The Decline of Religion in the U.S.

A new study finds that Most Religious Groups have Lost Ground in the Past Decade

The percentage of people who identify as "Christian" has dropped 11 % in the past decade, while the percentage who claim "NO RELIGION' has increased to 15% of the pop, that's larger than any religious group except Catholics and Baptists!
These dramatic shifts in just 18 years are detailed in the new American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS), to be released today. It finds that, despite growth and immigration that has added nearly 50 million adults to the U.S. population, almost all religious denominations have lost ground since the first ARIS survey in 1990.

So why aren't politicians more concerned about the non-religious than pandering after the religious fanatics??

Obama Defends Gays Again...

Obama on Scapegoating Gays and the Golden Rule

To applause on Friday, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) spoke of his Christian faith and acceptance of LGBT people at a campaign stop in Beaumont, Texas.

"I believe that everybody in this country should be treated equally," says the Senator, "and that means people should be treated equally on the basis of race, they should be treated equally on the basis of gender, and they should be treated equally on the basis of sexual orientation."

"Now, I am a Christian," he goes on. "I praise Jesus every Sunday. But, I just want everybody here to know that sometimes, particularly in the African-American community and the church sometimes, I hear people saying things that I don't think are very Christian with respect to people who are gay and lesbian.

"I think everybody has the right to their own values, and their own religion, and their own practices, but I also know that the Sermon on the Mount says treat people as you'd want to be treated."

See the speech on You Tube

Priests Brawl at Jesus' "Birthplace"

Talk about a "war on Christmas"! Priests Brawl at Jesus' Birthplace

ETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) -- Greek Orthodox and Armenian priests attacked each other with brooms and stones inside the Church of the Nativity as long-standing rivalries erupted in violence during holiday cleaning on Thursday.

The basilica, built over the grotto in Bethlehem where Christians believe Jesus was born, is administered jointly by Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic authorities.

Any perceived encroachment on one group's turf can touch off vicious feuds.

On Thursday, dozens of priests and cleaners were scrubbing the church ahead of the Armenian and Orthodox Christmas, celebrated in early January. Thousands of tourists visited the church this week for Christmas celebrations.

But the clean-up turned ugly after some of the Orthodox faithful stepped inside the Armenian church's section, touching off a scuffle between about 50 Greek Orthodox and 30 Armenians.

Palestinian police, armed with batons and shields, quickly formed a human cordon to separate the two sides so the cleaning could continue..."

RIP Tammy Faye

Tammy Faye has died. While I am an atheist, I am also a former/ex-Christian who knows a little about the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ. I don't have much respect for most TV evangelists, and Tammy Faye and Jim Baker certainly "sinned" back when they enriched themselves on the "donations" of their followers, I really believe Tammy was sincere in her religious beliefs, even if she latched on to the mistaken belief that god rewards his followers with material wealth. Well she lost all of that and I think learned the true meaning of "Christianity." It is not accurate to lump PTL and Tammy Faye with the "Christian Right." The CR is a political movement aligned with the Republican Party and has fought against social justice and equality for gays and lesbians among others. Tammy and Jim Baker were not part of that political movement. In fact, they embraced people with AIDS and gay people in their ministry. Tammy Faye was one of the first "evangelical" Christians to embrace people with AIDS in the 1980s when Falwell, Reagan, etc. were demonizing gays and people with AIDS. While CR leaders like Jerry Falwell and at Robertson demonized gay people and attacked us for political gain, Tammy Faye followed the example of Jesus Christ and embraced gay people with LOVE. In her later years, Tammy found support among many in the gay community and even traveled to gay pride events to share her gospel of love. It was shocking to see her on Larry King a few days ago, little more than a skeleton. She reiterated her faith and love for her "fans" and thanked the gay community for their support. I may not agree with her religious beliefs, and she was not a "saint," but if anyone showed the true meaning of "Christianity" I think Tammy did. She made big mistakes in her life, and suffered greatly. But if you actually read the Bible it is filled with flawed people who made BIG mistakes ("sins"), but found forgiveness ("salvation") through their belief in a god of love. Jesus himself embraced people rejected by society and spent most of his time preaching against self-righteous religous fanatics ("scribes and pharisees"). Tammy did that too, and her son formed a church in New York that reaches out to those who do not measure up to many "mainstream" churches: poor, punks, homeless, gays, etc. I doubt he will become rich or get his own TV network, but maybe he learned the true meaning of "Christianity" from his mother. RIP Tammy Faye, I hope you found peace.
UPDATE: Here is a YOU TUBE VIDEO with Tammy Faye & Her son Discussing the Gays & Tammy

Catholics in Limbo

Do people really believe in this crap in the 21st Century? "Pope Revises Limbo View, Hope for Unbaptised Babies" Apparently Catholics, who cherish the life of zygotes and unborn fetuses, believe that unbaptized babies will be punished by their "loving god" for eternity, or wait somewhere called "limbo", a waiting area for those who can't get into heaven but are not evil enough to burn in hell. Thi is about as relevant or rational as debating how many angels can sit on a pinhead. Hello! The Dark Ages were a long time ago, welcome to the MODERN WORLD where we are supposed to use reason and science to undestand the world.