Church attendance continues to plummet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.npr.org/2023/05/17/1175452002/church-closings-religious-affiliation

Wow - "Just 16% of Americans say religion is the most important thing in their life, according to a new report released this week by the Public Religion Research Institute.".

"The sharp uptick in the number of younger Americans with no religious affiliation — a group known as the "nones" — is the major driver in a seismic shift in the religious landscape, says Ryan Burge, a political science professor at Eastern Illinois University and author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going."

What are your thoughts?

I think there are too many centers of organized religions, they provide limited services but preachers, rabbi and Imams eat up too much money. Its an industry. People of all religions are tired of that.

Do you have any reputable citations about the money preachers, rabbis, and imams “eat up?”

Who are you speaking for besides yourself?

You are speaking for Christians, Jewish, and Muslim people? How do you have that authority?

What is your religion and your religious leadership training and education?

pp is expressing their opinion - no religious leadership training, "authority" or specific education needed.

Wow so pp can just speak for 3 entire religious communities?

Is pp a member of any of these religious communities? They won’t answer.

Now they have no statistics, data, facts, etc. They just speak for 3 religions which are compromised of billions of people and then it’s taken as fact and even defended as valid by another poster merely because it’s an opinion.

newsflash: a person who speaks for 3 entire religions is probably off their rocker.

There are 2.6 billion Christians

There are 1.8 billion Muslims

There are 16 million Jewish people

And pp just casually threw their opinion out speaking for all of them.

Who are they to be the spokesperson for all 3 religions? That is extremely arrogant.

They are expressing their opinion, just as you are.

No- they are speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth.

in your opinion

No- pp at 15:52 said:

“I think there are too many centers of organized religions, they provide limited services but preachers, rabbi and Imams eat up too much money. Its an industry. People of all religions are tired of that.“

“I think there are too many centers of organized religion”

“They provide limited services”

“Preachers, rabbis, and Imams eat up too much money”

“It is an industry”

“People of all religions are tired of that”

pp: what is your religion?

How do you know what people of all religions are tired of?

How much money do you think pastors, rabbis, and imams make on average?

DP - where is the part PP claims to be "speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth."? I missed that.

Or were you just being a little hyperbolic and a lot dishonest?

“Preachers, rabbis, and Imams eat up too much money”


“People of all religions are tired of that”

Hmmm... still lacking the the part PP claims to be "speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.npr.org/2023/05/17/1175452002/church-closings-religious-affiliation

Wow - "Just 16% of Americans say religion is the most important thing in their life, according to a new report released this week by the Public Religion Research Institute.".

"The sharp uptick in the number of younger Americans with no religious affiliation — a group known as the "nones" — is the major driver in a seismic shift in the religious landscape, says Ryan Burge, a political science professor at Eastern Illinois University and author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going."

What are your thoughts?

I think there are too many centers of organized religions, they provide limited services but preachers, rabbi and Imams eat up too much money. Its an industry. People of all religions are tired of that.

Do you have any reputable citations about the money preachers, rabbis, and imams “eat up?”

Who are you speaking for besides yourself?

You are speaking for Christians, Jewish, and Muslim people? How do you have that authority?

What is your religion and your religious leadership training and education?

pp is expressing their opinion - no religious leadership training, "authority" or specific education needed.

Wow so pp can just speak for 3 entire religious communities?

Is pp a member of any of these religious communities? They won’t answer.

Now they have no statistics, data, facts, etc. They just speak for 3 religions which are compromised of billions of people and then it’s taken as fact and even defended as valid by another poster merely because it’s an opinion.

newsflash: a person who speaks for 3 entire religions is probably off their rocker.

There are 2.6 billion Christians

There are 1.8 billion Muslims

There are 16 million Jewish people

And pp just casually threw their opinion out speaking for all of them.

Who are they to be the spokesperson for all 3 religions? That is extremely arrogant.

They are expressing their opinion, just as you are.

