anyone else notice a change of pace in christianity?

[Jextin]

i remember like 10 years ago when I was a Christians pastors would always spout how "god is with us every step of the way" and "all our days go according to him" - but nowadays when I get the 'honor' of listening to their words of wisdom, they basically say "sorry god cant, i mean wont really helps us because of free will and man must face the consequences of his choice and people will continue to starve and die until he learns....but he loves us all! in fact its because he loves us so much that he wont help people who starve and die and are sick - its the deepest love in the world, our human minds cant even grasp it"

and then you see the faces of people in the pews like "hm? oh well, makes sense, i think...I AGREE!!"

[Napoléon]

Organised religion on the whole is just becoming less and less relevant in today's society and people are slowly but surely starting to realise this. Most religions are desperately trying to keep their appeal up by trying to change with the times (just look at how the Catholic Church is trying to change their image with Francis). Thing is, as the common person becomes more scientifically literate (or should I say, more intelligent?) the obvious flaws with organised religion just become more and more apparent. I was just thinking about this, how long until these religions die out? Will they ever? I think with every generation, less and less people are going to church. More and more people are just looking at religion and seeing it as the stupid, pointless thing it is. Maybe within my lifetime we'll see the majority of people in America identify as agnostic? Maybe a bit optimistic, but certainly in Europe, organised religion seems to be losing its relevancy and influence with every day that goes by.

[Minimalist]

Nah - same shit - different decade.

The bullshitters keep throwing shit against the wall to see what sticks.

[Anomalocaris]

Same shit, but with more hesitation from the slightly less brain dead, and more shrill desperation from the slightly more greasy.

[jughead]

Don't know?

But I see them expanding doctrine to bring in the homosexuals, and maybe women priests and marriage. They will do whatever it takes to keep the money flowing. The older gen is dying off and the new gen wont go for fire and brimstone.

[Tonus]

I think that most religions change as time passes and different people take over positions of power or influence. So many religious books and texts seem to be open to interpretation, which also makes it easier for them to incorporate incremental changes over time.

[vorlon13]

Our job, is to get just enough of the young ones to embrace unrelenting Literalism and Inerrancy to ruin it for the rest of them !!

[fr0d0]

Organised religion on the whole is just becoming less and less relevant in today's society and people are slowly but surely starting to realise this. Most religions are desperately trying to keep their appeal up by trying to change with the times (just look at how the Catholic Church is trying to change their image with Francis). Thing is, as the common person becomes more scientifically literate (or should I say, more intelligent?) the obvious flaws with organised religion just become more and more apparent. I was just thinking about this, how long until these religions die out? Will they ever? I think with every generation, less and less people are going to church. More and more people are just looking at religion and seeing it as the stupid, pointless thing it is. Maybe within my lifetime we'll see the majority of people in America identify as agnostic? Maybe a bit optimistic, but certainly in Europe, organised religion seems to be losing its relevancy and influence with every day that goes by.

I read that in the style of your avatar and it worked!

[Lek]

Since the percentage of christians in America is declining, pastors who measure the value of their congregation by numbers will tend to change the emphasis of what they preach to be more appealing to the general population. Those pastors who measure the value of their congregations by the number of actual christians will continue to preach the gospel as it is. That's all you can really do. You have to present the faith as it really is and those who reject it can go the way they want, which is what many of the younger generation are doing. It's a pastor's job to present the truth of the gospel and let God worry about the numbers.

[DramaQueen]

Since the percentage of christians in America is declining, pastors who measure the value of their congregation by numbers will tend to change the emphasis of what they preach to be more appealing to the general population. Those pastors who measure the value of their congregations by the number of actual christians will continue to preach the gospel as it is. That's all you can really do. You have to present the faith as it really is and those who reject it can go the way they want, which is what many of the younger generation are doing. It's a pastor's job to present the truth of the gospel and let God worry about the numbers.

Wish that happen in the middle east.