U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the atheist charities (as opposed to just secular charities), anyway?

This may be the dumbest question I have heard in a long time - although I suspect it is simply a troll. You disprove your own argument in the same sentence you make it by admitting there are many secular charities. Nice! But more importantly: Atheism is not a belief but rather a lack of a belief. You might as well ask where the bald charities are. Or the people who don't play golf charities.

Really, really dumb if you genuinely meant it. Nice troll tho if you didn't.

The fact that atheism has no belief system is totally irrelevant, not sure why you’re leaning into that. Secular charities are supported by both atheists and people of faith, so you don’t get to claim them as your own. You guys have organizations to support each other and where you get (often really ignorant) talking points about religion—so why aren’t these atheist organizations doing charitable work?

Pro tip: repeating the word “dumb” over and over doesn’t make it so. It just makes you look childish, which isn’t helped by your many logic errors.

I'll repeat "dumb" over when dumb statements are made, thank you. Like asking where the atheist charities are. Let's take this new batch one by one:

The fact that atheism has no belief system is totally irrelevant

Uhhh.... no, it is exactly the most important point.

Secular charities are supported by both atheists and people of faith, so you don’t get to claim them as your own.

I didn't "claim them for atheists". I pointed out that the majority of charities have no religious affiliation, just like...

You guys have organizations to support each other and where you get (often really ignorant) talking points about religion—so why aren’t these atheist organizations doing charitable work?

We do? I guess my newsletter is lost in the mail. I know of one, the Atheist Community of Austin, TX, which is 1500 miles from where I live. I'm sure there are others, but no, that is not a thing. (The Austin group claims they do plenty of charity work but I am not a member). And I know this will make you unhappy, but that is another dumb claim.

You can’t argue with manipulative and dumb, but I’ll try.

Once more, since you didn’t understand the first time:

1. You did, in fact, argue in your first post that I “admitted” there are secular charities thus, you said, “disproving” the non-existence of atheist charities. It’s right up above where everybody can see your words. No, you don’t get to claim that secular organizations (EDF, Make a Wish, the Humane Society, so many more) are atheist because people of faith support them as well or more.

2. You can keep playing dumb, but why don’t you guys organize for charity? Defecting with some Texan affiliation group doesn’t cut it because o
affiliation isn’t the point. The point is organizing for charity. Is the problem that none of you have organizational skills? Are you all too poor to contribute to charity at all? Are there too few atheists to organize a charity? Or is it that you chose to focus your energies on being miserable trolls on the internet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the atheist charities (as opposed to just secular charities), anyway?

This may be the dumbest question I have heard in a long time - although I suspect it is simply a troll. You disprove your own argument in the same sentence you make it by admitting there are many secular charities. Nice! But more importantly: Atheism is not a belief but rather a lack of a belief. You might as well ask where the bald charities are. Or the people who don't play golf charities.

Really, really dumb if you genuinely meant it. Nice troll tho if you didn't.

The fact that atheism has no belief system is totally irrelevant, not sure why you’re leaning into that. Secular charities are supported by both atheists and people of faith, so you don’t get to claim them as your own. You guys have organizations to support each other and where you get (often really ignorant) talking points about religion—so why aren’t these atheist organizations doing charitable work?

Pro tip: repeating the word “dumb” over and over doesn’t make it so. It just makes you look childish, which isn’t helped by your many logic errors.

I'll repeat "dumb" over when dumb statements are made, thank you. Like asking where the atheist charities are. Let's take this new batch one by one:

The fact that atheism has no belief system is totally irrelevant

Uhhh.... no, it is exactly the most important point.

Secular charities are supported by both atheists and people of faith, so you don’t get to claim them as your own.

I didn't "claim them for atheists". I pointed out that the majority of charities have no religious affiliation, just like...

You guys have organizations to support each other and where you get (often really ignorant) talking points about religion—so why aren’t these atheist organizations doing charitable work?

We do? I guess my newsletter is lost in the mail. I know of one, the Atheist Community of Austin, TX, which is 1500 miles from where I live. I'm sure there are others, but no, that is not a thing. (The Austin group claims they do plenty of charity work but I am not a member). And I know this will make you unhappy, but that is another dumb claim.

You can’t argue with manipulative and dumb, but I’ll try.

Once more, since you didn’t understand the first time:

1. You did, in fact, argue in your first post that I “admitted” there are secular charities thus, you said, “disproving” the non-existence of atheist charities. It’s right up above where everybody can see your words. No, you don’t get to claim that secular organizations (EDF, Make a Wish, the Humane Society, so many more) are atheist because people of faith support them as well or more.

