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![]() The Reason Rally, sponsored by secular organizations, draws a crowd to Washington.
May 29th, 2013
03:06 PM ET
Poll: America losing its religionBy Dan Merica, CNN Washington (CNN) – More than three in four of Americans say religion is losing its influence in the United States, according to a new survey, the highest such percentage in more than 40 years. A nearly identical percentage says that trend bodes ill for the country. "It may be happening, but Americans don't like it," Frank Newport, Gallup's editor in chief, said of religion's waning influence. "It is clear that a lot of Americans don't think this is a good state of affairs." According to the Gallup survey released Wednesday, 77% of Americans say religion is losing its influence. Since 1957, when the question was first asked, Americans' perception of religion's power has never been lower. According to the poll, 75% of Americans said the country would be better off if it were more religious. The poll doesn't reflect Americans' personal religiosity, such as church attendance, but rather how large events and trends shape shared views, Newport explained. For example, the sexual revolution, the Vietnam War and the rise of the counterculture fed the perception that religion was on the wane during the late 1960s, he said. Views of a secularizing America peaked in 1969 and 1970, when 75% of Americans said faith was losing its clout in society. A similar view dominated from 1991-94 and from 2007 to the present. Americans saw religion increasing its influence in 1957, in 1962 and at a few points during the Reagan presidency in 1980. This number also spiked to its highest point ever - 71% - after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The pollster didn't speculate on the contemporary factors that led to the current views on faith's influence. Still, the poll numbers are dramatically influenced by church attendance, according to Gallup. More than 90% of people who attend church weekly responded that a more religious America would be positive, compared with 58% of Americans who attended church "less often." The Gallup poll was conducted via telephone from May 2 to May 7. A total of 1,535 people were sampled for the poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. |
![]() ![]() About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team. |
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Let me offer a small bit of very old wisdom; The truth hurts.
The fact is that religion is losing power, influence, and members in this country. The Christians are still the largest religion, and really don't like the idea of not being in charge any more. That is why so many of them are commenting here and being so nasty about it. The truth hurts.
Psalms 33:4
For the word of the LORD [is] right; and all his works [are done] in truth.
Amen.
Atheists are far from being the victims of hurtful comments on CNN. The (Anti-) Belief Blog is full atheist bullies.
it's also full of christian bloviators
Atheists and fundies see every news story as an argument about religion.
At least this story actually is about religion.
Only in your imagination.
Martin sees every story as an opportunity to troll.
Martin see's every story as a chance to whine about how persecuted the poor christards are.
Atheism is just another religion or system of belief until it is proven beyond any doubt that there is no God, or there was a Big Bang, or there is such a thing as evolution.
So when the Big Bang stops being called the "Big Bang Theory" or when we stop calling it the "Theory of Evolution" you cannot state it is a fact, therefore it is just a belief, and if you subscribe to that belief then you are just a believer and nothing more, much like the religious people you hate.
How Ironic.
@Zidane..................."Atheism is just another religion or system of belief until it is proven beyond any doubt that there is no God, or there was a Big Bang, or there is such a thing as evolution."
Congratulations for making the most ignorant post on the belief blog!
@fintastic: Instead of just making a statement denying everything and giving no actual argument (much like a child would), why don't you give me a solid argument that show how the "Theory of Evolution" is fact? Keep in mind that if you knew anything about science you'd understand that a theory cannot become a law (or fact) unless there is no evidence that can disprove it.
Translated Zidane's post reads: I don't know what a scientific theory is, and yet I still feel as if I'm qualified to comment about it.
I openly say that i'm a proud atheist and i'm also gay.
Congrats. Now we know that you are going to your make believe hell for claiming yourself to be God.
Grow up and do some research on what it means to have integrity.
I'm a proud atheist, and I'm not gay.
Veronica
Then you are my Goddess!
Atheist woman eschew the false modesty of Christians, and really know how to get busy!
So you probably think people who don't think being gay is ok are backwards thinking troglodytes right?
What's your opinion on having relations with animals? If your father begins to have relations with animals openly, would you accept him?
He's right Veronica. Without the sacrament of marriage as a boundary for promiscuity, there's nothing at all to keep William from treating you like an object for his gratification.
And people claim Christians have no respect for women.
Whenever one group supplants another group, those who end up in charge extract revenge against the oppressors
For example, the Christians tried to exterminate the Jews.
I wonder if the Atheists plan on putting Christians into gas chambers once they seize control?
In fact MANY groups will expect the Christians to be held accountable for several millennia of sins. Jews, Muslims Zoroastrians, Gays and communists would be well served drafting up a list of reparations they will be demanding once Christ has fallen.
