According to Religious Tolerance.org 8% of Americans "Never/almost never attend" religious services.Who makes up the 8%?
1. Atheists
2. Agnostics
3. People that have been harmed by organized religion
4. People that do not care
5. People that do not fit in with organized religions
6. Others (insert another label)
One core belief of organized religion that I have struggled with is the teaching that you MUST belong to an organized group in order to a) be "right" with God and b) survive the wiles of the devil, i.e. survive in the World.
I believe point a) is a misrepresentation of the role the church was and is supposed to play in the life of a follower of Christ. I believe point b) has some validity, but I do not believe that organized religion (the modern definition of church) is the only asset we have at our disposal to combat the negative things in life.
Quite frankly I do not fit in with organized religion. In times past I was active with organized religion. I attended and took part in their functions and activities. I always felt out of place. After the event or activity I always asked myself, Where do I fit in?
When you look at your life do you feel like you fit in? Do you feel like you are in the right place? If you are unhappy about where you are in life what are you doing about your situation?
Do you go to work everyday waiting for it to be over? Do you constantly count down the days until Friday? "Happy Friday" they say.
I had a manager say to me one time, "If you look in the mirror every morning and dread the day before you then you are wasting your life. You have to wake up and feel good about the day. It is the only way to live a worthwhile life." In order for me to live a productive life I had to be honest with myself. Professionally and spiritually. The last three years have been very difficult for me. But they have also been extremely rewarding; mentally. Mondays aren't so bad anymore. I am ok with 8%.
5 comments:
I'm content with my life; it's a fact that infuriates some of my friends. They're the kinds who believe that if you aren't working for yourself or doing something on a grand scale - saving a rainforest or something - you are wasting your life.
I've always been more on the side of: "You can't save the world, but you can teach the world to save itself." No, my job probably isn't making an impact there, but it's decent, it pays the bills, and it gives me the time and money to do other things. I don't necessarily look forward to coming to work every morning, but I don't regret it, either.
And, just to help you feel better: that link estimates that people lie (in favor of church attendance) by an estimated ratio of 2 to 1. E.g, that of the 43% who say they attend church at least once a week, more than likely the number is only 15%. Since there's a 49% gap between "never" and "once a week", it's likely that at least some of those are also in the 8% but lie to make themselves seem more socially acceptable.
So, in reality, it's probably closer to 20-25%, if not more (the numbers sould argue 30-40%, but that's probably pushing it as well).
I was going to say 8% is awful low. I have two catholic coworkers who goto church 12x a year at most. and they would be part of the once a week.
Catholics!?!? hehe
I think the common folk are stuck in a ruck! LOL and the rest of us are unimpeachable! ha
Hey Austin - I have really struggled with contentment. Just when I think I'm there something happens and all hell breaks loose.
I agree with your "save the world" comments. I am at the same point. I know now that I can't do it. I can't help every kid out there struggling to find the truth with a crack head mom and non existent dad. So I work, make a little bit of pay and do what I can.
I also noticed the data on how the % were probably over inflated. Of the people I work with, 20% go to church every week/regularly.
Thanks for the comments man.
Bro - You need to get off the crack pipe. LOL.
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