2. You can keep playing dumb, but why don’t you guys organize for charity? Defecting with some Texan affiliation group doesn’t cut it because o
affiliation isn’t the point. The point is organizing for charity. Is the problem that none of you have organizational skills? Are you all too poor to contribute to charity at all? Are there too few atheists to organize a charity? Or is it that you chose to focus your energies on being miserable trolls on the internet?

Here's where I prove that you are dumb or a liar. You said:

1. You did, in fact, argue in your first post that I “admitted” there are secular charities thus, you said, “disproving” the non-existence of atheist charities.

But what I typed was:

You disprove your own argument in the same sentence you make it by admitting there are many secular charities.

So you changed my words. Unless you think atheist means "without a religion" which is very similar to secular, which is "not religious". So one way I am right or the other you are a blatant liar. Which is it?

As for this turd:

2. You can keep playing dumb, but why don’t you guys organize for charity?

We do. But people with a lack of belief don't organize generally or do things in the name of not having a religion. That would be STUPID.

As for myself, I do plenty, and I am sitting under a plaque given to me at a dinner in my honor for my work for the local food bank, which is run by (wait for it) Catholic Charities. And I give lots more, small and large, with frequency. What do YOU do?

For those reading, sorry for being a blowhard, but this dude begged for it. Apologies to the others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are the atheist charities (as opposed to just secular charities), anyway?

This may be the dumbest question I have heard in a long time - although I suspect it is simply a troll. You disprove your own argument in the same sentence you make it by admitting there are many secular charities. Nice! But more importantly: Atheism is not a belief but rather a lack of a belief. You might as well ask where the bald charities are. Or the people who don't play golf charities.

Really, really dumb if you genuinely meant it. Nice troll tho if you didn't.

The fact that atheism has no belief system is totally irrelevant, not sure why you’re leaning into that. Secular charities are supported by both atheists and people of faith, so you don’t get to claim them as your own. You guys have organizations to support each other and where you get (often really ignorant) talking points about religion—so why aren’t these atheist organizations doing charitable work?

Pro tip: repeating the word “dumb” over and over doesn’t make it so. It just makes you look childish, which isn’t helped by your many logic errors.

I'll repeat "dumb" over when dumb statements are made, thank you. Like asking where the atheist charities are. Let's take this new batch one by one:

The fact that atheism has no belief system is totally irrelevant

Uhhh.... no, it is exactly the most important point.

Secular charities are supported by both atheists and people of faith, so you don’t get to claim them as your own.

I didn't "claim them for atheists". I pointed out that the majority of charities have no religious affiliation, just like...

You guys have organizations to support each other and where you get (often really ignorant) talking points about religion—so why aren’t these atheist organizations doing charitable work?

We do? I guess my newsletter is lost in the mail. I know of one, the Atheist Community of Austin, TX, which is 1500 miles from where I live. I'm sure there are others, but no, that is not a thing. (The Austin group claims they do plenty of charity work but I am not a member). And I know this will make you unhappy, but that is another dumb claim.

You can’t argue with manipulative and dumb, but I’ll try.

Once more, since you didn’t understand the first time:

1. You did, in fact, argue in your first post that I “admitted” there are secular charities thus, you said, “disproving” the non-existence of atheist charities. It’s right up above where everybody can see your words. No, you don’t get to claim that secular organizations (EDF, Make a Wish, the Humane Society, so many more) are atheist because people of faith support them as well or more.

2. You can keep playing dumb, but why don’t you guys organize for charity? Defecting with some Texan affiliation group doesn’t cut it because o
affiliation isn’t the point. The point is organizing for charity. Is the problem that none of you have organizational skills? Are you all too poor to contribute to charity at all? Are there too few atheists to organize a charity? Or is it that you chose to focus your energies on being miserable trolls on the internet?

Have you looked in the mirror lately?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at what the American evangelical and right wing Catholic taliban are doing to the US. No one wants to be a part of that, so younger people are giving up religion entirely.

I think you have it backwards. It's the mainline Protestant churches that "no one wants to be a part of" -- at least, in the sense that those churches are plummeting in attendance and membership at crazy high speed. Evangelical churches are remaining fairly stable in terms of numbers. Catholics are declining, yes.

There is a difference between Protestant and evangelical...I see these get lumped together all the time. Evangelical: anti-women in the pulpit/deacons and anti-gay. Protestants are all over the place (inludging our mainline protestant church with women and gay persons in leadership).

Also membership in and of itself IS declining. No biggie. We're focusing on community and connection, and less on the rules of being in the club. This graph doesn't shock me at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LMAO! Literally the biggest charity in the US is an atheist charity it's called the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Bill is an atheist.