So just remember my evangelical friends, what went around is coming full circle. All the wealth you have is stolen, and all the power you have is waning, and payback is on the horizon.
William Demuth
"For example, the Christians tried to exterminate the Jews."
Umm ... I'm sure alot of people here would appreciate if you shared whatever you're smoking.
@Topher
Look up: The Inquisition
Still in denial
The SS had patches that said "Gott Mit Uns"
Are you implying the God of Herr Hitler was not the same God as yours?
Are you denying Jews were forced to play Christmas Carols in Auschwitz parties prior to being gassed and made into lamp shades?
Are you denying the Vatican was in an Axis country and signed treaties with Germany supporting their rearmament after World War 1?
You lie
Chuckles
"Look up: The Inquisition"
First, that was the Catholics. Second, what does that have to do with "exterminating Jews"?
"First, that was the Catholics." << - "It was the other sect. We are excused from it."
Topher
You followers of Abraham all love to blame the other guy
First of all it was primarily Protestants and Lutherans. Secondly the Inquisition was all about torturing Jews.
I bet you don't even understand that's why you guys eat Ham on Easter. To prove your not a Jew so the inquisition might pass you bye
William Demuth
"The SS had patches that said "Gott Mit Uns"" Yep. They sure did.
"Are you implying the God of Herr Hitler was not the same God as yours?" Of course not. The god of Hitler was himself. And the closest he got to worshipping any god was that of the Catholics.
"Are you denying Jews were forced to play Christmas Carols in Auschwitz parties prior to being gassed and made into lamp shades?" I have no idea if this happened or not.
"Are you denying the Vatican was in an Axis country and signed treaties with Germany supporting their rearmament after World War 1?" No. The Vatican had a lot of dealings with the Nazis.
"You lie" I have before, yes.
Since you like talking about Hitler so much, here's some things he said that you might find interesting ,,,
“Our epoch will certainly see the end of the disease of Christianity.”
"Christianity is the worst of the regressions that mankind can ever have undergone.”
“The heaviest blow that ever struck humanity was the coming of Christianity.”
Politics is responsible for more deaths than any other following in human history...
Atheism is just another religion or system of belief until it is proven beyond any doubt that there is no God, or there was a Big Bang, or there is such a thing as evolution.
So when the Big Bang stops being called the "Big Bang Theory" or when we stop calling it the "Theory of Evolution" you cannot state it is a fact, therefore it is just a belief, and if you subscribe to that belief then you are just a believer and nothing more, much like the religious people you hate.
How Ironic.
The fact still remains:
The death of the Jews.
"About six million.
Since 1945-46, the most commonly quoted figure for the total number of Jews killed has been an estimate of approximately six million. This figure, first given at the Nuremberg Tribunal, has been broadly confirmed by later research. "
Topher:
Already in the 4th and 5th centuries synagogues were burned by Christians. Number of Jews slain unknown.
In the middle of the fourth century the first synagogue was destroyed on command of bishop Innocentius of Dertona in Northern Italy. The first synagogue known to have been burned down was near the river Euphrat, on command of the bishop of Kallinikon in the year 388.
17. Council of Toledo 694: Jews were enslaved, their property confiscated, and their children forcibly baptized.
The Bishop of Limoges (France) in 1010 had the cities' Jews, who would not convert to Christianity, expelled or killed.
First Crusade: Thousands of Jews slaughtered 1096, maybe 12.000 total. Places: Worms 5/18/1096, Mainz 5/27/1096 (1100 persons), Cologne, Neuss, Altenahr, Wevelinghoven, Xanten, Moers, Dortmund, Kerpen, Trier, Metz, Regensburg, Prag and others (All locations Germany except Metz/France, Prag/Czech)
Second Crusade: 1147. Several hundred Jews were slain in Ham, Sully, Carentan, and Rameru (all locations in France).
Third Crusade: English Jewish communities sacked 1189/90.
Fulda/Germany 1235: 34 Jewish men and women slain.
1257, 1267: Jewish communities of London, Canterbury, Northampton, Lincoln, Cambridge, and others exterminated.
1290 in Bohemian (Poland) allegedly 10,000 Jews killed.
1337 Starting in Deggendorf/Germany a Jew-killing craze reaches 51 towns in Bavaria, Austria, Poland.
1348 All Jews of Basel/Switzerland and Strasbourg/France (two thousand) burned.
1349 In more than 350 towns in Germany all Jews murdered, mostly burned alive (in this one year more Jews were killed than Christians in 200 years of ancient Roman persecution of Christians).