No- they are speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth.

in your opinion

No- pp at 15:52 said:

“I think there are too many centers of organized religions, they provide limited services but preachers, rabbi and Imams eat up too much money. Its an industry. People of all religions are tired of that.“

“I think there are too many centers of organized religion”

“They provide limited services”

“Preachers, rabbis, and Imams eat up too much money”

“It is an industry”

“People of all religions are tired of that”

pp: what is your religion?

How do you know what people of all religions are tired of?

How much money do you think pastors, rabbis, and imams make on average?

DP - where is the part PP claims to be "speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth."? I missed that.

Or were you just being a little hyperbolic and a lot dishonest?

“Preachers, rabbis, and Imams eat up too much money”


“People of all religions are tired of that”

Hmmm... still lacking the the part PP claims to be "speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth.

Notice pp won’t explain themselves.

Yet they will speak for people “of all religions.”

[Anonymous]

First they convince you that you have a need, like "salvation" for example. Then the only way to fulfill it is thru their supernatural figure. And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own). And oh, by the way, here's the collection plate. I wonder who needs whom more, do the parishioners need the pastors, or do the pastors need the parishioners more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First they convince you that you have a need, like "salvation" for example. Then the only way to fulfill it is thru their supernatural figure. And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own). And oh, by the way, here's the collection plate. I wonder who needs whom more, do the parishioners need the pastors, or do the pastors need the parishioners more?

Wtf is a priestly class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they convince you that you have a need, like "salvation" for example. Then the only way to fulfill it is thru their supernatural figure. And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own). And oh, by the way, here's the collection plate. I wonder who needs whom more, do the parishioners need the pastors, or do the pastors need the parishioners more?

Wtf is a priestly class?

you gotta be kidding? Read the history of religion much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they convince you that you have a need, like "salvation" for example. Then the only way to fulfill it is thru their supernatural figure. And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own). And oh, by the way, here's the collection plate. I wonder who needs whom more, do the parishioners need the pastors, or do the pastors need the parishioners more?

Wtf is a priestly class?

you gotta be kidding? Read the history of religion much?

So if it’s a historical thing why are you blubbering on about it like it’s happening today in our modern world?

People can read, write, etc. We have access to the internet and can look up any information we need. Most people have a computer more powerful than the computer that NASA used to go to the moon in their pocket- their smartphone. I don’t see priests or pastors limiting knowledge from anyone. You sound hysterical and ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they convince you that you have a need, like "salvation" for example. Then the only way to fulfill it is thru their supernatural figure. And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own). And oh, by the way, here's the collection plate. I wonder who needs whom more, do the parishioners need the pastors, or do the pastors need the parishioners more?

Wtf is a priestly class?

you gotta be kidding? Read the history of religion much?

So if it’s a historical thing why are you blubbering on about it like it’s happening today in our modern world?

People can read, write, etc. We have access to the internet and can look up any information we need. Most people have a computer more powerful than the computer that NASA used to go to the moon in their pocket- their smartphone. I don’t see priests or pastors limiting knowledge from anyone. You sound hysterical and ignorant.

ok, the priesthood, then if that works better for you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.npr.org/2023/05/17/1175452002/church-closings-religious-affiliation

Wow - "Just 16% of Americans say religion is the most important thing in their life, according to a new report released this week by the Public Religion Research Institute.".

"The sharp uptick in the number of younger Americans with no religious affiliation — a group known as the "nones" — is the major driver in a seismic shift in the religious landscape, says Ryan Burge, a political science professor at Eastern Illinois University and author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going."

What are your thoughts?

I think there are too many centers of organized religions, they provide limited services but preachers, rabbi and Imams eat up too much money. Its an industry. People of all religions are tired of that.

Do you have any reputable citations about the money preachers, rabbis, and imams “eat up?”

Who are you speaking for besides yourself?

You are speaking for Christians, Jewish, and Muslim people? How do you have that authority?

What is your religion and your religious leadership training and education?

pp is expressing their opinion - no religious leadership training, "authority" or specific education needed.

Wow so pp can just speak for 3 entire religious communities?

Is pp a member of any of these religious communities? They won’t answer.