Yes, but because he doesn't do it in the name of Atheism PP thinks it doesn't count! lol... thanks for pointing that out +100 to you.

No credit in heaven for Bill Gates!

Melinda is a devout Catholic and Bill is an agnostic. So no you don’t get credit.

You fail again. Bill is both atheist and agnostic, as are nearly all atheists.

Gates has said he's "pretty much an atheist" and that belief in a god "makes zero sense."

https://www.chron.com/culture/main/slideshow/13-surprising-atheists-130405.php

You can find many quotes from Gates on the subject of God, and he does say kind things about religious values, but make no mistake all support this: He has no religious beliefs, and is therefore 100% atheist. He also knows the claim "there is a god" is unfalsifiable, making agnosticism the rational position on knowledge of god.

True. I describe myself as an atheist (don't believe) but I am, like all atheists, also an agnostic (don't know). I realize that we humans CAN'T know whether there's are supernatural beings -- no one can, because we live in the natural world. But I don't believe it, any more than I believe in other supernatural beings, like angels and leprechauns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LMAO! Literally the biggest charity in the US is an atheist charity it's called the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Bill is an atheist.

Yes, but because he doesn't do it in the name of Atheism PP thinks it doesn't count! lol... thanks for pointing that out +100 to you.

No credit in heaven for Bill Gates!

Melinda is a devout Catholic and Bill is an agnostic. So no you don’t get credit.

You fail again. Bill is both atheist and agnostic, as are nearly all atheists.

Gates has said he's "pretty much an atheist" and that belief in a god "makes zero sense."

https://www.chron.com/culture/main/slideshow/13-surprising-atheists-130405.php

You can find many quotes from Gates on the subject of God, and he does say kind things about religious values, but make no mistake all support this: He has no religious beliefs, and is therefore 100% atheist. He also knows the claim "there is a god" is unfalsifiable, making agnosticism the rational position on knowledge of god.

Fail, your failure. Melinda is a devout Catholic—you’re completely unable to address that aspect, apparently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at what the American evangelical and right wing Catholic taliban are doing to the US. No one wants to be a part of that, so younger people are giving up religion entirely.

I think you have it backwards. It's the mainline Protestant churches that "no one wants to be a part of" -- at least, in the sense that those churches are plummeting in attendance and membership at crazy high speed. Evangelical churches are remaining fairly stable in terms of numbers. Catholics are declining, yes.

There is a difference between Protestant and evangelical...I see these get lumped together all the time. Evangelical: anti-women in the pulpit/deacons and anti-gay. Protestants are all over the place (inludging our mainline protestant church with women and gay persons in leadership).

Also membership in and of itself IS declining. No biggie. We're focusing on community and connection, and less on the rules of being in the club. This graph doesn't shock me at all.

No. There is a difference between mainline Protestant (ELCA Lutheran, Presbyterian USA, Episcopalian, Methodist, UCC) and Evangelical, but Evangelicalism is a subset of Protestantism. All Evangelicals are Protestant, but not all Protestants are evangelical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at what the American evangelical and right wing Catholic taliban are doing to the US. No one wants to be a part of that, so younger people are giving up religion entirely.

I think you have it backwards. It's the mainline Protestant churches that "no one wants to be a part of" -- at least, in the sense that those churches are plummeting in attendance and membership at crazy high speed. Evangelical churches are remaining fairly stable in terms of numbers. Catholics are declining, yes.

There is a difference between Protestant and evangelical...I see these get lumped together all the time. Evangelical: anti-women in the pulpit/deacons and anti-gay. Protestants are all over the place (inludging our mainline protestant church with women and gay persons in leadership).

Also membership in and of itself IS declining. No biggie. We're focusing on community and connection, and less on the rules of being in the club. This graph doesn't shock me at all.

No. There is a difference between mainline Protestant (ELCA Lutheran, Presbyterian USA, Episcopalian, Methodist, UCC) and Evangelical, but Evangelicalism is a subset of Protestantism. All Evangelicals are Protestant, but not all Protestants are evangelical.

Episcopalians don’t consider themselves Protestants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at what the American evangelical and right wing Catholic taliban are doing to the US. No one wants to be a part of that, so younger people are giving up religion entirely.

I think you have it backwards. It's the mainline Protestant churches that "no one wants to be a part of" -- at least, in the sense that those churches are plummeting in attendance and membership at crazy high speed. Evangelical churches are remaining fairly stable in terms of numbers. Catholics are declining, yes.

There is a difference between Protestant and evangelical...I see these get lumped together all the time. Evangelical: anti-women in the pulpit/deacons and anti-gay. Protestants are all over the place (inludging our mainline protestant church with women and gay persons in leadership).

