New Survey: Those With No Religion Fastest-Growing Tradition

Reader Comments

Back to blog

It is impossible for a person to have no religion. If you believe in a materialistic world which came about through natural and unaided events of evolution in time and space in a time span of 4.6 billion years+/-, then that is your religion (just another ONE of many). That is what you believe.

However, in my opinion, there has been no new scientific findings that disproves anything about my faith, Christianity, and if anything they only support it. For example, with a little research and reasoning, one can see the similarities in the beginning of Genesis and the scientific explanation of the beginning of the world. And I remind you Genesis was written 6000+ years ago.

You know, I commonly explain to people there is a difference between being informed and having intelligence, or the ability to understand (Many of our founding forefathers were self educated people). It is much easier for a person to form an opinion off what they are informed upon, and have no thought of the author's agenda or possibly their own, rather than persuing their own intellectual capacity and use reasoning and research together with an open mind to form their own opinion.

Samuel Morris of NC 3:56PM March 11, 2009

It is pretty sad for anyone to think that they can buy morality with a book (bible)... and the trouble with religion is the separatism it creates. Whose god is the right god? What is this poppycock about being saved by the blood of Jesus?

I've heard all the arguments before. Everyone gets a chance to repent and accept Jesus into their hearts. Well not everyone. There are still tribes in the middle of timbuktoo that won't ever know Jesus, thankfully.

Think about what makes a cult, and then you might see your religion right there...Some folks need something to hold onto however, a crutch, because they are so screwed up by so called do-gooder parents that they need something to hold onto.

Proud Atheist of CA 11:30PM March 10, 2009

as yet another proud atheist who loves reason and science as the way to any truth we can know, I am glad that America is moving in the same direction as western Europe. The harm that organized religion has done in this world only requires leafing through the pages of your daily newspaper. More harm is committed with glee in the name of religion than any other 'ism".

richard r golden of FL 7:17PM March 10, 2009

Thanks Jack. We share the same view. The human quest to "know who and where we sre" is more accurate than ever. Look to outer space for one. There is so much out there. Bottom line....we have resourses now that we never had until very recently. These resources point away from a diety bassed creation. Religion comes from a time when we tried to figure out who we were without all the information available. Science has long been the enemy of religon. How strange! Science has frequently proved religion wrong. Science has the answer "who we are". It is more beautiful than expected. For some, it may be difficult to think that so much of your information is wrong.

I have to be true to myself. I don't feel religion is answering my questions. I am totally at pease with where science tells me where I am and where I came from.

Gerald Bachorowski of MI 12:17PM March 10, 2009

Richard Weaver of FL said the following of Jehovah's Witnesses... "They do not believe themselves to be perfect, nor judge others..."

Oh really? And is that why any family member who isn't a member or who leaves the church is forbidden access to other family members who are still in the church??? Right... no judgment there at all - just downright ostracism. You have got to be joking if you actually believe Jehovah's Witnesses are any different than any other religious group when it comes to the audacity of egotism that runs rampant within.

Jackie of PA stated that "Morality is only in the devout christians..." - say what?

Is that why so many devout Christians are in the news lately doing so many unspeakable things to others and then, once they are caught in the act, suddenly repenting their "sins"? Funny how it always seems to be the gung-ho religious types who do the worst of the worst... right down to the heads of the church - ministers and priests.

As a proud Atheist I stopped believing in "make-believe" a long time ago. I'm a good person. I know the difference between right and wrong (far better than most religious types seem to). Knowledge, logic, common sense and reason are my "religion". I am thrilled to learn so many are finally opening their eyes to the same things. May our numbers continue to grow.

Robyn Swaim of TX 12:11PM March 10, 2009

It doesn't sound like the atheist right below your comment is mad, or frankly believes any of the things you claim all atheist do...

There are just as many good and bad people on all sides.

Paul of OH 10:28AM March 10, 2009

First, they're always mad at and fighting something that they don't even believe it. For someone who doesn't believe in God, they sure do talk about him alot. Also, they say "no God, know peace" but they forget that the two biggest murderers in history were atheists who tried to control an atheist government (hello Stalin and Chairman Mao). The absence of God only leaves man to himself and since the fall, that is nothing short of wicked. Only the Blood of Jesus Christ can save us from a life of sin. I pray for atheists.

Tommy of VT 7:22AM March 10, 2009

I did not grow up going to church and almost everyone felt my family was one of the most balanced, well respected, and honest families in our town (my parents have now been married for 45 years). I married someone who is Catholic and I attended church for a few years trying to fit in but I just never "got it." It was never a part of my life and it wasn't where I drew my inspiration. Even though I do not attend church, my wife and I have been happily married for 20 years. We have 2 exceptional teenage daughters and we both respect the other person's decisions toward religion.

I consider myself an atheist but I have always had standards of myself that are higher than many religious people I know. Some of my religious friends think I am the most religious / non-religious person they know, because they can't believe that I have such a "moral compass" without "knowing" god. I will never cheat on my wife and I will cherish her until the day I die. I will go to the ends of the earth for my kids and I have raised them to respect others (no matter what belief). I will always help someone in need even if I don't know them. I attend soup kitchens, help in the community, and give back wherever I can. I do not believe you need to go to church to have solid moral beliefs, find meaning to life, and see the joy in the world around you and to help foster that joy in others.

Jack of CA 1:50AM March 10, 2009

We live on One planet,in One solar system in One Universe and theologists dressed up in costumes will tell everyone what to believe and what to do to make them happy...even in a democracy.....What a person wants to believe is his or her very personal affair not anyone else's....they can even believe that they dont believe....which is also a belief....We need more tolerance and less name calling in the field of Religion....cordially....

Steve Roisman of CA 1:44AM March 10, 2009

I hear this all the time. They aren't "true Christians." Tell me. What is a "true Christians?" Is it someone whom follows the bible word for word? If so, I suppose a "true Christian" agrees with stoning to death disobedient children. I suppose a "true Christian" agrees with burning “witches” and other “heretics”. If you are a "true Christian” then you would agree with slavery. Or do you simply just pick and choose which parts of the bible you want to believe in? If so, which parts are correct? Will you not go to hell if you don’t believe the other parts? These are all ridiculous notions and dangerous ideas that bring about the degradation of society. A society cannot function properly when its majority populous believes in a book that promotes such injustices and violence. I’m a proud Atheist. I’m a good person because I see it as beneficial to society and not because I’m afraid of the consequences if I’m not a good person. Without religion people wouldn’t be so driven to cause madness and murder. Maybe there wouldn’t have been a 9/11. Maybe there wouldn’t have been the witch trials, the crusades, bloody mary, etc… Religion is just one more label used to segregate the people. Its downside is its self imposed ignorance about the world and its blatant promotion of hate and bigotry. Just be a good person for goodness sakes!

AngelsNecropolis of FL 12:36AM March 10, 2009

Add Your Thoughts
Your comment will be posted immediately, unless it is spam or contains profanity. For more information, please see our Comments FAQ.

Back to blog

God & Country

Dan Gilgoff covers religion for U.S. News & World Report. He is the author of The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America are Winning the Culture War, and is a former politics editor at beliefnet. E-mail Dan at godandcountry@usnews.com.

advertisement