New Harvard Research Says US Christianity Not Shrinking but Growing Stronger

Discussion in 'Religion & Philosophy' started by Paul7, Mar 12, 2019.

  1. jay runner

    jay runner Banned

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    With government binders and breaks comes government control. The kingdom of Christ is not of this world and should avoid such snares. The sizes of church institutions is of little importance.
     
  2. CourtJester

    CourtJester Well-Known Member

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    Well yes the article claims that the small number of dedicated Christians is remaining the same or perhaps growing although the data certainly doesn't prove that conclusively. However all the other classification of Christians are dropping significanty so even conceeding that the truly dedicated might be increasing that in no way proces that Christianity is increasing in America.

    It's kind of like even though the hard core Republican party loyalists in America might be increasing the total percentage of Americas who identify as Republicans is dropping significantly.
     
  3. Paul7

    Paul7 Well-Known Member

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    Can't disagree with that.

    Yet up until the midterms when they lost seats as all incumbent parties do, the GOP held more elective offices than any time since the 1930s I believe.
     
  4. CourtJester

    CourtJester Well-Known Member

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    Well that may be in part due to jerrymandering and voter supression efforts rather than party loyalty. More and more the independants are going to determine election outcome.
     
  5. Paul7

    Paul7 Well-Known Member

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    Truly, the Gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing.
     
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  6. Paul7

    Paul7 Well-Known Member

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    Both parties gerrymander, and there was no voter suppression. What caused the recent GOP ascendency is Obama, he destroyed his party. These things go in cycles.

    I agree, and it goes back to my earlier point that fewer people are joining organizations these days.
     
  7. CourtJester

    CourtJester Well-Known Member

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    There is lots of evidence of Republican voter suppression including but not limited to shorter open hours at polls, reducing early voting time, closing voting locations, illegal removal of voters from voting rolls, etc,etc. And agreed that having a black man as President certainly did increase the drive and motivation of the Republican racist voters. It did not as far as I know increase enrollment in the Republican party.
     
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  8. edna kawabata

    edna kawabata Well-Known Member

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    Simple nay saying is no argument and you have produced no evidence that I am wrong. In other words you are poor at debating a point but very good at wasting everyone's time.
     
  9. edna kawabata

    edna kawabata Well-Known Member

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    The article may say that because he is rationalizing the decline. Those same people could have become more religious if religion was increasingly relevant in their lives. Obviously it is not and becoming less so.
     
  10. Arjay51

    Arjay51 Well-Known Member

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    Then you must be perishing.
     
  11. Arjay51

    Arjay51 Well-Known Member

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    You have pput forth no supporting evidence, even when asked to do so.

    Simply affirming what you say is just plain sill and errant. Evidence that you are wrong.
     
  12. Paul7

    Paul7 Well-Known Member

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    None of those things favor one party, I'm much more concerned with illegals voting in our election.

    There was lots of GOP support for Dr. Ben Carson and Herman Cain, I would have enthusiastically voted for them over the half black Obama. You?
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2019
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  13. jay runner

    jay runner Banned

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    They were treated much better by republicans than was Alan Keyes.
     
  14. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    No, those things have been used for partisan purpose.

    There is NO doubt about that.

    In fact, there are more such tools used for reducing opposition votes. For example, there is distribution of voting hardware, leaving long lines in some places while other locations have no such barriers.
     
  15. jay runner

    jay runner Banned

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    I waited 3 hours in the rain. No complaints. I would have stood all night.
     
  16. Paul7

    Paul7 Well-Known Member

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    We actually had such a case in my area a few years ago where there were long lines in a GOP stronghold, the election supervisors were Democrats.
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2019
  17. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    Well, they didn't succeed! Good for you. However, not everybody can do that. People have jobs they can't miss, because they won't get paid. They have kids that they have to be home for. They may not have the required transportation. Etc., etc.

    I voted one night when I sat at my desk and had the internet to look up what the minor candidates had done, what different constituencies said about them, etc. Then, I put it in my mailbox for the outgoing mail ...

    ... because there are no polling places anywhere in WA.
     
  18. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    I am STRONGLY opposed to there being polling places in America.

    They are rife with crime. The number of methods is not small. The difficulty in prosecution is significant and the penalties essentially nonexistent.

    We've seen those in charge of elections actually state that they made changes for the purpose of causing their candidate to win.
     
  19. Paul7

    Paul7 Well-Known Member

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    What is your alternative?
     
  20. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    At least 3 states have NO polling places. (WA, CO, OR)

    I'm highly in favor of our system here in WA - which has no polling places.

    I get my ballot mailed to me a couple weeks before the deadline. I fill it out and mail it back by the deadline. I can look online and see that it got received.

    My ballot is uniquely mine - nobody else can use it. So, stealing it is pointless. Making copies doesn't work.

    No required transport to the polling place. No lines. No hours. No "poll watchers". No ID. No polling staff that do not know the law. etc.

    Beyond that, let's remember that all states have absentee ballot systems that aren't very secure at all. Look at what happened in NC!! Why would they allow their system to be that ridiculously weak?
     
  21. Le Chef

    Le Chef Banned at members request Donor

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    Move to Texas. Waiting 45 minutes to vote here is very uncommon.
     
  22. WillReadmore

    WillReadmore Well-Known Member

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    Wait times are only one of the problems related to polling places.

    I hope Texas shows NONE of those problems, but it is well documented that elections have had strong partisan participation in reducing the number of votes of the "out" party in many places across the US.
     
  23. jay runner

    jay runner Banned

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    People once rode their hoss or wagon a pretty good ways to vote. It's more important than money.
     
  24. jay runner

    jay runner Banned

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    Love Texas, especially northeast Texas. Hills and pines. Plenty of elbow room.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2019
  25. cerberus

    cerberus Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    So many questions - which of them would you like to discuss first?
     

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