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Orb · 12th October 2006, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by rjh01

I like the two answers above. Which leads to the next question - what is the future of religion in the USA?

(I have no answers myself)

Oprahism

John Hewitt · 12th October 2006, 12:57 PM

I really have just two comments really. First, it seems to be a fact that our ancestry has become very much more intelligent over the past few million years by a mechanism of sexual selection. There is no reason to expect that to stop soon and, by current measures our IQ is rising by 3 points per decade. I believe this is called the Flynn effect.

Whether or not you believe any particular religion, religion as a general phenomenon is something that seems to be in our makeup. So America is likely to remain religious and those few parts of the world that are presently faithless are likely to rejoin some faithful flock or other.

Skeptic Ginger · 12th October 2006, 09:15 PM

It may depend on the time frame you look at, John. I don't think many people still believe Zeus throws lightning bolts around. I see the current Evangelical movement as still within a two steps forward one step back (guess which direction we are going

) type of cyclical trend. If you look back in history, religion has had many a revival but advances in science have not really been stopped, and they would almost have to stop for the human race to embrace religion totally.

This may be a frustrating time for the science crowd, but I certainly don't think it is anything permanent. After all, even the Jerry Falwells, Pat Robertsons, and the Ralph Reeds are likely to pray but still go to the hospital for the latest science can offer them should they need it. They may be too stupid to realize the same genetic research that resulted in the latest cancer treatment required evolutionary theory as its base, but when push comes to shove, do you think they would turn that treatment down if they needed it?

Stem cell research has resulted in breaking ranks and global warming and pollution have as well when those Evangelicals begin to suffer the consequences personally of their anti-science positions. Denial only goes so far before reality interferes.

Crowbot · 13th October 2006, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by Dave1001

I am really looking forward to seeing the movie Idiocracy.

A dark disturbing look at America that parallels my own life.

JackPT · 19th October 2006, 02:48 PM

There exists right now an extensive and powerful global community that puts everyone in touch, enables almost-instantaneous transfer of data and ideas, and forces reality on us all. It’s getting harder to be a fool. Those religious zealots who choose to mumble against progress, cannot long prevail; their days are numbered by simple Darwinian selection, though we might wish it were a faster process.

I took James Randi to mean that the zealots can no longer isolate their flocks. Some of the high profile ex-Scientology people were liberated by their exposure to information on the Internet that ran counter to doctrine. I'm sure many of the woo-woos that troll posts here are actually curious about views that oppose them. Which is a start. I don't think James Randi was talking about woo-woos being numbered in general, rather specifically those that try to shut out the truth. Whether the truth has any impact is a different matter.

AgingYoung · 20th October 2006, 12:48 AM

Quote:

The USA is still a young country.

What country on earth is there that has an older form of government than America?

Gene

edit: the 1800 Act of Union included Ireland under the Parliament of the United Kingdom. That was 24 years after America declared it's independance.

Turkish Empire, existed from 1299 AD to 1923 AD. The boundries of the middle east were carved out of that.

12th October 2006, 12:57 PM	#42
John Hewitt Muse Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 924	I really have just two comments really. First, it seems to be a fact that our ancestry has become very much more intelligent over the past few million years by a mechanism of sexual selection. There is no reason to expect that to stop soon and, by current measures our IQ is rising by 3 points per decade. I believe this is called the Flynn effect. Whether or not you believe any particular religion, religion as a general phenomenon is something that seems to be in our makeup. So America is likely to remain religious and those few parts of the world that are presently faithless are likely to rejoin some faithful flock or other.
John Hewitt Muse Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 924

12th October 2006, 09:15 PM	#43
Skeptic Ginger formerly skeptigirl Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shifting through paradigms Posts: 40,799	It may depend on the time frame you look at, John. I don't think many people still believe Zeus throws lightning bolts around. I see the current Evangelical movement as still within a two steps forward one step back (guess which direction we are going ) type of cyclical trend. If you look back in history, religion has had many a revival but advances in science have not really been stopped, and they would almost have to stop for the human race to embrace religion totally. This may be a frustrating time for the science crowd, but I certainly don't think it is anything permanent. After all, even the Jerry Falwells, Pat Robertsons, and the Ralph Reeds are likely to pray but still go to the hospital for the latest science can offer them should they need it. They may be too stupid to realize the same genetic research that resulted in the latest cancer treatment required evolutionary theory as its base, but when push comes to shove, do you think they would turn that treatment down if they needed it? Stem cell research has resulted in breaking ranks and global warming and pollution have as well when those Evangelicals begin to suffer the consequences personally of their anti-science positions. Denial only goes so far before reality interferes.
	__________________ (*Tired of continuing to hear the "Democrat Party" repeatedly I've decided to adopt the name, ~~Pubbie Party, Repubs~~ "Republics" and Republic Party in response.)

13th October 2006, 07:56 AM	#44
Crowbot Thinker Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Orlando, FL, USA Posts: 146	Originally Posted by Dave1001 I am really looking forward to seeing the movie Idiocracy. A dark disturbing look at America that parallels my own life.
	__________________ I've noticed that there are two types of applicants; those who cannot do what they claim and those who cannot claim what they do.

19th October 2006, 02:48 PM	#45
JackPT Scholar Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 65	There exists right now an extensive and powerful global community that puts everyone in touch, enables almost-instantaneous transfer of data and ideas, and forces reality on us all. It’s getting harder to be a fool. Those religious zealots who choose to mumble against progress, cannot long prevail; their days are numbered by simple Darwinian selection, though we might wish it were a faster process. I took James Randi to mean that the zealots can no longer isolate their flocks. Some of the high profile ex-Scientology people were liberated by their exposure to information on the Internet that ran counter to doctrine. I'm sure many of the woo-woos that troll posts here are actually curious about views that oppose them. Which is a start. I don't think James Randi was talking about woo-woos being numbered in general, rather specifically those that try to shut out the truth. Whether the truth has any impact is a different matter.
JackPT Scholar Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 65

20th October 2006, 12:48 AM	#46
AgingYoung Muse Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 973	Quote: The USA is still a young country. What country on earth is there that has an older form of government than America? Gene edit: the 1800 Act of Union included Ireland under the Parliament of the United Kingdom. That was 24 years after America declared it's independance. Turkish Empire, existed from 1299 AD to 1923 AD. The boundries of the middle east were carved out of that.
AgingYoung Muse Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 973	__________________ If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it? Last edited by AgingYoung; 20th October 2006 at 12:57 AM.

12th October 2006, 12:42 PM	#41
Orb Dust Mote Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: I was up above it, now I'm down in it Posts: 324	Originally Posted by rjh01 I like the two answers above. Which leads to the next question - what is the future of religion in the USA? (I have no answers myself) Oprahism