1389 In Prag 3,000 Jews were slaughtered.
1391 Seville's Jews killed (Archbishop Martinez leading). 4,000 were slain, 25,000 sold as slaves. Their identification was made easy by the brightly colored "badges of shame" that all jews above the age of ten had been forced to wear.
1492: In the year Columbus set sail to conquer a New World, more than 150,000 Jews were expelled from Spain, many died on their way: 6/30/1492.
1648 Chmielnitzki massacres: In Poland about 200,000 Jews were slain.
(http://www.truthbeknown.com/victims.htm)
William Demuth
"First of all it was primarily Protestants and Lutherans. Secondly the Inquisition was all about torturing Jews."
You can continue with this revisionist history if you want to, but you'll lose all credibility of making any arguments on any subjects whatsoever.
@Topher
I missed the part where catholics aren't considered christians. A little help?
"First, that was the Catholics. Second, what does that have to do with "exterminating Jews"?"
Ah, Gopher comes up with the denial of christianity ruse.....they aren't REAL christians according to him
Gopher talking about credibility....that's humorous.
Come on, you snivelling little coward.......post something rational.
Never mind, go back to your hole and beg for salvation
Punk
Chuckles
"I missed the part where catholics aren't considered christians. A little help?"
Sorry it took me so long to respond. I met my wife for lunch. But to answer your question, Catholics and Protestants don't consider each other orthodox. We're "anathema" to each other. You've heard of the Protestant Reformation? There are some Catholics who will try to tell you that's not true, but it's in their doctrinal statements.
Topher
Chuckles
"I missed the part where catholics aren't considered christians. A little help?"
Sorry it took me so long to respond. I met my wife for lunch. But to answer your question, Catholics and Protestants don't consider each other orthodox. We're "anathema" to each other. You've heard of the Protestant Reformation? There are some Catholics who will try to tell you that's not true, but it's in their doctrinal statements.
.....
Sorry but Catholics are Christians
John Stemberger
Are you a Catholic?
I think that the recent christard behavior on this blog is about right; it's karma for Chad being an atheist and Poe.
I think i just slipped, i'm such an idiot sometimes.
Christard cocksuckers all wanting their puny gods, but they all fail.
Eric the Uncouth is here stealing names. Must have gotten his ass kicked somewhere again. Same old crap.
No, it's a different troll. Uncouth aka Lycidas actually uses good grammar and spelling.
It's this troll.
"Ronald Regonzo" who degenerates to:
"Salvatore" degenerates to:
"Douglas" degenerates to:
Taskmaster" degenerates to:
"truth be told" degenerates to:
"The Truth" degenerates to:
"Thinker23" degenerates to:
"Atheism is not healthy ..." degenerates to:
"another repentant sinner" degenerates to:
"Dodney Rangerfield" degenerates to:
"tina" degenerates to:
"captain america" degenerates to:
"christopher hitchens" degenerates to:
"Atheist Hunter" degenerates to:
"Anybody know how to read? " degenerates to:
"just sayin" degenerates to:
"ImLook'nUp" degenerates to:
"Kindness" degenerates to:
"Lorraine" degenerates to:
"Chad" degenerates to
"Bob" degenerates to
"nope" degenerates to:
"2357" degenerates to:
"WOW" degenerates to:
"fred" degenerates to:
"!" degenerates to:
"pervert alert"
This troll is not a christian..
Religion is what's wrong with the world to intillerant an they all hate each other
Illiteracy seems to be a big problem too.
The fall of Rome. The zombie apocalypse. Call it what you will. We are quickly losing our judeo christian values. So many welfare babies have no moral foundation.
Another clueless right wing troll. You people need a life.
You sure post some drivel.
A lot of conjecture coming from you.
I don't think either the Jews or the Christians ever had specific positions on welfare babies. Your opposition to welfare sounds more like a Republican value than a Judeo-Christian one.
Notice how Toothless Atheist avoids using my profile name? He is to much of a coward to do so.
You are now going to Hell.
Jesus is mad, too.
The Holy Spirit just farted in your general direction.
God almighty. Hell only exists to those that fear it.
Someone else said it earlier but it bears repeating: There is as much evidence to prove there is a god as there is evidence to prove there is a tooth fairy. And if your response to that is, "the proof is the bible," then I repeat that the bible is proof of god the same way that a Marvel comic book is proof of Spiderman.
There is plenty of proof for the accuracy of Marvel comics.
New York is real. The comics say Spidey is a New Yorker, therefore Spidey is real.
Some spider webs are extremely large. Spider-Man is larger than a regular spider. Therefore, Spider-Man made all large webs.
The Prophets Lee and Ditko were divinely inspired to reveal the truth of Spider-Man to the world.
