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So the Pew Forum came out with the results of which religion Americans identify themselves with yesterday.

They found there was a drop in Protestants to 51% and that was the big news immediately.  The number of Catholics stayed steady at around 24%.  Many Americans have changed from Catholic, but the high influx of immigrants who are Catholic has allowed the number to be what it is.

Here’s what’s interesting.  They say that 16% of all Americans are unaffiliated.  Only 1.6% of those are atheist and 2.4% agnostic, which leaves 12% as “cafeteria Christians.”  In addition, 28% will change religions completely and another 16% will change within the Protestant branches.  So 44% of all Americans will change religions at some point during their lives.

How is that any different?

I find it amazing how strongly people in the United States are about their religion when many don’t even adhere to the religious doctrines they were raised with.  They are cafeteria Christians taking a little from here and something else from there.  They are adapting religion to fit their needs and their lifestyle, yet they want to be sure they will be able to pass through the pearly gates.

How much value could there be in something that is so important to people and yet so easy to change from one to another?

Interestingly, too, is the number of people who are not married to somebody with the same beliefs.  The number found by the Pew Forum is 37%.

One more thing to believe in all of this is that the numbers are based on what people say, and a lot less on how people behave.  There’s a huge difference.

Popularity: 38% [?]

So Ralph Nader has decided to try one more time to get his message to the people.  That is what he presidential bid has to be about.  There are so many factors against him that the chances of him becoming president are extremely small.

I think he has fantastic things to say.  He delivers a message that is very important to get out to the people of the United States.  That’s not my point.

The Democrats are already dismissing him.

The Republicans are mocking him.

It’s a two party country.  It’s black and white.  You are either on one side or the other.  I believe this is the most pathetic part of our country’s political process.

Signatures, money, and the media are all huge hurdles to anybody becoming a candidate for the presidency with a real shot of making it or causing a lot of noise.

Where is the representation?

Popularity: 33% [?]

No less miraculous than child birth or Mike Huckabee’s campaign, the clouds parted and the creator allowed us all to see another of his marvelous magical illusions- an eclipse of the moon.

Uh, I meant, I was noticing the clouds today.  The sky was completely covered at 4:30 and half covered at 5:30.  The western sky was clear and blue while the eastern sky was still covered and very dark.

Around 6:15 I was looking toward the east when a man came up to me and asked me what I was looking at.  I told him that we may just be lucky and the clouds will move out just in time to see the eclipse.  This citizen of 60 years asked me how I was so sure the moon was going to rise in the east.

Insistent on challenging me on this point, I stood there a little confused and pondered my choice of words for at least five or six blinks of my eyes.

I asked, “What do you mean?”

He replied, “Well, how can you be so sure that the moon will come up in the east?”

I had a few different methods I could have used to answer this question.  I could have tried high gain questions in order to force him to answer the question himself, but I really do no like talking to the guy, so I opted to simply explain the situation.

“See, the moon just went down over there, ” I said pointing to the west.  “By definition of both a full moon and a lunar eclipse, the moon must be to the east.  When there is a full moon, the sun must shine on the entire visible side of the moon and reflect back in order for us to see it.  The moon ‘rises’ in different parts of the sky depending on the moon’s cycle.”

Disappointed that he didn’t get me on his question, he simply replied, “Oh, I guess that makes sense.”

I suppose I should give him credit for noticing over his 60 years that the moon doesn’t quite work like the sun.  I’m sure he’s noticed that a person could just about set their watch to the sun.

Maybe he’s tried to set his watch to the moon and, in a fit of frustration, gave up before the cycle was over.

I do think he’s a lonely man.  Figuring out 28 day cycles may have never been a priority in his life.

I took the easy way out I suppose.  I wanted to say this.

It’s science you nimrod!

Popularity: 38% [?]

The inc is my favorite part of the title.

I used to live on a fairly large lot out in the middle of nowhere.  It’s more populated now and I’ve moved away several times.  At the beginning of the road was a church and they owned much of the land in the area.

It was the New Testament Christian Church, inc. and they had some tremendous structures at the beginning of the road.  The church itself was very large.  This isn’t different from so many of the churches that you and I may see that exist throughout the world, but the first two or three houses were very nice as well.  I’m guessing the head pastor.

As you drove down the road, the church developed these dorms.  One right after another with many young men living inside.  They walked around in their suit and tie all day regardless of the weather or the day of the week.  Very few women lived in this community, and they were likely only there because they were married.  Very occasionally, somebody would build a single-family home.  A man and a woman would move in.  The women always wore dresses.

Seemed like such a cult-like atmosphere.  The leaders living in very nice homes while the rest of the community lived in tightly-packed dorms.  They would come to our house at least once a year asking if we’d like to join them in their church.  Not a chance in hell.

And they kept building and adding on to their church and developing this cult.

I moved in to this area when I was 20 and their cult was building but not quite a nuisance.  At 20 I had not really had a chance to build anymore than opinions about religion and society.  This was an excellent first hand look at religion.

I was amazed at what people were willing to give up in order for a piece of “heaven.”  Everything.  Maybe I shouldn’t be.  Maybe these people were taking a step up in the world and truly benefited from this and had basically purchased a crutch by which to live.  The amount they had to give to the church had to be far more than taxes.

Conversely, I was always amazed at how much life religious leaders are willing to suck in order to provide themselves with material benefits.  The differences between the leaders and the minions was truly night and day.  Yet the church keeps growing.

I was living in this area back before I really had access to the internet.  Back before information was so easy to get.  So I looked them up.  The word “cult” comes up over and over again.  I found no positive references to them and they are nationwide.  Incredible.

ntccXposed

I also found a couple blogs created and maintained by former pastors of the church.  While both were still Christian, they found the cult-like atmosphere, among other things, to be very disturbing.

Point of this entry?

• Living there had a significant impact on who I am today.
• People are easy to manipulate.
• Greed is bad.

Such simple little points.

Popularity: 100% [?]