Is the internet destroying religion?

[Polaris]

I'm not really sure what you are suggesting. That somehow Atheist arguments make Christians convert to New age nonsense? I think you need to elaborate more before I can really respond to that.

That, by not using logic, you persuade those on the fence to lean towards theism rather than atheism because they prefer to associate with the erudite, which is becoming a trait of new-age Christianity especially in nations like the US and Australia (that megachurch network they have that's expanded to NYC, London, and Moscow).

I do like Newton's 3rd law...for every force, there is an equal yet opposite opposing force. For every WBC-like Christian, you will have an equally insane atheist (in America at least).

So you get someone in the middle (most of humanity) who thinks "wow these new-age Christians are as intelligent, if not more, as these vocal atheists pretend to be and are offering something other than pity and loathing of others, sign me up." Basically, from what I have seen from Christianity in America starting in the 1980s is they found a way to beat atheists at their own game while offering the benefits of theistic fulfillment. Like people don't tend to respect that new movement amongst the Republicans, I have seen people revolted by the BS from the vocal atheists. Sure you will get some loons to support you, but you end up alienating the vast majority. Lucky for you, you have Fundies who do the same image destruction for their fellow Christians.

[CapnAwesome]

I'm not really sure what you are suggesting. That somehow Atheist arguments make Christians convert to New age nonsense? I think you need to elaborate more before I can really respond to that.

That, by not using logic, you persuade those on the fence to lean towards theism rather than atheism because they prefer to associate with the erudite, which is becoming a trait of new-age Christianity especially in nations like the US and Australia (that megachurch network they have that's expanded to NYC, London, and Moscow).

I do like Newton's 3rd law...for every force, there is an equal yet opposite opposing force. For every WBC-like Christian, you will have an equally insane atheist (in America at least).

Do you have anything to actually support any of that? We at least know that Atheism is on the rise and Christianity on the decline. I know that not every statistic has been studied and I couldn't find anything about who is converting to New Age nonsense (much less why) but everything that you said seems nothing more than speculation heavily influenced by your own personal bias. Show me the facts.

[Michael]

Not sure if you're trying to insult me or not with your last sentence there, but I'll ignore it I guess.

No, I was just being grumpy and snobbish about the internet. Sorry I took it out on you.

As for reasons for believing, there's a thread over in the philosophy section called 'On non-belief and the existence of God' where we are chewing over that general question, and we're just looking at religious diversity and how to deal with that (why go down one path rather than another). How about joining us over there, as I think your questions are pretty much in line with that general topic. I'm happy to try to answer anything you throw at me.

[abtaylor]

To be honest, if it weren't for the internet, i'd probably still be a christian. I would never have been exposed to any sort of knowledge or information about other things besides Christianity. Everyone around me was christian. Classmates, neighbors, friends, everyone. I didn't really have anyone or any source to open my eyes to realize it's bullcrap!

[downbeatplumb]

Am I sounding old? :-)

No. Naive.


Libraries choose what books are stocked on the shelves. The internet is far more democratic. Once the seed of doubt is planted anyone is free to seek books which will expand the idea.

But the internet has very little in the way of quality control and anyone with an opinion can spout off and post misleading or wrong information, often backed up by others with similar wrong slanted ideas.
You see this with conspiracy theory "truthers" and other crackpots siting other crackpots to support their madness in a never ending spiral of dis-information.
This sort of thing also helps religions, my wife is a spiritualist and has found many a site that supports her idea of how the universe operates.
Anecdotal evidence is enough for some people.

[Mystic]

yes it is.

[Mister Agenda]

Another big factor in the decline of religion in America is gays and atheists coming out of the closet. There's nothing like finding out your parents and pastors have been lying to you about entire demographics of people to make someone wonder about the other things they've been told.