The God topic

[Kesseli]

This thread is going places now.

[mookie]

God = conscience. Ok got it.

[Kesseli]

God = conscience. Ok got it.

[Harry Lime]

I read that Rolling Stone cover story on Francis. Basically, if he is to make any earth shattering changes within the Church, he has to pierce the "impenetrable bureaucracy" that runs it. But a clergyman who has covered the Vatican for 30 years says he has never seen the established guard so insecure.

Though, that could mean nothing in the grand scheme of things. They could think Francis a thorn in their side, but will ultimately see him as a dissenter who failed. Rumors are that Francis' detractors are muttering, "Ok, when are we getting back to business?"

Sad. But if Francis makes any headway (he has already hand picked new Cardinals to help him plan a reform), I'd be really worried, if I were him, about the security of his life.

[Biff Pocoroba]

Cut & paste from the web:

The American Bible Society recently found a rise in the percentage of Americans who view the Bible skeptically, according to its Annual State of the Bible report.
Since 2011, the percentage of those who believe that the Bible is "just another book of teachings written by men that contains stories and advice" has risen from 10% to 19% of those surveyed.
The report, conducted by Barna Group, details Americans' beliefs about the Bible, its role in society, its presence in U.S. homes and other information about the best-selling book of all time.
"With four years of data from American Bible Society's State of the Bible research, we are now able to see trends in attitudes about and behaviors around the Bible," said Roy Peterson, president and CEO of American Bible Society. "The increasing polarization in attitudes about the Bible has implications for us as a nation and for our churches and families."
The new report released on Tuesday finds that the percentage of Americans who are engaged with Scripture is equal to the percentage who are skeptical — both at 19%. The latest findings are in American Bible Society's fourth annual State of the Bible survey.
The survey found the Bible remains a highly valued, influential force in America. But beliefs about the Bible and its role in society are becoming increasingly polarized — particularly when the data is examined by age group.
Overall, Millennials (ages 18–29) are driving the shift toward an agnostic view of the Bible. Among Millennials, the 2014 State of the Bible survey found:
19% believe no literature is sacred (compared to 13% of all adults), while 64% believe the Bible is sacred literature (compared to 79% of all adults). 35% believe the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life, as compared with 50%t for all adults.
While 50% of all adults believe the Bible has too little influence in society, only 30% of Millennials express the same belief. By way of comparison, 61% of Elders (those 68+) surveyed said they believe the Bible has too little influence in society.
39% of Millennials never read the Bible, as compared to 26% of all adults.
The most common reason given for not reading the Bible more frequently among those who said their Bible reading decreased remained "busyness." The percentage of Bible readers citing busyness as their top barrier to additional Bible reading grew significantly in the last year, from 40% in 2013 to 47% in 2014.
The way Americans access the Bible is also changing, according to the State of the Bible survey results. An unprecedented 44% of Bible readers surveyed have accessed the Bible on a computer. Still, print versions are far from disappearing from the Bible landscape. 84% of Bible readers surveyed said a print version of Scripture is still their primary format.
American Bible Society's State of the Bible 2014 survey also found:
The Bible continues to dominate both mind space and book retail space as America's undisputed best-seller.
One in seven people reported buying a copy of the Bible in the last year.
74% of Americans identify the Bible as sacred.
The Bible is found in 88% American households with an average of 4.7 Bibles per household.
More than a quarter (28 percent) of all adults read the Bible every day or several times a week, while a quarter (26 percent) never read it.
Among Bible readers, the average amount of time spent reading the Bible is 35 minutes.
One in four Bible readers (42 percent) felt peaceful after reading the Bible, three in 10 (29 percent) felt hopeful and 33% felt encouraged and inspired.
The King James Version is still preferred over any other translation as 34% of all adults read this version the most often.

[Harry Lime]

I picked this up. This Barbra Brown Taylor basically teaches my philosophy. I'm happy I came across it.

Taylor, who ranks among America's leading theologians is encouraging believers and nonbelievers not only to seek the light but to face the darkness too, something that 21st Century Americans tend to resist

Yup.

[Self]

What a load of crap.

[Harry Lime]

Uh oh.

[Norah]

He's right, though.

[Heathen]

What about finding dogs in the dark?

[BurtReynolds]

What about finding dogs in the dark?

nearly impossible.

[Heathen]

What about finding dogs in the dark?

nearly impossible.

nonbeliever

[red calzolaio]

...buying a copy of the Bible in the last year.

i found this particularly funny.

[Sgt. Crackpot]

...buying a copy of the Bible in the last year.

i found this particularly funny.

Holy shit, Red, you're still alive. Is everything OK, man?

[red calzolaio]

...buying a copy of the Bible in the last year.

i found this particularly funny.

Holy shit, Red, you're still alive. Is everything OK, man?

i'm in the God topic thread. things suck man.

[Jorge]

Holy shit, Red, you're still alive.

How do you know? He is posting in The God Thread.

[Jorge]

DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE FOR US, RED? FROM EL MAS ALLA?

[philpritchard]

What about finding dogs in the dark?

nearly impossible.

As the owner of a black dog, I can vouch for this.

Except in the winter, when the ground is covered in snow. Then it's easy.

[Alex]

in my god-fearing days, i often felt most close to god when i was in the midst of a tragedy. given that, i, now as a resolute non-believer, feel the phantom waves of god-fear when i visit the auto mechanic.

[Kaius]

We both live in the wrong states Alex