Religion may not survive the internet

[Jeff Lebowski]

http://www.salon.com/2013/01/16/reli..._the_internet/

Several references to LDS church.

I think religion will survive, but it will most definitely be transformed.

[byu71]

http://www.salon.com/2013/01/16/reli..._the_internet/

Several references to LDS church.

I think religion will survive, but it will most definitely be transformed.

Interesting read. I think we are losing our balance. A good balance is a number of faith oriented folks who do not rely on intellect and political correctness to define their existence.

I know I personally don't want to live in the world of the so called "smart" people. A lot of them tend to be college professors and media folks. Remember I am saying balance, so I am not condemning college professors unless we get too many of them that think like they do (generality).

Am I wrong, or haven't the last 3 out of 4 mass shooters been considered "very smart".

[Katy Lied]

I have been thinking about this for a few months now.

Something not mentioned is religion for entertainment value. That used to be a huge drawing card for religion, especially during the revivals of JSmith's time. Now there is so much entertainment to choose from.

But religion always comes and goes in cycles, and I wonder what will precipitate the next religious revival.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Funny how they remove the apple logo on the back of that MacBook in the photo. Like that would fool anyone.

[Northwestcoug]

Interesting article.

I've been amazed at the majority of colleagues I've had in the last 15 years. Most of them did not belong to an organized religion, and the ones that did were usually liberal Jews. There was always a gulf between me and them, because not only did most of them not express a desire to be part of a religion, they simply didn't have an inclination for a supernatural belief.

I probably run in circles that are different than the majority of Americans. But from where I stand, I don't think society is going to get more religious any time soon. My colleagues are/were fulfilled in the absence of organized religion. And as the article suggests, the internet has provided one of the major pros of religion, a social network.

[YOhio]

“The Standard of Truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame. But the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and dependent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, until the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah will say, ‘The work is done.'”

-Joseph Smith

[Indy Coug]

Interesting article.

I've been amazed at the majority of colleagues I've had in the last 15 years. Most of them did not belong to an organized religion, and the ones that did were usually liberal Jews. There was always a gulf between me and them, because not only did most of them not express a desire to be part of a religion, they simply didn't have an inclination for a supernatural belief.

I probably run in circles that are different than the majority of Americans. But from where I stand, I don't think society is going to get more religious any time soon. My colleagues are/were fulfilled in the absence of organized religion. And as the article suggests, the internet has provided one of the major pros of religion, a social network.

Internet acquaintances won't help move you at 10:00 on a Tuesday morning. Until that changes, there will continue to be a market for religion.

[Surfah]

Interesting article.

I've been amazed at the majority of colleagues I've had in the last 15 years. Most of them did not belong to an organized religion, and the ones that did were usually liberal Jews. There was always a gulf between me and them, because not only did most of them not express a desire to be part of a religion, they simply didn't have an inclination for a supernatural belief.

I probably run in circles that are different than the majority of Americans. But from where I stand, I don't think society is going to get more religious any time soon. My colleagues are/were fulfilled in the absence of organized religion. And as the article suggests, the internet has provided one of the major pros of religion, a social network.

In my anecdotal experience I am often surprised by how many of my colleagues are active in their faiths. But we run in very different circles and live in two very different places. It's one thing I noticed immediately when I first visited Virginia 12 years ago, churches here are often bustling on Sundays.

[Northwestcoug]

Internet acquaintances won't help move you at 10:00 on a Tuesday morning. Until that changes, there will continue to be a market for religion.

Or a gym membership. That's kind of TIC, but I'm surprised at how many close friendships my wife has made through her gym.

But you're right. Like I said, that's a great plus for religion.

In my anecdotal experience I am often surprised by how many of my colleagues are active in their faiths. But we run in very different circles and live in two very different places. It's one thing I noticed immediately when I first visited Virginia 12 years ago, churches here are often bustling on Sundays.

Yeah I know there's plenty of faithful people out there. We have a couple of almost mega-churches in our area. They always seem very busy on Sunday. I just don't know too many people who attend.

One of factors the article didn't address is the number of kids faithful people have. If they continue to outpace non-believers, organized religion may continue to thrive. But if the premise that the internet will continue to be persuasive is correct, the increased fertility may not matter much.

[SeattleUte]

NPR is running a series about religion's death spiral in America. Today was about the problem of evil and suffering. Specifically, the segment focused on people who'd lost their faith as a result of terrible tragedy and religion's failure to provide any true solace. The segment was brutal, really tough stuff.

Among those interviewed was a woman who lost her beloved husband after he was burned over most of his body including the horrible disfugurement of his face. As he lingered for 36 days in the hostpital before he ultimately died, a priest prayed over him. The woman spoke bitterly about how the priest and other religious people blithely told her that her husband was being "called home" and would be in a better place. Finally the grief stricken wife could bear no more of such banality, and orderd the priest out of the room. She was left alone to raise to two young daughters. She said that today she believes her husband is gone forever, and she will not see him again, except that she experiences indescribable joy seeing her husband in the face of her daughters.

Also interviewed were parents who had lost children violently, etc. One woman, whose 21 year old son was gunned down by an acquaintance after the son returned form serving in the military overseas, said that she finally realized she'd have to find a healing for her horrible continuing grief all by herself, because religion and its banalities and nonsense could not help her. She has been able to recover somewhat becoming a licensed counselor for other parents who have lost children to violence.

This made me think, everyone could use a true poet or sage at times of deep personal loss. Wouldn't it be great to have that, whatever you believed about the Creation or virgin birth. The problem is that God's representatives are so utterly prosaic. Religion needs to offer more spiritual and intellectual nourishment in THIS life.

I assume many here saw this article written by an evangelical pastor.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/op...?smid=pl-share

Religion is toast. But fortunately human beings are finding plenty of meaning and reason to be decent and practice the golden rule outside religion.

[byu71]

But fortunately human beings are finding plenty of meaning and reason to be decent and practice the golden rule outside religion.

LOL, good one.

[SeattleUte]

LOL, good one.

yes, my bad. Back when everyone was religious the world was such a better place, wasn't it.

[snowcat]

Religion is toast. But fortunately human beings are finding plenty of meaning and reason to be decent and practice the golden rule outside religion.

Yep.

[Indy Coug]

yes, my bad. Back when everyone was religious the world was such a better place, wasn't it.

Go read the first half of 4th Nephi.

[byu71]

yes, my bad. Back when everyone was religious the world was such a better place, wasn't it.

All in all I think a society is better when there is a healthy dose of Judeo (sp) Christian (sp) values in the society.

Taken to an extreme, it can be bad for the society.