USA's Protestant majority might[sic] soon be no more

[Marksist]

<snip>Without mysticism, religion really can't stand up in the face of science and rationalism, so many protestants have to reject rationalism in order to hold on to their faith.

That makes complete perfect sense, and I think is a very good, valid explantion you made of why Fundies tend to be Protestant.

[DPDarkPrimus]

Mormons aren't really Christian, despite their claims to the contrary.

Mormons are, by definition, Christian.

It depends on how you define "Christian."

I tend to use the dictionary.

Now, if you wish to take this up with me, start a thread in SLAM or something. I don't wish to drag this topic off on a tangent.

[Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi]

It is amusing to see how some people are trying to pretend this trend does not exist. I saw Michael Medved on TV a while ago saying that "The Passion of the Christ" proved that America was "overwhelmingly Christian" by making $370 million in domestic box-office. So by that logic, Mr. Medved, since Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace easily outpaced "The Passions"'s box-office grosses even without inflation adjustment, does that mean America is even more "overwhelmingly" Star Wars fans?

Does he realize that assuming a $5 ticket price, only 74 million, or about 35.5% of the population over 18 had to see the movie for it to gross that much? The real number is probably much lower, when higher ticket prices at theaters, people seeing it more than once, people under 18 seeing it, non-Christians seeing it, and other such factors are taken into consideration.

[Iceberg]

In fact, Catholics tend to be more educated and progressive than protestants. I don't know of even one respected Evangelical scholar, and evangelical colleges are mostly jokes; many aren't even accredited. There are however many well respected scholars who are Catholic clerics, and many Catholic colleges are held in good esteem, like Notre Dame and American University in Georgetown. However, in the long run, the Church is killing itself; already the American laity is at odds with the Hierarchy, and the American Hierarchy is just barely in line with Rome. Without ignorant immigrants, Rome probably won't be able to keep the loyalty of American Catholicism.

This is true; I can see a coming schism in the Catholic Church (assuming that the next Pope or the Pope after next is not a strongly progressive one) where the progressive Catholics who are tired of Rome and Roman inertia will split off, leaving the traditional Catholic Church to its own devices.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Catholosism (erm, sp? ) isn't the easist of religions to sign up for; how do they recruit with all their wierd rituals?

The fuck? What, you think the RCC makes any attempt to keep people out?[/quote]

Ukranian Catholics, Greek, and Russian Orthodox, and Coptic Churches are not Protestant, nor are they Roman Catholic.

[Howedar]

Yes, I know. However I didn't see any reason to muddy that particular point, which is that the Roman Catholic Church makes no effort to keep anyone out (except maybe eeeevil gays, but I digress).

[Mayabird]

The growth of the Mormons is a little questionable. Sure, they have a lot of kids, but even if the kids stop going to church, they'll still be counted as a Mormon until they get their names removed from the official registers. They claim huge growth in Japan, for instance, when most of the people who "convert" stick around while it's funny and exotic for a few months, maybe even getting baptised, then once New Year's hits they go to some traditional (or at least, not-Mormon) festival and stop going. But they're still counted as a convert number even if they never show up again and forget about their dalliances with the LDS.

[The Dark]

In fact, Catholics tend to be more educated and progressive than protestants. I don't know of even one respected Evangelical scholar, and evangelical colleges are mostly jokes; many aren't even accredited. There are however many well respected scholars who are Catholic clerics, and many Catholic colleges are held in good esteem, like Notre Dame and American University in Georgetown. However, in the long run, the Church is killing itself; already the American laity is at odds with the Hierarchy, and the American Hierarchy is just barely in line with Rome. Without ignorant immigrants, Rome probably won't be able to keep the loyalty of American Catholicism.

Actually, the RCC is considered to be on the conservative side of the moderate spectrum. By comparison, the SBC (Southern Baptists) are strongly conservative, the PCA (Presbyterians) are mildly conservative, the UMC (Methodists) are on the liberal side of moderate, and the Episcopal Church is mildly liberal. But I agree, the RCC now is strongest in South America and Africa (and growing in Asia), with a strong likelihood of the American church leaving (willingly or not) the RCC.

Do the Mormons qualify as Protestants? Because they're popping out kids like rabbits so maybe the US filling up with their spawn.

They counted in the survey, but no orthodox christian (by which I mean any of the other denominations, not the Orthodox Church) would consider them Christian, due to their beliefs, which are rather bizarre even by our standards .