Now they have no statistics, data, facts, etc. They just speak for 3 religions which are compromised of billions of people and then it’s taken as fact and even defended as valid by another poster merely because it’s an opinion.

newsflash: a person who speaks for 3 entire religions is probably off their rocker.

There are 2.6 billion Christians

There are 1.8 billion Muslims

There are 16 million Jewish people

And pp just casually threw their opinion out speaking for all of them.

Who are they to be the spokesperson for all 3 religions? That is extremely arrogant.

They are expressing their opinion, just as you are.

No- they are speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth.

in your opinion

No- pp at 15:52 said:

“I think there are too many centers of organized religions, they provide limited services but preachers, rabbi and Imams eat up too much money. Its an industry. People of all religions are tired of that.“

“I think there are too many centers of organized religion”

“They provide limited services”

“Preachers, rabbis, and Imams eat up too much money”

“It is an industry”

“People of all religions are tired of that”

pp: what is your religion?

How do you know what people of all religions are tired of?

How much money do you think pastors, rabbis, and imams make on average?

DP - where is the part PP claims to be "speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth."? I missed that.

Or were you just being a little hyperbolic and a lot dishonest?

“Preachers, rabbis, and Imams eat up too much money”


“People of all religions are tired of that”

Hmmm... still lacking the the part PP claims to be "speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth.

Notice pp won’t explain themselves.

Yet they will speak for people “of all religions.”

So you are walking back your prior claim? That he claimed to be "speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth"?

You know how grammar and vernacular work, right? That saying "People of all religions are tired of that." is not the same as "all religious people are tired of that?"

I just like honesty and think that makes the forum better. All sides should be fair and not misrepresent what people type, especially when some of the text is hidden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they convince you that you have a need, like "salvation" for example. Then the only way to fulfill it is thru their supernatural figure. And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own). And oh, by the way, here's the collection plate. I wonder who needs whom more, do the parishioners need the pastors, or do the pastors need the parishioners more?

Wtf is a priestly class?

you gotta be kidding? Read the history of religion much?

So if it’s a historical thing why are you blubbering on about it like it’s happening today in our modern world?

People can read, write, etc. We have access to the internet and can look up any information we need. Most people have a computer more powerful than the computer that NASA used to go to the moon in their pocket- their smartphone. I don’t see priests or pastors limiting knowledge from anyone. You sound hysterical and ignorant.

who said they were "limiting knowledge"? You're then one who sounds ignorant. BTW, "hysterical" is a very sexist term, don't use it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.npr.org/2023/05/17/1175452002/church-closings-religious-affiliation

Wow - "Just 16% of Americans say religion is the most important thing in their life, according to a new report released this week by the Public Religion Research Institute.".

"The sharp uptick in the number of younger Americans with no religious affiliation — a group known as the "nones" — is the major driver in a seismic shift in the religious landscape, says Ryan Burge, a political science professor at Eastern Illinois University and author of The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going."

What are your thoughts?

I think there are too many centers of organized religions, they provide limited services but preachers, rabbi and Imams eat up too much money. Its an industry. People of all religions are tired of that.

Do you have any reputable citations about the money preachers, rabbis, and imams “eat up?”

Who are you speaking for besides yourself?

You are speaking for Christians, Jewish, and Muslim people? How do you have that authority?

What is your religion and your religious leadership training and education?

pp is expressing their opinion - no religious leadership training, "authority" or specific education needed.

Wow so pp can just speak for 3 entire religious communities?

Is pp a member of any of these religious communities? They won’t answer.

Now they have no statistics, data, facts, etc. They just speak for 3 religions which are compromised of billions of people and then it’s taken as fact and even defended as valid by another poster merely because it’s an opinion.

newsflash: a person who speaks for 3 entire religions is probably off their rocker.

There are 2.6 billion Christians

There are 1.8 billion Muslims

There are 16 million Jewish people

And pp just casually threw their opinion out speaking for all of them.

Who are they to be the spokesperson for all 3 religions? That is extremely arrogant.

They are expressing their opinion, just as you are.