I saw Spiderman with my own eyes in Rochester NY two weeks ago. He is real, I saw him. He was making a movie, some chase scene they were shooting here. Spiderman is as real as I am.
It god that is imaginary.
Too bad i'm not a leader otherwise i would be worst than Hitler.
I'm in with you.
Hey Toothless Atheist. You are basically Hitler you coward.
"Too bad i'm not a leader otherwise i would be worst than Hitler."
The great part of you stealing other people's handles is your poor grammar and spelling. Keep stealing and lying for your God it demonstrates why you are such a coward and a hypocrite.
Hitler Was an Atheist Who Killed Millions in the Name of Atheism, Secularism:
A popular image of the Nazis is that they were fundamentally anti-Christian while devout Christians were anti-Nazi. The truth is that German Christians supported the Nazis because they believed that Adolf Hitler was a gift to the German people from God. Hitler frequently referenced God and Christianity both in public and private. The Nazi Party Program explicitly endorsed and promoted Christianity in the party platform. Millions of Christians in Germany not only enthusiastically supported and endorsed Hitler and the Nazis, but did so on the basis of common Christian beliefs and attitudes.
Don't pay attention to me people, i have multiple personalities which is common in atheism.
Notice how these christard cocksuckers operate in the forums.
No worries. You're so tiny I don't think anyone would be able to find you to follow you.
"Don't pay attention to me people, i have multiple personalities which is common in atheism."
So you don't have any integrity and you lie for your God, keep up the great work on proving why religion is so bad for your brain.
Fake science poster above
About 46,400,000 results (0.31 seconds)
Search Results............Google
News for poll Americans losing religion
Poll: America losing its religion
CNN (blog) - 20 hours ago
By Dan Merica, CNN Washington (CNN) – More than three in four of Americans say religion is losing its influence in the United States, ...
Hitler was a Roman Catholic numb nuts. STALIN was the atheist.
If you had to choose between Adolph Hitler and Maximillian Kolbe as examples of Catholicism, which do you really think is more representative?
Hey toothlees................damn toothless when it come to the truth.
EVOLUTION WINS THUMBS UP NO horn-y red devil OR the fairy in the sky DID NOT create US............
Chad do what Rachel said you to asustin. faith/lol??
Apes Get Emotional Over Games of Chance
May 29, 2013 — Like some humans, chimpanzees and bonobos exhibit emotional responses to outcomes of their decisions by pouting or throwing angry tantrums when a risk-taking strategy fails to pay off, according to research published May 29 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Alexandra Rosati from Yale University and Brian Hare from Duke University.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130529190933.htm
Big Data Chardie.............from Bing................again easy to access.
Scientists Recover Wooly Mammoth Blood ..................cloning could happen maybe
Posted by Soulskill on Wednesday May 29, 2013 @01:52PM
from the wooly-mammoth-vampires-very-excited dept.
http://science.slashdot.org/story/13/05/29/1712242/scientists-recover-wooly-mammoth-blood
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/05/05/when-christians-become-a-hated-minority/
Big DATA ............Chadie...............POKE !
19,600,000 resultsAny time ...........from Bing.
News about Poll: America Losing Its Religion
Oops................comes....................with NO horn-y red devil chad and creationists.
Religion has no business in our politics, and as far as Periods post, hitler killed 6,000,000 +, the US has killed over 50 million blacks using religion, 90 million indigenous people of this land killed by US, all using religious grounds and God as their authority to do it. Then on to Hawaii where missionaries kept Hawaiians from speaking Hawaiian or practicing their religious beliefs, if they did, they were pulled from school and sent to the cane fields...
Yeah, religion is good....
What is your proof for the large numbers you stated? During the Jim Crowe era, only about 4000 blacks were lynched.
Huffington Post has a new spiffy world & U.S. map to go with today's infographic on:
Gay Marriage Map Shifts Ahead Of Supreme Court Ruling
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/30/gay-marriage-supreme-court-_n_3348922.html
Looks like we have to wait until June 6 to find out about Australia. Illinois' house vote could be any day now.
That infographic on HP leaves out several things.
Gay marriage is legal in Mexico City and it was recently ruled that all states of Mexico must recognize such marriages.
Although they mention the recent challenges to the country-wide ruling in Brazil (that extended gay marriage rights throughout Brazil), there are already some Brazilian jurisdictions that had already legalized gay marriage before said ruling.
There are a number of countries without info boxes that could be close to adopting gay marriage laws – some as an upgrade from civil union laws. Keep an eye out for Germany, Finland and Chile to name just a few.
OK I didn't realize dottie was about; lol. The dot in the reply above is again "Gay Marriage News".