Also membership in and of itself IS declining. No biggie. We're focusing on community and connection, and less on the rules of being in the club. This graph doesn't shock me at all.

No. There is a difference between mainline Protestant (ELCA Lutheran, Presbyterian USA, Episcopalian, Methodist, UCC) and Evangelical, but Evangelicalism is a subset of Protestantism. All Evangelicals are Protestant, but not all Protestants are evangelical.

Episcopalians don’t consider themselves Protestants.

Of course we consider ourselves Protestants.

— an Episcopalian

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LMAO! Literally the biggest charity in the US is an atheist charity it's called the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Bill is an atheist.

Yes, but because he doesn't do it in the name of Atheism PP thinks it doesn't count! lol... thanks for pointing that out +100 to you.

No credit in heaven for Bill Gates!

Melinda is a devout Catholic and Bill is an agnostic. So no you don’t get credit.

You fail again. Bill is both atheist and agnostic, as are nearly all atheists.

Gates has said he's "pretty much an atheist" and that belief in a god "makes zero sense."

https://www.chron.com/culture/main/slideshow/13-surprising-atheists-130405.php

You can find many quotes from Gates on the subject of God, and he does say kind things about religious values, but make no mistake all support this: He has no religious beliefs, and is therefore 100% atheist. He also knows the claim "there is a god" is unfalsifiable, making agnosticism the rational position on knowledge of god.

Fail, your failure. Melinda is a devout Catholic—you’re completely unable to address that aspect, apparently.

The foundation is from Bill Gates fortune, and he is an Atheist, which contradicts your extremely weak attempt to salvage a stupid point, removed or not. You should surrender this point at least and just go back to having your faith, which no one here begrudges you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at what the American evangelical and right wing Catholic taliban are doing to the US. No one wants to be a part of that, so younger people are giving up religion entirely.

I think you have it backwards. It's the mainline Protestant churches that "no one wants to be a part of" -- at least, in the sense that those churches are plummeting in attendance and membership at crazy high speed. Evangelical churches are remaining fairly stable in terms of numbers. Catholics are declining, yes.

There is a difference between Protestant and evangelical...I see these get lumped together all the time. Evangelical: anti-women in the pulpit/deacons and anti-gay. Protestants are all over the place (inludging our mainline protestant church with women and gay persons in leadership).

Also membership in and of itself IS declining. No biggie. We're focusing on community and connection, and less on the rules of being in the club. This graph doesn't shock me at all.

No. There is a difference between mainline Protestant (ELCA Lutheran, Presbyterian USA, Episcopalian, Methodist, UCC) and Evangelical, but Evangelicalism is a subset of Protestantism. All Evangelicals are Protestant, but not all Protestants are evangelical.

Episcopalians don’t consider themselves Protestants.

Of course we consider ourselves Protestants.

— an Episcopalian

+1 That makes no sense. Episcopalians are not Catholics or Orthodox so we are absolutely Protestants. Not sure how anyone would think otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at what the American evangelical and right wing Catholic taliban are doing to the US. No one wants to be a part of that, so younger people are giving up religion entirely.

I think you have it backwards. It's the mainline Protestant churches that "no one wants to be a part of" -- at least, in the sense that those churches are plummeting in attendance and membership at crazy high speed. Evangelical churches are remaining fairly stable in terms of numbers. Catholics are declining, yes.

There is a difference between Protestant and evangelical...I see these get lumped together all the time. Evangelical: anti-women in the pulpit/deacons and anti-gay. Protestants are all over the place (inludging our mainline protestant church with women and gay persons in leadership).

Also membership in and of itself IS declining. No biggie. We're focusing on community and connection, and less on the rules of being in the club. This graph doesn't shock me at all.

No. There is a difference between mainline Protestant (ELCA Lutheran, Presbyterian USA, Episcopalian, Methodist, UCC) and Evangelical, but Evangelicalism is a subset of Protestantism. All Evangelicals are Protestant, but not all Protestants are evangelical.

Episcopalians don’t consider themselves Protestants.

Of course we consider ourselves Protestants.

— an Episcopalian

+1 That makes no sense. Episcopalians are not Catholics or Orthodox so we are absolutely Protestants. Not sure how anyone would think otherwise.

+2 King Henry VIII of England was the first to break away from the Roman Catholic church. Then came Luther, and many splits since then, incl. evangelicals

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LMAO! Literally the biggest charity in the US is an atheist charity it's called the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Bill is an atheist.