No- they are speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth.

in your opinion

No- pp at 15:52 said:

“I think there are too many centers of organized religions, they provide limited services but preachers, rabbi and Imams eat up too much money. Its an industry. People of all religions are tired of that.“

“I think there are too many centers of organized religion”

“They provide limited services”

“Preachers, rabbis, and Imams eat up too much money”

“It is an industry”

“People of all religions are tired of that”

pp: what is your religion?

How do you know what people of all religions are tired of?

How much money do you think pastors, rabbis, and imams make on average?

DP - where is the part PP claims to be "speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth."? I missed that.

Or were you just being a little hyperbolic and a lot dishonest?

“Preachers, rabbis, and Imams eat up too much money”


“People of all religions are tired of that”

Hmmm... still lacking the the part PP claims to be "speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth.

Notice pp won’t explain themselves.

Yet they will speak for people “of all religions.”

So you are walking back your prior claim? That he claimed to be "speaking for every Christian, Muslim, and Jew on earth"?

You know how grammar and vernacular work, right? That saying "People of all religions are tired of that." is not the same as "all religious people are tired of that?"

I just like honesty and think that makes the forum better. All sides should be fair and not misrepresent what people type, especially when some of the text is hidden.

It would be great if the person who posted the message would come back and explain it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they convince you that you have a need, like "salvation" for example. Then the only way to fulfill it is thru their supernatural figure. And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own). And oh, by the way, here's the collection plate. I wonder who needs whom more, do the parishioners need the pastors, or do the pastors need the parishioners more?

Wtf is a priestly class?

you gotta be kidding? Read the history of religion much?

So if it’s a historical thing why are you blubbering on about it like it’s happening today in our modern world?

People can read, write, etc. We have access to the internet and can look up any information we need. Most people have a computer more powerful than the computer that NASA used to go to the moon in their pocket- their smartphone. I don’t see priests or pastors limiting knowledge from anyone. You sound hysterical and ignorant.

who said they were "limiting knowledge"? You're then one who sounds ignorant. BTW, "hysterical" is a very sexist term, don't use it.

“And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own).“

You are the one saying everyone is too DUMB to figure anything out on their own.

You are hysterical. People can choose their own religion and figure out how they feel about their own beliefs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they convince you that you have a need, like "salvation" for example. Then the only way to fulfill it is thru their supernatural figure. And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own). And oh, by the way, here's the collection plate. I wonder who needs whom more, do the parishioners need the pastors, or do the pastors need the parishioners more?

Wtf is a priestly class?

you gotta be kidding? Read the history of religion much?

So if it’s a historical thing why are you blubbering on about it like it’s happening today in our modern world?

People can read, write, etc. We have access to the internet and can look up any information we need. Most people have a computer more powerful than the computer that NASA used to go to the moon in their pocket- their smartphone. I don’t see priests or pastors limiting knowledge from anyone. You sound hysterical and ignorant.

who said they were "limiting knowledge"? You're then one who sounds ignorant. BTW, "hysterical" is a very sexist term, don't use it.

“And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own).“

You are the one saying everyone is too DUMB to figure anything out on their own.

You are hysterical. People can choose their own religion and figure out how they feel about their own beliefs.

o.k., then. Why do you need a preacher?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they convince you that you have a need, like "salvation" for example. Then the only way to fulfill it is thru their supernatural figure. And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own). And oh, by the way, here's the collection plate. I wonder who needs whom more, do the parishioners need the pastors, or do the pastors need the parishioners more?

Wtf is a priestly class?

you gotta be kidding? Read the history of religion much?

So if it’s a historical thing why are you blubbering on about it like it’s happening today in our modern world?

People can read, write, etc. We have access to the internet and can look up any information we need. Most people have a computer more powerful than the computer that NASA used to go to the moon in their pocket- their smartphone. I don’t see priests or pastors limiting knowledge from anyone. You sound hysterical and ignorant.

who said they were "limiting knowledge"? You're then one who sounds ignorant. BTW, "hysterical" is a very sexist term, don't use it.

