IME - and I say this as an apparently quixotic young person (30) of faith - my peers as children either (a) experienced religion as an oppressive institution that did nothing for their spiritual growth or (b) did not have exposure to religion, and therefore generally do not have a sense of longing for that.

Despite growing up in an atheistic, non-religious household, I always felt called to religion and matters of the spirit. In middle school, I devoured religious (Jewish, Hindu, Christian) texts. I dabbled in Wicca. I joined a UU church at fourteen. I became "born again" at sixteen.

My journey continues, and I accept that I'll never fit into anyone else's religious ideal. I'm a social liberal with an abiding faith in God and love for Jesus. I'm a bisexual reformed slut who now prays with my children and husband at night. I'm a Christian and a yogi. And I'm okay with that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our science classes were better than yours.

Many religious people accept the findings of science. Some are scientists themselves, but it doesn't interfere with their faith.

Science is great. One reason God may have given us these huge brains is so we could explore and understand his creation. And l0ots of us are in church every Sunday.

Another reason God might have given us big brains was to be able to figure out which one of the many religions humans invented is the right religion so that more of us would choose it and get to reap the benefit of eternal life that God gives to those who believe in him in the way that he intended.

Or maybe God gave the biggest brains to Christians because he prefers them and wants them to figure out what they need to do to get to heaven so they can live with him for eternity.

All great reasons to use that sack of potatoes sitting on your shoulders! Some religious folks lose the younger crowd when they place religion in opposition to science/critical thinking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are the young people today non-religious? Will this change as they get older and mature?

What turned me away from Christianity was learning it's bloody history in high school. Too much horror done in the name of that and other major religions. No thanks.

God uses humans to do his will. Sometimes blood and horror are needed.

Anonymous wrote:Why are the young people today non-religious? Will this change as they get older and mature?

What turned me away from Christianity was learning it's bloody history in high school. Too much horror done in the name of that and other major religions. No thanks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our science classes were better than yours.

Many religious people accept the findings of science. Some are scientists themselves, but it doesn't interfere with their faith.

Science is great. One reason God may have given us these huge brains is so we could explore and understand his creation. And l0ots of us are in church every Sunday.

Another reason God might have given us big brains was to be able to figure out which one of the many religions humans invented is the right religion so that more of us would choose it and get to reap the benefit of eternal life that God gives to those who believe in him in the way that he intended.

Or maybe God gave the biggest brains to Christians because he prefers them and wants them to figure out what they need to do to get to heaven so they can live with him for eternity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our science classes were better than yours.

Many religious people accept the findings of science. Some are scientists themselves, but it doesn't interfere with their faith.

Science is great. One reason God may have given us these huge brains is so we could explore and understand his creation. And l0ots of us are in church every Sunday.

Another reason God might have given us big brains was to be able to figure out which one of the many religions humans invented is the right religion so that more of us would choose it and get to reap the benefit of eternal life that God gives to those who believe in him in the way that he intended.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our science classes were better than yours.

Many religious people accept the findings of science. Some are scientists themselves, but it doesn't interfere with their faith.

Science is great. One reason God may have given us these huge brains is so we could explore and understand his creation. And l0ots of us are in church every Sunday.

This is speculation. There is no scientific research that supports this idea. In fact, there is no scientific research that supports any religious belief, because belief is based on faith and science is based on evidence. Scientists who are also religious, simply separate those two aspects of their lives. Many non-scientists do the same.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our science classes were better than yours.

Many religious people accept the findings of science. Some are scientists themselves, but it doesn't interfere with their faith.

Science is great. One reason God may have given us these huge brains is so we could explore and understand his creation. And l0ots of us are in church every Sunday.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they have never had a crisis in their life. When life's tragedies/unfairness touch our lives, the only way to survive is to find something bigger than yourself to believe in.

I have survived a brutal assault, family member suicide and murder, .my faith was what got me through the agony and sustains me.

Good for you. Please don't assume what worked for you is what's needed for everyone.

+1, I have had multiple miscarriages, my living child had cancer - any "faith" I had is long gone.

I understand your anger and I wish you peace.

Np, but anger? Why would that PP be anger?

Perhaps the assumption is that losing children makes people angry with god, so they reject him.

SOme people can't accept that God has his reasons for taking children. Who are we to judge god?

How do you know this is true, that God has his reasons? What's your source? The Bible isn't a source, it isn't research, and it isn't science. Why should anyone believe it? If you make a claim you should be able to back it up with objective evidence rather than just parroting what you hear in church or read in a Tim Keller book.

Also, congrats on endorsing rape, genocide, murder, stealing, and slavery. After all, so long as God endorses it it must be OK. Remember that line of thinking the next time a Muslim extremist blows up a public place. After all, they're just doing what God commanded and who are you to judge?

