than not, so maybe I’m overreacting to what I see. But I sure do see a lot of religion-bashing these days. I trust my children to the care of God, but humanly speaking, I fear what may come at them as they rear their own children 20 years from now.
I also am not convinced that population will affect things much. I have 6 kids, so I’m trying to break the average all by myself. But for the church as a whole, more children won’t help if they aren’t being actively, wholeheartedly trained in God’s Word. Lots of folks take their kids to church 3 services a week, but the world still has a tighter grip on them than they’ve ever let God have. Every one of those children that turn from the Lord is a stat for the enemy.
These things seem different to me. is my perspective too skewed?
But what I see and read are a lot of people who are not just atheists, and not just voicing it loudly, but are actually getting quite angry about the fact that “religion” hasn’t died yet. There has been an upswing in the number of “reasoning” conferences (read: atheists bashing religion), and a lot of people who are “dancing on the grave” of religion already.
The atheists actually bear a lot in common with those who push a homosexual agenda, so it’s not hard to understand where the vitriol comes from. And it’s about as easy to stand up to atheists as it is homosexuals.
My wife tells me I fall closer to the side of paranoia than not, so maybe I’m overreacting to what I see. But I sure do see a lot of religion-bashing these days. I trust my children to the care of God, but humanly speaking, I fear what may come at them as they rear their own children 20 years from now.
I also am not convinced that population will affect things much. I have 6 kids, so I’m trying to break the average all by myself. But for the church as a whole, more children won’t help if they aren’t being actively, wholeheartedly trained in God’s Word. Lots of folks take their kids to church 3 services a week, but the world still has a tighter grip on them than they’ve ever let God have. Every one of those children that turn from the Lord is a stat for the enemy.
These things seem different to me. is my perspective too skewed?
Contrary to popular opinion, God will still be on the throne in 2038. And He will still be ruling in 3038 and even 4038. By 5038, humanity might not even be around, so I’ll stop there.
I’m filing this ‘news’ under my Psalm 2 heading :)
I’m filing this ‘news’ under my Psalm 2 heading :)
[Psalm 2] Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
Atheists won’t do away with Christianity. But I predict that it will become increasingly more difficult every year to be a Christian. The prophesies have to come true, regarding persecutions and tribulations. The closer we get the the Lord’s return, the more tribulations we will see and experience.
My wife tells me I fall closer to the side of paranoia than not, so maybe I’m overreacting to what I see. But I sure do see a lot of religion-bashing these days.
No, I think you’re quite right about that. It’s not working for them though. I think the reason for the increasing shrillness is increasing panic on their part. The reality is that we’re deep into postmodern territory now and pure rationalism is passe. There’s a lot more openness to just about everything (except exclusivity… tolerate everything but intolerance, include everything but exclusivity), and with that an increasing interest in, and belief in, the supernatural. It’s not a revival of faith in God, but it’s definitely not atheism.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
“The Third World War must be fomented by taking advantage of the differences caused by the “agentur” of the “Illuminati” between the political Zionists and the leaders of Islamic World. The war must be conducted in such a way that Islam (the Moslem Arabic World) and political Zionism (the State of Israel) mutually destroy each other. Meanwhile the other nations, once more divided on this issue will be constrained to fight to the point of complete physical, moral, spiritual and economical exhaustion…We shall unleash the Nihilists and the atheists, and we shall provoke a formidable social cataclysm which in all its horror will show clearly to the nations the effect of absolute atheism, origin of savagery and of the most bloody turmoil. Then everywhere, the citizens, obliged to defend themselves against the world minority of revolutionaries, will exterminate those destroyers of civilization, and the multitude, disillusioned with Christianity, whose deistic spirits will from that moment be without compass or direction, anxious for an ideal, but without knowing where to render its adoration, will receive the true light through the universal manifestation of the pure doctrine of Lucifer, brought finally out in the public view. This manifestation will result from the general reactionary movement which will follow the destruction of Christianity and atheism, both conquered and exterminated at the same time.”
Albert Pike- speaking on the plans of the illuminati to bring about the new world order
False spirituality is even more dangerous than atheism. At least atheism stands in stark contrast to Christianity, so we know who the enemy is. But Spirituality/New Age philosophy often enters the church, without the church being aware of what is happening, until it is too late.
Albert Pike- speaking on the plans of the illuminati to bring about the new world order
False spirituality is even more dangerous than atheism. At least atheism stands in stark contrast to Christianity, so we know who the enemy is. But Spirituality/New Age philosophy often enters the church, without the church being aware of what is happening, until it is too late.
[Aaron Blumer]I agree that we are deep into post-modernism. I might be willing to say that even though it may not have a name yet, we are due for the next pendulum-swing of our -isms. So what is post-post-modernism? And can we anticipate what it looks like? Is it possible that this rising atheism could be “the next big thing” we have to contend with? I mean that in the sense that Modernism and Post-Modernism were?My wife tells me I fall closer to the side of paranoia than not, so maybe I’m overreacting to what I see. But I sure do see a lot of religion-bashing these days.
No, I think you’re quite right about that. It’s not working for them though. I think the reason for the increasing shrillness is increasing panic on their part. The reality is that we’re deep into postmodern territory now and pure rationalism is passe. There’s a lot more openness to just about everything (except exclusivity… tolerate everything but intolerance, include everything but exclusivity), and with that an increasing interest in, and belief in, the supernatural. It’s not a revival of faith in God, but it’s definitely not atheism.
I’ll don my prophet hat a bit (Kmart special)… I think we’ve got more swing into post-modernism before things begin to swing back the other way.
A strong current in PM is running away from Enlightenment rationalism and empiricism. So, much less confidence in reason and observation. Seems to me that at the popular level, people have not yet been willing to abandon reason and senses to the degree the more deeply post-moderns do. So I really think we’ve got a ways to go before people fully embrace the madness (where contradiction, implication and consistency are all meaningless—to me, that’s madness) as much as they’re going to. Then, when they realize it simply doesn’t “work” to try to live and think that way, there will be a correction back toward some kind of new epiricism/new rationalism
(but the world might end first… if it doesn’t, I’d give PM about 25 more years).
Can’t prove any of this. Just going with my gut (ironically, a pretty postmodern thing to do… PM is big on irony… and just to up the appeal I’ll say it’s true for me but not for anyone else.)
A strong current in PM is running away from Enlightenment rationalism and empiricism. So, much less confidence in reason and observation. Seems to me that at the popular level, people have not yet been willing to abandon reason and senses to the degree the more deeply post-moderns do. So I really think we’ve got a ways to go before people fully embrace the madness (where contradiction, implication and consistency are all meaningless—to me, that’s madness) as much as they’re going to. Then, when they realize it simply doesn’t “work” to try to live and think that way, there will be a correction back toward some kind of new epiricism/new rationalism
(but the world might end first… if it doesn’t, I’d give PM about 25 more years).
Can’t prove any of this. Just going with my gut (ironically, a pretty postmodern thing to do… PM is big on irony… and just to up the appeal I’ll say it’s true for me but not for anyone else.)
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.
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