(October 18, 2012 at 1:29 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Got to be careful with those numbers though, Darkstar.

From the CIA World Factbook for Argentina.

Quote: Religions:
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%

As you say they are born into it but even the Argies are not buying it any more.

Not surprising - the general theme in the Bible is an apathetic or rebellious majority and a faithful minority.

(October 18, 2012 at 1:29 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Got to be careful with those numbers though, Darkstar.

From the CIA World Factbook for Argentina.

Quote: Religions:
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%

As you say they are born into it but even the Argies are not buying it any more.

Ah, I see. So, are we able to distinguish between those who are willing to listen to reason and those who are not by non-practicing status? /rhetorical (No)

John V Wrote:That's the question. People tend to be like their parents. So what? How is this incompatible with the Bible? Where does the Bible say that this principle will cease with regard to Christianity?

Perhaps you misunderstand my point. Muslims, Jews, Christians, etc. all believe their faith is the correct one, but they cannot all be right. I argue that the dominant religion in the region and the religion + religiousity of the parents is the strongest factor in determining which religion you end up with, as opposed to which one has the most evidence. The number two factor is likely which religion a person likes best (again with no regards to evidence).

(October 18, 2012 at 2:10 pm)Darkstar Wrote: Perhaps you misunderstand my point.

I understand your point, but I don’t see it as problematic for Christianity.

Quote:Muslims, Jews, Christians, etc. all believe their faith is the correct one, but they cannot all be right.

Agreed.

Quote:I argue that the dominant religion in the region and the religion + religiousity of the parents is the strongest factor in determining which religion you end up with, as opposed to which one has the most evidence.

Agreed. People tend to be lazy and just accept what they’re taught.

Quote:The number two factor is likely which religion a person likes best (again with no regards to evidence).

Not sure that it’s number two, but I agree that people tend to be self-serving.

My question is - so what?
How is this problematic for Christianity?

I don't think it's intended to be problematic for Christianity. I think it is merely food for thought when considering why you consider your religion to be the correct one.

(October 18, 2012 at 5:33 pm)Faith No More Wrote: I don't think it's intended to be problematic for Christianity. I think it is merely food for thought when considering why you consider your religion to be the correct one.

If it's not problematic, it's a trivial observation. Yes, people are affected by their parents and culture. If that's food for thought, it's maybe a half a potato chip, or perhaps a lint-covered wintergreen lifesaver from the bottom of grandma's purse.

You can dismiss it all you like, but the fact of the matter is that the surrounding culture plays a strong factor in determining to what religion a person will turn. If people want to be honest with themselves about why they believe what they believe, the role that culture plays in those beliefs must be considered.

(October 17, 2012 at 2:48 am)Doubting_Thomas Wrote: If you had been born in Pakistan to Muslim parents, would you hold the Muslim faith with the same conviction that you hold the Christian faith?

Hoptoad occasional visitor, here today gone tomorrow.


I've not read the thread, so I don't know what anyone else has said.

But if you don't mind I would just like to stick my oar in on this one.

If I hade been born in Pakistan would I have become a Muslim, possibly, probably. When I packed in Atheism all them years ago and started on this path, all religions where open to me and looked at, studied. I just picked at that time what I thought was the easiest one, truth is I was led to it.

Wherever I had started I would still be where I am now, think as I do now. There might have been some inconsequential differences, dietary etc, but the same place.

How do I explain this, churches Christian or not are just a group of people who share a like idea of God. Even then within that church not all agree. Those disagreements sometimes leads to them leaving that church and going to another or forming one.

WHY! A easy question to answer, once you have done the hard part, the hard part is really understanding that the world is not how people think it is. In a lot of ways, but I will concentrate on the relevant one. Groups, the world is not made up of groups, just individuals. Groups are what we create in our minds to make things easy for us, usually so we can like or hate them. No races, no nations, no right or wrong church, just one God working with individuals. Each individual sharing some characteristics with others but unique. Each being led and taught by God, as an individual and each at a different pace, the pace to suit them.

A church, a bible, Koran whatever, is just a starting place. God teaches you, if you want to learn and sometimes even if you don't want to learn. The lessons continue your whole life, everyday a school day. They all lead to the same place in the end.

Before someone starts in on the only in the name of Jesus Christ bit. What is Jesus Christ name, Christ is a title and there is no J in Aramaic or as far as I know Hebrew. Gods a lot smarter than we are, If you want to know Christ you have to study the man and his ways, you will be surprised what you will find out. What I believed when I started this road, has changed so much, some surprisingly obvious conclusions. Your going to laugh at this but, it all fits science, religion, philosophy all of it, it fits together like a superb pattern.

Quote: you will be surprised what you will find out.

Correct.


I found out that it is made up horseshit designed to fool the gullible....just like every other religion.

(October 18, 2012 at 9:18 am)John V Wrote:

(October 17, 2012 at 9:56 pm)Ryantology Wrote: Why would we need to ask ourselves?

You don't. You don't need to ask it of anyone, as you already know the answer. The fact that the question is asked of Christians specifically therefore implies that the author sees incompatibility between demographics and the Bible/Christianity. If so, then someone should just plainly state the case.

The question is asked of Christians specifically because Christians believe in a personal God who takes an active interest in their lives. What is implied here is that God is a lot more interested in people born in Tennessee than he is about people born in Tehran.

(October 19, 2012 at 11:19 am)Minimalist Wrote:

Quote: you will be surprised what you will find out.

Correct.


I found out that it is made up horseshit designed to fool the gullible....just like every other religion.

Howdy Minimalist, how's life treating you, keeping well I hope.

Has any thing been posted on that CERN debate?