Yes, but because he doesn't do it in the name of Atheism PP thinks it doesn't count! lol... thanks for pointing that out +100 to you.

No credit in heaven for Bill Gates!

Melinda is a devout Catholic and Bill is an agnostic. So no you don’t get credit.

You fail again. Bill is both atheist and agnostic, as are nearly all atheists.

Gates has said he's "pretty much an atheist" and that belief in a god "makes zero sense."

https://www.chron.com/culture/main/slideshow/13-surprising-atheists-130405.php


You can find many quotes from Gates on the subject of God, and he does say kind things about religious values, but make no mistake all support this: He has no religious beliefs, and is therefore 100% atheist. He also knows the claim "there is a god" is unfalsifiable, making agnosticism the rational position on knowledge of god.

Fail, your failure. Melinda is a devout Catholic—you’re completely unable to address that aspect, apparently.

The foundation is from Bill Gates fortune, and he is an Atheist, which contradicts your extremely weak attempt to salvage a stupid point, removed or not. You should surrender this point at least and just go back to having your faith, which no one here begrudges you.

You are so bad at logic. Who cares where the money came from—it’s about the two people running it, whose names are both on it, and one of them is a devout Catholic. Surrender the point yourself.

Was somebody talking above about miserable atheists who are on here 24/7 and can’t let anything go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LMAO! Literally the biggest charity in the US is an atheist charity it's called the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Bill is an atheist.

Yes, but because he doesn't do it in the name of Atheism PP thinks it doesn't count! lol... thanks for pointing that out +100 to you.

No credit in heaven for Bill Gates!

Melinda is a devout Catholic and Bill is an agnostic. So no you don’t get credit.

You fail again. Bill is both atheist and agnostic, as are nearly all atheists.

Gates has said he's "pretty much an atheist" and that belief in a god "makes zero sense."

https://www.chron.com/culture/main/slideshow/13-surprising-atheists-130405.php


You can find many quotes from Gates on the subject of God, and he does say kind things about religious values, but make no mistake all support this: He has no religious beliefs, and is therefore 100% atheist. He also knows the claim "there is a god" is unfalsifiable, making agnosticism the rational position on knowledge of god.

Fail, your failure. Melinda is a devout Catholic—you’re completely unable to address that aspect, apparently.

The foundation is from Bill Gates fortune, and he is an Atheist, which contradicts your extremely weak attempt to salvage a stupid point, removed or not. You should surrender this point at least and just go back to having your faith, which no one here begrudges you.

You are so bad at logic. Who cares where the money came from—it’s about the two people running it, whose names are both on it, and one of them is a devout Catholic. Surrender the point yourself.

Was somebody talking above about miserable atheists who are on here 24/7 and can’t let anything go?

I don’t think they are true atheists. True atheists don’t care about religion because they don’t believe in it. These people are anti-theists, who despise religion and believe religion is harmful.

But they are in here 24/7/365. They must be exhausted and miserable and very angry all the time,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LMAO! Literally the biggest charity in the US is an atheist charity it's called the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Bill is an atheist.

Yes, but because he doesn't do it in the name of Atheism PP thinks it doesn't count! lol... thanks for pointing that out +100 to you.

No credit in heaven for Bill Gates!

Melinda is a devout Catholic and Bill is an agnostic. So no you don’t get credit.

You fail again. Bill is both atheist and agnostic, as are nearly all atheists.

Gates has said he's "pretty much an atheist" and that belief in a god "makes zero sense."

https://www.chron.com/culture/main/slideshow/13-surprising-atheists-130405.php


You can find many quotes from Gates on the subject of God, and he does say kind things about religious values, but make no mistake all support this: He has no religious beliefs, and is therefore 100% atheist. He also knows the claim "there is a god" is unfalsifiable, making agnosticism the rational position on knowledge of god.

Fail, your failure. Melinda is a devout Catholic—you’re completely unable to address that aspect, apparently.

The foundation is from Bill Gates fortune, and he is an Atheist, which contradicts your extremely weak attempt to salvage a stupid point, removed or not. You should surrender this point at least and just go back to having your faith, which no one here begrudges you.

You are so bad at logic. Who cares where the money came from—it’s about the two people running it, whose names are both on it, and one of them is a devout Catholic. Surrender the point yourself.

Was somebody talking above about miserable atheists who are on here 24/7 and can’t let anything go?

I don’t think they are true atheists. True atheists don’t care about religion because they don’t believe in it. These people are anti-theists, who despise religion and believe religion is harmful.

But they are in here 24/7/365. They must be exhausted and miserable and very angry all the time,

Indeed. Imagine spending all day, every day, spewing hate against a religion you claim you don’t believe.