To all Christians and believers:
(Bill, read this several times)
Your post has to do at least three things:
1. Be understandable. If you're just whacking your keyboard against the arm of your chair, you're not going to make any headway.
2. Express a cogent idea. Make a logical statement that has logical parts that can be evaluated. If you're not expressing an idea clearly, it doesn't matter if it's right or wrong.
3. Explain how your position/argument is correct. You've got to show how one point follows from the previous and connects to the next and how there is not a simpler and more precise way to structure the components.
THEN, and only then, can others fully understand your position and then realize it for themselves or dissect and demonstrate its malfunctioning elements.
I must have missed these when I signed the user agreement. Have you cleared them with the Central office?
Well, stupid people often reject good advice when it's offered, so feel free to ignore it, Bill
Every discussion of the Moore tornado was eventually flooded with anti-religion propaganda.
Atheists need to take a look in the mirror.
Martin shut up. I suggest you stop being a clueless troll and avoiding the dumb posts the religious right posted.
You're right Martin, we atheists are stupid and we need to be more educated.
"Every discussion of the Moore tornado was eventually flooded with anti-religion propaganda."
So you checked every website, news report and social media on it to prove they do it on EVERY discussion huh? So please supply all the sites you visited and the posts you are referring too. Oh, that's right Christians like you love to lie for your God.
Well look at the religious scum trying their little antics.
"Answer
You're right Martin, we atheists are stupid and we need to be more educated."
Oh look the coward stole another handle what a troll.
@Martin
You said, "Every discussion of the Moore tornado was eventually flooded with anti-religion propaganda."
Pointing out how silly and infantile beliefs in gods are isn't anti-religion, it's pro-reason. You are and remain free to believe whatever nonsense you want, but the days of special treatment for christians is coming to an end, or at least so we can hope.
You said, "Atheists need to take a look in the mirror."
Believers should evaluate why they believe in a god, yet don't believe in the Tooth Fairy. The evidence for both is identical. There is no reason to dismiss one and not the other.
These little christard cocksuckers all do the same tactics when their cornered.
'they're'
Ok i admit it, i'm retarded too.
You sure are christard cocksucker.
The religious have no integrity? Stealing others names is wrong.
"Answer
Ok i admit it, i'm retarded too."
No, they've proven that tolls like you suffer from low self esteem issues. So, do yourself a favor and get professional help.
I've got to admit that i do it all the time too 🙂
"Secula Humanist From Ohio
I've got to admit that i do it all the time too 🙂 "
Congratulations you just showed the world that you have no integrity.
Don't worry, we atheists are doing it all the time.
So says the religious scum.
Proving Christian cowards like you wrong.
Hitler Was an Atheist Who Killed Millions in the Name of Atheism, Secularism:
A popular image of the Nazis is that they were fundamentally anti-Christian while devout Christians were anti-Nazi. The truth is that German Christians supported the Nazis because they believed that Adolf Hitler was a gift to the German people from God. Hitler frequently referenced God and Christianity both in public and private. The Nazi Party Program explicitly endorsed and promoted Christianity in the party platform. Millions of Christians in Germany not only enthusiastically supported and endorsed Hitler and the Nazis, but did so on the basis of common Christian beliefs and attitudes.
Religion isn't a bad thing, only religious fundamentalists and extremests. Including out right, loud mouth insect atheists (im talkin to you answer) are the bad guys. They have nothing ever constructive to say, but mean and nasty comments:/
Religious scumbags are always the problem. You just want to offload the blame.
constantine
Calling all atheists insects isn't mean and nasty?
Ok that's enough, i'm out of atheism and sick and tired of fighting against religious people. We atheists are even worst than religious people. I say bye to atheism and won't be coming back.
What a troll. You must be very uneducated for stealing other people's profile names.
leave here, absolutely. but cease the battle for freedom – why?
The religious scum love to steal names.
"What a troll. You must be very uneducated for stealing other people's profile names."
It's actually a great example on how low religious people stoop too when they are proven wrong and can't backup their false and lying claims. This poster probably also suffers from low self esteem issues too.
Stop telling everyone that we atheists are liars, they won't support us anymore. They don't need to know that we are liars.
Oh so now you're stealing handles which means you're not a Christian but a troll.
This coward stole my handle because on the previous page I posted.
From Toothless Atheist:
"Go ahead atheists hypocrites hurry up and vote this comment to Report Abuse as you are always trying to hide the truth. Typical to the usual hypocrisy from atheists."
The hypocrite is you since you are not posting real facts because that is a bogus website. You're probably trying to delete it since facts are being posted below your comment proving you wrong.
May 30, 2013 at 11:10 am | Report abuse |