Go to Religion in the Modern World
- Add a comment
- Go to And the salesman of the year award goes to . . .
gome
Yep, it's a guesstimate. I took the lower of 20 - 21%, and then took 10% off that for the category of ' merely nominal and/or enlightened adherents', of whom I know a few...but the others scare the living daylight out of me, if not in a direct, personal sense, LOL...
posted by
Nautikos
on April 12, 2009 at 5:40 AM
| link to this | reply
Re: ash_pradhan - no one can argue with the value of improved communication
Ok, and also in view of Naut's very apt comment, please allow me to clarify : We all concur that a relatively small percentage (X %) of the world's population holds radical views, original sin being one such as you correctly point out, that hurt the majority (100 - X) % in one way or the other. But what have we the majority learnt so far, even collectively, to sensibly mitigate that? That's hardly naive! But let us give each other the benefit of the doubt as mature gentlemen, and see if there is anything we can do about it. Also, let me hasten to add that I do find some contents of some your posts to be quite informative that give me some insights towards that desire of mine, and hopefully of most. And of course there are some other writers here that fall into that category, some of which I mentioned earlier, Naut, Gapcohen, Soulbuilder are some others. I for one am definitely looking to get some more insights from your writing as to how us (1 -X)% could further benefit from this collective wisdom. Hope my intent is clear to you now, and I do not hold you guilty of misreading that. After all, we barely know each other, which also happens to be the case with most everyone here as well as at large, no matter what our temporal or geo-spatial existence... peace!!
posted by
ash_pradhan
on April 11, 2009 at 3:39 PM
| link to this | reply
ash_pradhan - no one can argue with the value of improved communication
But how would one come to the conclusion that this was what you were speaking of in your first comment? I don't see it at all in the words of your first comment.
posted by
gomedome
on April 11, 2009 at 3:15 PM
| link to this | reply
Of course not, the intent is to increase multi-lateral communication...
so there is less chance of misperceptions / misinterpretations / incorrect assumptions etc, which we all fall into from time to time. As for as one's blog / work, everyone is unquestionably in charge of their own.
posted by
ash_pradhan
on April 11, 2009 at 2:04 PM
| link to this | reply
Nautikos - absolutely, but I'm wondering where the number 18% comes from?
Is that a guestimate of the number of one religion's adherants on this planet?
posted by
gomedome
on April 11, 2009 at 12:23 PM
| link to this | reply
ash_pradhan - no one said that grade school teachers lack wisdom
My point was that you seem to be intent on trying to tell me what is appropriate content for this blog and how we should all be conducting ourselves when discussing religion. Even if that is not your intention, that is how it is perceived. . . .
posted by
gomedome
on April 11, 2009 at 12:20 PM
| link to this | reply
gome
As always, you're quite correct, of course.
My concern is that approximately 18% of the world's population believe things that have far more dangerous consequences than this poppycock of original sin...
posted by
Nautikos
on April 11, 2009 at 12:06 PM
| link to this | reply
Re: ash_pradhan - Re: Good points Gome & Xeno...I might add that
So grade school teachers lack wisdom :)? In fact that's where one learns some of the basics of social behavior. Wonder where you went to school!!!
posted by
ash_pradhan
on April 11, 2009 at 11:37 AM
| link to this | reply
Soul_Builder101 - yes I do have a personal relationship with God
I haven't talked to him in awhile out of consideration for the fact that he is quite busy. His time seems to be tied up with knuckleheads who attempt to diminish the beliefs and thought processes of others by asking such lame questions as: ". . .do you have a 1 to 1 relationship with God? Or are you stuck in the verification process?"
The reality is that you do not know anything more than the next person, as none of us does. That realization, if you ever come to that point, will be the very first step on the road to your own personal enlightenment.
posted by
gomedome
on April 11, 2009 at 11:34 AM
| link to this | reply
mysteria - Re: Such poppycock is so insulting to my common sense
I find it particularly insulting when the people who buy into this stuff have the utter gaul to denigrate others who do not buy into it. . . . Like who is selling crazy here?
posted by
gomedome
on April 11, 2009 at 11:14 AM
| link to this | reply
ash_pradhan - Re: Good points Gome & Xeno...I might add that
What does all of that have to do with this post? . . . not to mention that you are making a few false assumptions.
Bashing or feeling that a group or individual is being bashed is quite often only in the eyes of the beholder. A split amongst the believing majority of 95% moderate and 5% extremists is a rather naive assessment. It is not simply a 5% minority that has shaped and influenced modern society to any large degree. . . and as for: "Putting thought & energies into helping the 95% gain further insight & confidence . . ." etc, etc. . . . are you kidding? You sound like a grade school teacher speaking to the class about how to conduct themselves at recess.
posted by
gomedome
on April 11, 2009 at 11:11 AM
| link to this | reply
Xeno-x -Re: This is a prime example of why people are leaving Christianity.
You do however have to give the inventors of this one credit. Invent an invisible plague and then proclaim that you are the only ones with the cure, is such a great con but the real genius lies in the cost effectiveness of the scam. The "plague" of original sin is cured with words and water, in other words; plague curing inventory has no cost.
I agree, this is one of a number of inconsistencies which have not fared well against modern era educations and thought processes.
posted by
gomedome
on April 11, 2009 at 11:00 AM
| link to this | reply
I can't verify your stats but I can say that that I agree on your basic premises. Who sins stand on their own. Adam and Eve are alone in their sins....as are the 6.5 billion people on this planet. The papacy even vended freedom from sin and forgiveness from sin at a price. Yet, the religious vendors are not the totality of Christianity or spirituality. There are Christians who live the life...as well as hindus and other religious tribes. The personal relationship with God counts. However obtained, do you have a 1 to 1 relationship with God? Or are you stuck in the verification process? I know there is a God, from my experiences. Have you tried enough to get to the point of experience? Just as an aside....I will prove to you that the God/man alliance works. This year definitely!
posted by
Soul_Builder101
on April 11, 2009 at 12:23 AM
| link to this | reply
Such poppycock is so insulting to my common sense
I literally start feeling nauseous reading a recounting!
posted by
mysteria
on April 10, 2009 at 2:20 PM
| link to this | reply
Good points Gome & Xeno...I might add that
Of those 35% only less than 5% seem to be really extreme / irrational, about 30% seem to have a much less rigid view. Thus the world-wide proportion of rational / irrational seems to be 95% / 5%, an overwhelming majority of rational folks, many of whom simply choose to be silent & private about their views, especially compared to the vocal 5%. While bashing the 5% has it's merits, one goes on a path of diminishing returns with constant bashing. Putting thought & energies into helping the 95% gain further insight & confidence that we are really all the same regardless of external divisive factors such as religion, race, nationality, gender, etc, is a much more productive way to go, especially over the long run. And who knows, that 5% will diminish even further, or at least become less vocal / extreme.
posted by
ash_pradhan
on April 10, 2009 at 2:08 PM
| link to this | reply
This is a prime example of why people are leaving Christianity.
25% of U.S. is not Christian, according to a poll that made the news not long ago. 15% of those declare themselves not to be religious.
Original sin is part of a ploy to make people feel guilty and condemned, thus in need of salvation and absolution.
To the rescue comes the Church.
The Church then has power over unsuspecting people labeled "sinners" by the Church. And the guilt etc. causes people to further expurgate their sins by generous gifts.
What's interesting is the financial straits the Church finds itself in. Selling property, strong-arming prosperous parishes for their wealth, etc.
Too many holes in Christianity, this being one of the biggest and glaringest.
posted by
Xeno-x
on April 10, 2009 at 11:54 AM
| link to this | reply