Giving thanks — but to whom? Fewer Americans embrace organized religion

[yuiyoshida]

Fewer Americans may be asking for God’s blessing of their Thanksgiving meal this year.

Religious participation is declining among Americans even though religion is still very popular. According to the latest Religious Landscape Study by the Pew Research Forum, the percentage of Americans who believe in God, attend religious services and pray daily has declined significantly during the last eight years, especially among adolescents. The drop in religious participation is larger among whites, and less among blacks. One group bucking the trend is political conservatives, who show no decline.

The Pew surveys document the rise in secularism but don’t attempt to explain it.

Psychologist Jean Twenge and her colleagues have cited a rise in narcissism and self-centeredness among young people, but in truth there is no hard data scientifically linking narcissism to the decline in religious participation.

Could something else be behind this important shift?

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/11/giving-thanks-but-to-whom-fewer-americans-embrace-organized-religion/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[ChisolmTrailDem]

1. I'm an agnostic and I have no issue with giving thanks to a higher power, which...

...doesn't necessarily need to be given to a God. I think you can just simply express thanks for what we have, because it could be worse and I'm thankful it isn't. I am grateful for a lot of things, life, love, a job, without needing that thanks to go to a God.

As for what's driving secularism, I'm not sure. Probably the times and technology, and a lot of suffering that God doesn't bother himself with. Also, probably the Santa Clause, Easter Bunny, and other such non-sense, is extending to God...finally!

[GummyBearz]

3. Well said

Especially the first half of your post. While my sister and I do have a specific faith, my dad and wife feel the same way as you expressed, and guess what? We all love and respect each other!

[ChisolmTrailDem]

5. "We all love and respect each other!" Amen, GummyBearz! Thanks for the kind words, and...

...Happy Thanksgiving!

[PowerToThePeople]

2. The answer is RWNJ.

"One group bucking the trend is political conservatives, who show no decline."

The rest of us want nothing to do with right wing nut jobs. If they are in church, then we will not be.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

6. They may actually be contributing to the rise in secularism. Thank God! nt

[lpbk2713]

4. It's good to have a special family gathering.

Even if only once a year. It might be the last time most see Uncle Joe or Aunt Mary.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

7. Very true. And none of us is immune to such loss. nt