Putting Christ back into Christmas

[ColdFront77]

It would be nice to believe more in my religion, but it isn't all that easy.

Not sure why I went into this. :-?

[WoodstockWX]

the exact percent is 33% and has been dropping steadily each year according to NUMEROUS gallup polls and offical world religion polls.



Still, closer to my 30%, proving 40% is 7% fabricated.

Do I get an apology, or am I still a lier?

[WoodstockWX]

As well you should voice your opinion woodstock, as you said, we're all entitled to our own opinions BUT......the biggest gripe we *Christians* have is everyone is trying to take "OUR" beliefs, "OUR Lord and Savior not only out of Christmas, The Pledge of Allegance, taking the 10 Commandments out of public places. Do you see Christians taking ANYTHING away from the Jews, Hindus, Muslims (well, I won't go there "LOL!")?? No.....nor will you ever see that! BTW......Merry Christmas and as j said, God Bless!



Dennis

Huh? Religous symbols don't belong in public places. Period. Don't even get me started on Alabama.

Agreed 100%

[azsnowman]

the exact percent is 33% and has been dropping steadily each year according to NUMEROUS gallup polls and offical world religion polls.



Still, closer to my 30%, proving 40% is 7% fabricated.

Do I get an apology, or am I still a lier?

Well....let's see, the date of this poll was before Sept 11th, correct?? I didn't see the EXACT date, all it said was 2000, SO....with this taken into consideration, I don't quite believe in the 33%. As you know, Christianity took a HUGE upswing since that dreedful day. OH......and a closing note, like my Pappy once told me, "NEVER discuss politics, religion OR the weather, cuz like a @%^&, everyone has one!"

Dennis

[mf_dolphin]

Let's see Woodstock, you originally said 20%, then went to 25% and now to 30%. Streetsoldier said 40%. I don't think an apology is in order LOL By you own chart somewhere between 80 and 85% percent of the world are religious in some fashion on another...

[Guest]

Woodstock why don't you take your comments elsewhere? Just want to stir up some trouble? Is your life so unfulfilling that you feel the need to annoy people on the virtual level???

Dennis, thanks for sharing those poems, and also for reminding us all what the true meaning of Christmas is.

...Jennifer...

[streetsoldier]

So, it stands (according to the chart) at one in three Christians worldwide, as opposed to 2 in 5, as of three years ago.

That chart did NOT add in the "rebirth" of Orthodox Christians in Russia and the former Warsaw Pact (which is having a wellspring of religious fervor), nor does it accomodate the Western European/American religious response to 9-11...much less the "offshoots" such as Jehovah's Witnesses , Mormons, etc. (which I included in my totals).

In future, be careful who you cross swords with; I'm a former teacher, "interdisciplinary/secondary/collegiate undergraduate studies" of long and distinguished standing. And I do not post unless I can document my sources.

What, pray tell, are your qualifications? I'd love to hear them.

[WoodstockWX]

Well....let's see, the date of this poll was before Sept 11th, correct?? I didn't see the EXACT date, all it said was 2000, SO....with this taken into consideration, I don't quite believe in the 33%. As you know, Christianity took a HUGE upswing since that dreedful day. OH......and a closing note, like my Pappy once told me, "NEVER discuss politics, religion OR the weather, cuz like a @%^&, everyone has one!"

Dennis

Sept 11 turned people to christianity and people away as well.
We had talks after that and many people were thinking "how could God let this happen" etc.

But that is not important.

Christianity has been in decline for several years now, and according the those sources, it's been going down a % every year which would put it at 30% even right now.

You're desperately trying to make your fabricated percentange true.

At least I admit when my 20/25% number was too low. The actual one is 30 to 33%.

Religion Date Founded Sacred Texts Membership % of World
Christianity 30 CE The Bible 2,015 million 33% (dropping)

Author Samuel Huntington disagrees: "The percentage of Christians in the world peaked at about 30 % in the 1980s, leveled off, is now declining, and will probably approximate to about 25% of the world's population by 2025. As a result of their extremely high rates of population growth, the proportion of Muslims in the world will continue to increase dramatically, amounting to 20 percent of the world's population about the turn of the century, surpassing the number of Christians some years later, and probably accounting for about 30 percent of the world's population by 2025." 3
The UK Christian Handbook has lower figures. They estimate that 28.3% of the world's population identified themselves as Christians in 1990. They expect this to drop to 27.7% by the year 2000, and to 27.1 in 2010. 4 They attribute the drop to the lower birth rate among Christians compared to followers of other religions.

All direct quotes from http://www.religioustolerance.com

But going back to 9/11, if anything that had less than a 1% effect, and it was balanced out somewhat as some turned to Christ and some turned away.
Not a big swing either way IMO.

