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Showing posts from July, 2014

America's Religiosity: A Gut Check of Its Christianities

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It's hardly news anymore that a growing number of Americans are checking the box “none” on surveys of religious belief. According to Pew Research Center  polling , one-fifth of the public and a third of those under thirty are unaffiliated with any religious entity. Among those left who still report being affiliated, the percentage of fundamentalists and other conservatives is increasing. It's the pie that's shrinking and leaving the right-wing to have a bigger share. Relying on figures publicized by denominations or the religious is  problematic . There are convenient ways for memberships to be counted. But even the granddaddy of right-wingers, the Southern Baptist Convention,  reported this year  that it's losing members and baptizing fewer people. Their response, of course, wasn't to question their teachings but to assume they needed better marketing. Those who are religiously addicted never question what they're teaching. They're so invested in