Anonymous wrote:While I don’t care whether or not anyone believes in God, I think a belief in the sacred and the divine leads to more openness, humility, and gentle curiosity in the world than not. A wholehearted belief in science is not better, it’s just more valued in a society that lionizes masculine qualities and characteristics and maligns feminine qualities and characteristics.

I’ve long thought the same, pp. Religious belief often leads to humility about our place in the world and our relationships with others. It can also lead to a lifetime of study and openness to challenging ideas.

Anonymous wrote:While I don’t care whether or not anyone believes in God, I think a belief in the sacred and the divine leads to more openness, humility, and gentle curiosity in the world than not. A wholehearted belief in science is not better, it’s just more valued in a society that lionizes masculine qualities and characteristics and maligns feminine qualities and characteristics.

Have you looked around at the religious people (Christians) in America? They are not known for their openness, humility or curiosity.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a minister and have been for many, many years. The answer to the question "why" is one I hear almost every single day. "Christians" are driving people away from God in droves. There is no hate quite like Christian hate. And it's really, really sad.

No, there is no hate like Christian "love".

Wow, it's THAT high?

Maybe that explains a lot.

I'm a minister and have been for many, many years. The answer to the question "why" is one I hear almost every single day. "Christians" are driving people away from God in droves. There is no hate quite like Christian hate. And it's really, really sad.

While I don’t care whether or not anyone believes in God, I think a belief in the sacred and the divine leads to more openness, humility, and gentle curiosity in the world than not. A wholehearted belief in science is not better, it’s just more valued in a society that lionizes masculine qualities and characteristics and maligns feminine qualities and characteristics.

Anonymous wrote:Yet somehow the other 19% is trying to call the shots and destroy this country

Exactly! How do evangelicals exert so much power over the Republican Party when they are such a minority?

Anonymous wrote:I don't believe 81 is correct. That seems incredibly high to me.

What’s more likely, Gallup is bad at polling or your perspective is warped due to you living in a bubble

Anonymous wrote:Yet somehow the other 19% is trying to call the shots and destroy this country

Who are you talking about?

I don't believe 81 is correct. That seems incredibly high to me.

Anonymous wrote:Yet somehow the other 19% is trying to call the shots and destroy this country

I don’t get it. Most politicians at least claim to be religious?

I’m surprised. As a highly educated UMC person in the DC metro I would have assumed it was much much lower.

I became religious after being raised atheist in a west coast college town where not many of my peers were religious. While the people I grew up with mostly didn’t come to religion like me, they still believe in tarot cards, astrology, manifesting, etc. I think people overstate what this trend means. Humans will keep inventing religion alternatives.

Yet somehow the other 19% is trying to call the shots and destroy this country

Agree with you.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/393737/belief-god-dips-new-low.aspx

This is logical to me, and I believe religion does far more harm than good, so I view this as a positive development.

What are your thoughts?