More Americans customize religion to fit their needs

[cleanhippie]

A new book by a religion statistics expert says that most Americans are customizing their religion according to their personal needs. They set aside traditional beliefs and practices and believe in a God who conforms to their way of life.

clearpxl

George Barna, author of Futurecast, attributed the phenomenon to American society being a designer society – from clothes to food and education, and now faith.

He based his study on yearly national U.S. surveys from 1991 to 2011 that beliefs and behavior were on a downward trend, except in the number of people who have accepted Jesus in their lives and the rise in the number of Americans who don’t go to church except for special occasions. Their number had gone up to 37 percent from 24 percent in 1991.

--snip--

One concrete example of how Americans cherry pick their religious beliefs is discussed in another LifeWay Research study last year that found that 91 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas personally, even those who don’t consider themselves Christians.

For instance, 89 percent of people who classified themselves as agnostics or have no religious preference, 62 percent of those who said they belong to other non-Christian religions and 55 percent of atheists celebrate Yuletide along with 97 percent of Christians.

However, 81 percent said that the value of celebrating the yearend holiday was to keep family traditions such as gift giving, sharing a Christmas meal, putting up the Christmas tree, listening to carols and decorating homes.

While 62 percent believed Jesus is the reason behind the Christmas season, 38 percent of the respondents also encouraged belief in another Yuletide icon, Santa Claus, and only 28 percent read or tell the story of Jesus’ birth to their children.

http://www.goddiscussion.com/78706/more-americans-customize-religion-to-fit-their-needs/

[thereismore]

1. Ha! They all pick and choose! Do you like a humble Jesus, or do you like

the vengeful Jesus? Do you like a healing Jesus, or do you like the slave-beating Jesus? Your choice.

[msongs]

2. it's all just superstition made up by ignorant people, why not make up new stuff?

2000 years ago when people thought lighting was something an old man in the clouds threw to the earth those religion things were comforting though purely fiction. still the 2000 year old myths are being used. talk about conservative...

[Fumesucker]

3. "You can too serve both God and Mammon"... n/t

[dmallind]

4. The overall gist is valid, the example quoted is asinine

"Christmas" is celebrated by non-believers as an entirely secular holiday (By many believers too come to think of it). A holiday/festival at this time is common throughout many even basically technological societies and was for thousands of years before Christianity. We are no more customizing Xianity there than customizing Saturnalia - we are going along with entirely cultural norms. To not celebrate it at all is a rather forced and intentional countercultural stance akin to turning up to a funeral - of any faith or none, in a Hawaiian shirt and neon flip-flops.

[trotsky]

12. I agree.

Better examples would be "Cafeteria Catholics" or Democratic Baptists. ;)

[Silent3]

14. Or all of the American Catholics who have no problems...

...accepting birth control, abortion, or homosexuality, regardless of what the Pope says about those things.

[get the red out]

5. It is still supposed to be a free country

People can do what they want to do, within the law of course.

[FiveGoodMen]

6. And we can respond with all the disgust that suits us.

(Because it's still supposed to be a free country)

[get the red out]

11. Yep

[madrchsod]

7. jesus is just alright with me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLg6eXN0qbY&feature=related

cause he`s my personal jesus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQcNiD0Z3MU

[ZombieHorde]

8. This is extremely obviously to anyone on the "outside." nt

[laconicsax]

9. Rec'd to zero. You must have struck a nerve. n/t

[NMMNG]

10. Cafeteria Christianity

This isn't exactly news. :shrug:

[trotsky]

13. It's something that those practicing it are uncomfortable acknowledging.

Which is too bad, because if more believers could accept that, I think it would have a great moderating effect on religion.

[NMMNG]

16. They recognize it in others

You know, those who aren't "Real (insert name of religion here)". Just not in themselves.

[Odin2005]

15. In other news, water is still wet.

[backscatter712]

17. All Christians are Cafeteria Christians. n/t

[Thats my opinion]

18. of course!

Authentic religion is not confined to so-called religious acts and beliefs. It has a vast influence on every part of life. Sometimes this is for the good and sometimes it is not. But you can't put it in a box. Christmas is more than a manger story. It has to do with family, hopes, plans, well-being and much more. Jesus didn't come to bring religious ritual, but to offer the world hope.

[darkstar3]

19. And that's why so many people say

"you have to have a personal relationship with Christ." They don't follow a chosen religion, they make it up as they go along.