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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This is PaleoConPrep( I posted in this forum somewhat regularly as well as the Politics forum a while back  ) I’ve been on a complicated religious journey ( raised culturally Muslim, spent a few years as an Anglican, was a hardcore Traditionalist Roman Catholic for a number of years, and ultimately returned to Islam- now identify as a Sunni Muslim who is deeply influenced by Neoplatonism as well as the teachings of the Islamic Philosophers/mysticsl tradition( Al-Kindi, Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, Ibn Rushd, Ibn Arabi, and Mulla Sadra to name a few) I also have a deep admiration for George Steiner and Nietzsche

Here are my thoughts  on this

In my view, American religious groups( on both the conservative and liberal end) lack depth and spiritual vigor. I mean that in terms of conservative Christian groups for example they’re very focused on politics and certain political issues.. the same can be set of more liberal religious groups. ( pro-life/anti-LGBT for conservatives and various Left-wing causes for liberal groups) The main difference is the conservative and liberal religious group focus on different political issues instead of teaching a deep theology of God and deep spirituality

Here’s something to consider. How many Catholics could give you even a basic explanation of the Trinity or Incarnation if pressed? When I was a Trad Catholic it always struck me as odd that many lay people could give you lectures on the evils of abortion and the wonders of conservative politicians, but when I tried to discuss theological/spiritual questions with them they weren’t interested. This kind of thing is largely the fault of the clergy/pastors in all these groups. Thay yap at lay people with very basic ideas on scripture( nonsensical, fundamentalist interpretations of conservative and essentially atheistic empty interpretations if liberal)

So any rational person would ask themselves- what is the use of going to the services? If one wants their political views reinforced, they can just watch CNN or Fox News for the most part, they don’t need to waste several hours of their day listening to semi-literate preachers

The various scandals which have plagued  some of the churches I imagine is also a factor

I think something like this should make Muslims think as well  because   a lot of Muslim scholars seem obsessed with the Gaza issue and politics( I care deeply about the people in Gaza and other oppressed lands obviously, but I think politics is a very small aspect of what a religious scholar cleric should focus on)

Politics has its proper place, but if a profound understanding of God and serious spirituality are, lacking religion becomes empty, and meaningless- just the tool of various political causes

So to sum up, I think the politicization of American religion is a big part of why this is going on( as well as a lack of theological/philosophical/ spiritual depth

I think people would be much more interested in taking religion, seriously if the scholars and preachers in all of the religious communities had a solid grasp, but the best that their traditions have to offer as well as modern questions( while no longer a Catholic I still have great respect for thinkers like Edith Stein and David Bentley Hart) There are great thinkers and mystics in all major religious traditions. If priests/preachers/rabbis/Imams were well read and formed in these traditions, I think that’d help things

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I have respect for  religious thinkers of the past, but not since modern science has proven religion to be false.[/quote]

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