Is religion increasing?

[The Duchess of Zeon]

People from different religions, such as Islam and Christianity (which really isn't that different but never mind that), claims that their religion is the one that is expanding the most in the world and they all agree that religion as a whole is expanding rapidly and atheism is getting less and less popular. I've never acctually met one who could back up his claims about this but if it were true what could the reason to this be? One would think that in these "enlightened" times people would get less religious, not more.

Have anyone else heard about this religious increase or should I asume that they are taking their claims right out of their asses?

Yes. Both Christianity and Islam are growing at very rapid rates throughout the Third World.

[Peregrin Toker]

An interesting thing i learned from the German student that came to our school was that germany doesn't have good history programs. Whereas in america we will spend a month on World War 2, talking about the different conferraces, players, major battles, and the like, German history classes tend to just barely mention that a couple million people died between '39 and '45.

Not surprising, given how ashamed the Germans are over The Second World War.

[NapoleonGH]

The horoscopes would be much more amusing if they actually made specific predictions.

For example, instead of some vague bullshit like "seize opportunity when it beckons", it could say "you will get diarrhea tonight".

They'd be even funnier that way if they were made by LSD addicts.

"You will be hunted my giant insects!"

LSD is a non-addictive substance, there are no LSD addicts. the correct term for someone who uses alot of acid is an Acid Freak

[Peregrin Toker]

The horoscopes would be much more amusing if they actually made specific predictions.

For example, instead of some vague bullshit like "seize opportunity when it beckons", it could say "you will get diarrhea tonight".

They'd be even funnier that way if they were made by LSD addicts.

"You will be hunted my giant insects!"

LSD is a non-addictive substance, there are no LSD addicts. the correct term for someone who uses alot of acid is an Acid Freak

Ooops.

[Alyrium Denryle]

People from different religions, such as Islam and Christianity (which really isn't that different but never mind that), claims that their religion is the one that is expanding the most in the world and they all agree that religion as a whole is expanding rapidly and atheism is getting less and less popular. I've never acctually met one who could back up his claims about this but if it were true what could the reason to this be? One would think that in these "enlightened" times people would get less religious, not more.

Have anyone else heard about this religious increase or should I asume that they are taking their claims right out of their asses?

Yes. Both Christianity and Islam are growing at very rapid rates throughout the Third World.

But in the more developed, industrialized nations, those religions are growing slower than "no religion" and a shitload lot slower than deist.

[The Duchess of Zeon]

But in the more developed, industrialized nations, those religions are growing slower than "no religion" and a shitload lot slower than deist.

I wonder if the category of deist was only recently added, accounting for the sudden percentage gain, otherwise, you are correct. However, the demographic trends favour the third world numbers-wise. Economically power will be in the industrialized--and relatively a-religious--countries for a long time to come--but the majority of people on the planet? They will be quite religious for a long time to come.

[Crazy_Vasey]

wait... were you in Germany??? And was the girl German???

I know that Birget was asked some horribly stupid questions by American teens...

"Is Hitler dead yet?"

"Do you have tv in Germany"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

That made my day, it really did.

On topic, I don't know a single practicing Christian. I know a few that claim to believe it, but they haven't been to church in such a long time that I have to doubt they believe in it with any type of fervour. It's kindof strange because when I was in primary school we were taught the bible as fact, not as a belief, so I'd expect there to be more religious people about from that year group.

[Alyrium Denryle]

OOPS!!!

I stand corrected corected on my demographics for Germany...


I made the mistake of skimming the state dept report on religion in Germany...


And missed the stuff in this paragraph. Though addmitedly, this was not a self-identification survey, so the number of people who actually believe this shit is probably lower.

No census that could provide official statistics on religions and creeds has been conducted since 1987. However, unofficial estimates and figures provided by the organizations themselves give an approximate breakdown of the current membership of the country's denominations. The Evangelical Church, which includes Lutheran, Uniate, and Reformed Protestant Churches, has 27.7 million members, who constitute 33.8 percent of the population. Statistical offices in the Church estimate that 1.4 million church members (or 5.1 percent) attend weekly religious services. The Catholic Church has a membership of 27.5 million or 33.6 percent of the population. According to the Church's statistics, 5 million Catholics (or 18.2 percent) actively participate in weekly services. Muslims make up approximately 3.4 percent of the population, or about 2.8 million persons.

[Pu-239]

Another strike against homeschooling is that the students involved sometimes fail to develop social skills.

Which means they won't be able to breed .

[Stormin]

Unfortunatly reality does not agree with your conclusion there

[Talon Karrde]

I think the tide is indeed turning. Many people are feeling a call back to religion because people are realizing that money and their own selfish lifestyles can wholly fulfill them, there will always be something more. As for who is garnishing more converts, it is the Muslims right now. In the middle east and Africa and even Asia now the Muslims are preaching heavily and gaining many converts.

[StarshipTitanic]

I think the tide is indeed turning. Many people are feeling a call back to religion because people are realizing that money and their own selfish lifestyles can wholly fulfill them, there will always be something more. As for who is garnishing more converts, it is the Muslims right now. In the middle east and Africa and even Asia now the Muslims are preaching heavily and gaining many converts.

Bah, I hear that all the time but the figures don't add up.

[Thunderfire]

An interesting thing i learned from the German student that came to our school was that germany doesn't have good history programs. Whereas in america we will spend a month on World War 2, talking about the different conferraces, players, major battles, and the like, German history classes tend to just barely mention that a couple million people died between '39 and '45.

The hollocaust and hilters rise to powers is considered more important than
WW2 in germany. Talking to much about WW2 could backfire. e.g. students
start to admire german WW2 heroes.

[Peregrin Toker]

An interesting thing i learned from the German student that came to our school was that germany doesn't have good history programs. Whereas in america we will spend a month on World War 2, talking about the different conferraces, players, major battles, and the like, German history classes tend to just barely mention that a couple million people died between '39 and '45.

The hollocaust and hilters rise to powers is considered more important than
WW2 in germany. Talking to much about WW2 could backfire. e.g. students
start to admire german WW2 heroes.

It's very clear that, to paraphrase Lt. Worf, that they do not like to talk about it!

[The Duchess of Zeon]

It's very clear that, to paraphrase Lt. Worf, that they do not like to talk about it!

How often are documentaries about the holocaust shown in Europe? They're on almost constantly over here--I'd say, averaged, near to nightly, in fact (reruns, mind you), albeit on the cable history channels which don't get many viewers, and poor time slots. Not many new ones, of course, those are pretty rare--but the material is still out there and relatively available. Most universities even down to the community college level also offer courses on the Holocaust--a full quarter's credit for taking one--and of course there are numerous publications (along with a Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., and others in places like Houston, El Paso, Virginia, Tampa Bay, etc.). Does the Holocaust get that much attention in Europe?

[Sir Sirius]

How often are documentaries about the holocaust shown in Europe?

Every once in a while. Historical documentaries don't really get reruns here, so they show documentaries about the Holocaust when new ones come out.

[NapoleonGH]

Family guy i think it was had a great joke about that, the american family was visitng germany and was taking a tour. They noticed that their pamphllet (i dont remember the exact circumstances, this is paraphrasing what happened) was blank between 1939 and 1945 when they asked the german tour guy what happened between 1939 and 1945 the response was "Whole country went on vacation, NOTHING HAPPENED"

and there are some admirable people from the German military of WW2 who should be admired, like Rommel, one of the greatest military genius' of our times. Same with Durniz.