Religious people accept all sorts of things that are not backed up by objective evidence. It's call faith. Everyone knows that children sometimes die young and if you're religious, it's natural to think God had something to do with it.

Yes, thank you for the PSA.

Go buy yourself flowers or something. You seem like you're having a bad day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they have never had a crisis in their life. When life's tragedies/unfairness touch our lives, the only way to survive is to find something bigger than yourself to believe in.

I have survived a brutal assault, family member suicide and murder, .my faith was what got me through the agony and sustains me.

Good for you. Please don't assume what worked for you is what's needed for everyone.

+1, I have had multiple miscarriages, my living child had cancer - any "faith" I had is long gone.

I understand your anger and I wish you peace.

Np, but anger? Why would that PP be anger?

Perhaps the assumption is that losing children makes people angry with god, so they reject him.

SOme people can't accept that God has his reasons for taking children. Who are we to judge god?

How do you know this is true, that God has his reasons? What's your source? The Bible isn't a source, it isn't research, and it isn't science. Why should anyone believe it? If you make a claim you should be able to back it up with objective evidence rather than just parroting what you hear in church or read in a Tim Keller book.

Also, congrats on endorsing rape, genocide, murder, stealing, and slavery. After all, so long as God endorses it it must be OK. Remember that line of thinking the next time a Muslim extremist blows up a public place. After all, they're just doing what God commanded and who are you to judge?

Religious people accept all sorts of things that are not backed up by objective evidence. It's call faith. Everyone knows that children sometimes die young and if you're religious, it's natural to think God had something to do with it.

Yes, thank you for the PSA.

Anonymous wrote:Our science classes were better than yours.

Many religious people accept the findings of science. Some are scientists themselves, but it doesn't interfere with their faith.

Our science classes were better than yours.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they have never had a crisis in their life. When life's tragedies/unfairness touch our lives, the only way to survive is to find something bigger than yourself to believe in.

I have survived a brutal assault, family member suicide and murder, .my faith was what got me through the agony and sustains me.

Good for you. Please don't assume what worked for you is what's needed for everyone.

+1, I have had multiple miscarriages, my living child had cancer - any "faith" I had is long gone.

I understand your anger and I wish you peace.

Np, but anger? Why would that PP be anger?

Perhaps the assumption is that losing children makes people angry with god, so they reject him.

SOme people can't accept that God has his reasons for taking children. Who are we to judge god?

How do you know this is true, that God has his reasons? What's your source? The Bible isn't a source, it isn't research, and it isn't science. Why should anyone believe it? If you make a claim you should be able to back it up with objective evidence rather than just parroting what you hear in church or read in a Tim Keller book.

Also, congrats on endorsing rape, genocide, murder, stealing, and slavery. After all, so long as God endorses it it must be OK. Remember that line of thinking the next time a Muslim extremist blows up a public place. After all, they're just doing what God commanded and who are you to judge?

Religious people accept all sorts of things that are not backed up by objective evidence. It's call faith. Everyone knows that children sometimes die young and if you're religious, it's natural to think God had something to do with it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they have never had a crisis in their life. When life's tragedies/unfairness touch our lives, the only way to survive is to find something bigger than yourself to believe in.

I have survived a brutal assault, family member suicide and murder, .my faith was what got me through the agony and sustains me.

Good for you. Please don't assume what worked for you is what's needed for everyone.

+1, I have had multiple miscarriages, my living child had cancer - any "faith" I had is long gone.

I understand your anger and I wish you peace.

Np, but anger? Why would that PP be anger?

Perhaps the assumption is that losing children makes people angry with god, so they reject him.

SOme people can't accept that God has his reasons for taking children. Who are we to judge god?

How do you know this is true, that God has his reasons? What's your source? The Bible isn't a source, it isn't research, and it isn't science. Why should anyone believe it? If you make a claim you should be able to back it up with objective evidence rather than just parroting what you hear in church or read in a Tim Keller book.

Also, congrats on endorsing rape, genocide, murder, stealing, and slavery. After all, so long as God endorses it it must be OK. Remember that line of thinking the next time a Muslim extremist blows up a public place. After all, they're just doing what God commanded and who are you to judge?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they have never had a crisis in their life. When life's tragedies/unfairness touch our lives, the only way to survive is to find something bigger than yourself to believe in.

I have survived a brutal assault, family member suicide and murder, .my faith was what got me through the agony and sustains me.

Good for you. Please don't assume what worked for you is what's needed for everyone.

+1, I have had multiple miscarriages, my living child had cancer - any "faith" I had is long gone.

I understand your anger and I wish you peace.

Np, but anger? Why would that PP be anger?

Perhaps the assumption is that losing children makes people angry with god, so they reject him.

SOme people can't accept that God has his reasons for taking children. Who are we to judge god?