“And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own).“

You are the one saying everyone is too DUMB to figure anything out on their own.

You are hysterical. People can choose their own religion and figure out how they feel about their own beliefs.

o.k., then. Why do you need a preacher?

A pastor, priest, rabbi, or imam are religious leaders who are specifically educated and trained to lead their religious institutions and minster to the people who attend said institutions.

Do you think a sports team-from elementary school to professional level- doesn’t need a coach?

A school doesn’t need a principal?

Every organization needs a leader.

I don’t know if you are bored and playing dumb but it sure seems like it.

Even dcum has a site owner and moderator that has rules and regulations they monitor and enforce. They also need to make money off the forums and do maintenance and security and update the software. Nothing runs automatically in this world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they convince you that you have a need, like "salvation" for example. Then the only way to fulfill it is thru their supernatural figure. And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own). And oh, by the way, here's the collection plate. I wonder who needs whom more, do the parishioners need the pastors, or do the pastors need the parishioners more?

Wtf is a priestly class?

you gotta be kidding? Read the history of religion much?

So if it’s a historical thing why are you blubbering on about it like it’s happening today in our modern world?

People can read, write, etc. We have access to the internet and can look up any information we need. Most people have a computer more powerful than the computer that NASA used to go to the moon in their pocket- their smartphone. I don’t see priests or pastors limiting knowledge from anyone. You sound hysterical and ignorant.

who said they were "limiting knowledge"? You're then one who sounds ignorant. BTW, "hysterical" is a very sexist term, don't use it.

“And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own).“

You are the one saying everyone is too DUMB to figure anything out on their own.

You are hysterical. People can choose their own religion and figure out how they feel about their own beliefs.

o.k., then. Why do you need a preacher?

A pastor, priest, rabbi, or imam are religious leaders who are specifically educated and trained to lead their religious institutions and minster to the people who attend said institutions.

Do you think a sports team-from elementary school to professional level- doesn’t need a coach?

A school doesn’t need a principal?

Every organization needs a leader.

I don’t know if you are bored and playing dumb but it sure seems like it.

Even dcum has a site owner and moderator that has rules and regulations they monitor and enforce. They also need to make money off the forums and do maintenance and security and update the software. Nothing runs automatically in this world.

Well there ya go! You can't do it yourself; That's all I said above. We need the priestly class to tell us how this stuff works, otherwise we'd be lost. And btw, pass the collection plate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they convince you that you have a need, like "salvation" for example. Then the only way to fulfill it is thru their supernatural figure. And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own). And oh, by the way, here's the collection plate. I wonder who needs whom more, do the parishioners need the pastors, or do the pastors need the parishioners more?

Wtf is a priestly class?

you gotta be kidding? Read the history of religion much?

So if it’s a historical thing why are you blubbering on about it like it’s happening today in our modern world?

People can read, write, etc. We have access to the internet and can look up any information we need. Most people have a computer more powerful than the computer that NASA used to go to the moon in their pocket- their smartphone. I don’t see priests or pastors limiting knowledge from anyone. You sound hysterical and ignorant.

who said they were "limiting knowledge"? You're then one who sounds ignorant. BTW, "hysterical" is a very sexist term, don't use it.

“And the priestly class is the only way to explain it to you (you can't figure it out on your own).“

You are the one saying everyone is too DUMB to figure anything out on their own.

You are hysterical. People can choose their own religion and figure out how they feel about their own beliefs.

o.k., then. Why do you need a preacher?

A pastor, priest, rabbi, or imam are religious leaders who are specifically educated and trained to lead their religious institutions and minster to the people who attend said institutions.

Do you think a sports team-from elementary school to professional level- doesn’t need a coach?

A school doesn’t need a principal?

Every organization needs a leader.

I don’t know if you are bored and playing dumb but it sure seems like it.

Even dcum has a site owner and moderator that has rules and regulations they monitor and enforce. They also need to make money off the forums and do maintenance and security and update the software. Nothing runs automatically in this world.

We need them to explain how the Bible doesn't mean what it says. Otherwise we might take it literally.