[mf_dolphin]

WOodstock, jow is 40% any more fabricated than 20-25-30? Different sources will have different numbers yet you seem to say only our source is right. Until someone asks every person on earth every source is just an educated guess. With the average margin on polls usually running 4-5 percentage points it's a pretty moot point arguing the specific numbers. I am impressed that the chart that you posted showed over 80% of the world as religious in some manner.

[WoodstockWX]

WOodstock, jow is 40% any more fabricated than 20-25-30?

Quit it.
I already admitted 20-25% was too low. You can stop it now.
I am sticking with 33% since it is an offical and reliable one I could find that agrees with other organizations, CHRISTIAN ONES giving numbers from 25-35%.
You have yet to show me where 40% are christians. Unless you can give me a specific image, link, etc your # is invalid and I have validated my 30-33% numbers.

Different sources will have different numbers yet you seem to say only our source is right. Until someone asks every person on earth every source is just an educated guess.

Like I said, I am using a reliable and unbiased source.
When it comes to religion you don't have huge swings in offical percentages. There is no doubt in my mind the actual percentage of christians in the world is within 5% of 33%.
And if it is just an educated guess and no one can know for sure, throw out your 40% has to be correct garbage and say, okay it's definitely not too far off but we can't know for sure.

With the average margin on polls usually running 4-5 percentage points it's a pretty moot point arguing the specific numbers. I am impressed that the chart that you posted showed over 80% of the world as religious in some manner.

80% has religious but I have already posted how more than half of americans are secular or sparingly religious and only 19%, from one poll, are strong followers of their beliefs.

80% of people in the world believe in some higher power, the numbers for strong followers is significantly lower.
For each strong follower who is devote, you have the one that just believes and may never follow its rules, regulations, attend church/read holy books, etc.

[Lindaloo]

Well, it does not really matter what percentage you put out there wannabe, I mean Woodstock, you are still in the minority and always will be.

Merry CHRIST-mas!!!

[mf_dolphin]

Woodstock, maybe you don't understand english but I never said 40% was an exact number either. LOL My point is the margin of error is well within the realm of possibility of either figure.

You go Linda!

[WoodstockWX]

Well, it does not really matter what percentage you put out there wannabe, I mean Woodstock, you are still in the minority and always will be.

Merry CHRIST-mas!!!

Do I smell an attack, storm2k style?

I do not care if I am the 0.00001% minority, and in fact I am because everyones beliefs slightly differ. Different people have different interpretations, opinions, ideas of morality, etc, even within Christianity.

And if minority you mean athiest, or non-theist you would be correct. But if you mean minority by non-christian you are incorrect.

And with Christianity slowly fading, at a rate of approximately 1% a year, I wouldn't be so sure that Chrsitianity will always be as strong as it is now, and most sources say it peaked in the 80s or so.

It has been falling for at least the past few years.

Again, merry christmas does not bother me, I say it myself...

[mf_dolphin]

Maybe someday you will understand what it really means.

btw, did you know the link in your signature doesn't work?

[Rainband]

Well, it does not really matter what percentage you put out there wannabe, I mean Woodstock, you are still in the minority and always will be.

Merry CHRIST-mas!!!

Do I smell an attack, storm2k style?

I do not care if I am the 0.00001% minority, and in fact I am because everyones beliefs slightly differ. Different people have different interpretations, opinions, ideas of morality, etc, even within Christianity.

And if minority you mean athiest, or non-theist you would be correct. But if you mean minority by non-christian you are incorrect.

And with Christianity slowly fading, at a rate of approximately 1% a year, I wouldn't be so sure that Chrsitianity will always be as strong as it is now, and most sources say it peaked in the 80s or so.

It has been falling for at least the past few years.

Again, merry christmas does not bother me, I say it myself...

Once you have Christ inside your heart it nevers fades. I sense NO attack just people defending what they believe in. It is your choice to not accept Christ into your heart but DON'T make it sound like Christianity is a fad like faded jeans

[WoodstockWX]

What are the rolling eyes for?

Once you have Christ inside your heart it nevers fades.

I'm sorry but many people have converted even after being born again or saved Christians.
There was even a long time pastor that converted to atheism, but you are correct that most of the time, once you have Christ inside it never fades.

It's a beautiful thing when you can believe in something, stick by it, and not let it fade.
^_^

[mf_dolphin]

FYI, I deleted several posts. This will not get to name calling! I hope this is enough said....

[Rainband]

What are the rolling eyes for?

Once you have Christ inside your heart it nevers fades.

I'm sorry but many people have converted even after being born again or saved Christians.
There was even a long time pastor that converted to atheism, but you are correct that most of the time, once you have Christ inside it never fades.

It's a beautiful thing when you can believe in something, stick by it, and not let it fade.
^_^

I respect your opinion. Merry Christmas and May God Bless you