It means that the day of salvation is nigh. I can practically feel it.

Don't worry guys. I've got my "JESUS 2000" pin. I'm all set.

actually Amphy you may have a point. It COULD mean that...but then again no one knows when...some may claim to but no one truly knows for sure. MM the only response i can give to you is that "In the Last Days Evil Men and Seducers will wax worse and worse. Scoffers will arise but hear this! keep your faith though harsh times may arise! for my return is near!"

You can agree, scoff, or have no opinion, but that is my side of the debate. Have a nice day!

The popularity of "religion" waxes and wanes regularly. Right now, it's just more popular to believe you don't believe in anything. The percentages may flex all they'd like but you will always have people who bend their knee to a god. It's just far too ingrained in human nature. Eventually, it will sway back

I guess it may seem like I'm just shrugging it off, and in a way I am. It's just that in my experience, scientists and their alarmist studies have never really amounted to much. In the mean time, the church I attend is still growing so ... *shrug*

Reply to mariomesser,

I noticed that atheism is growing as well. Two years ago, three of my friends turned atheistic and just four months ago, another friend who was a devout seventh day adventist turned. I thought he'd never do it. Of course I turned about eight years ago. I think it might be the beginning of the end for religion, most of my religious associates don't go to church or synagogue anyway these days, but who knows.

the end? not for another generation at least. i don't think it will completely die though...like Aisling said it is too far ingrained in human nature. if one day in the future people decide God is dead then i can't do anything about it...so all i can do is live my life, pray for others and myself, and raise my kids the way i was raised. If God is dead, then let me die serving a dead God.

Now I didn't mean to say that religion would die altogether, I simply meant that I think the majority will soon be atheistic. Religion will never truly be dead...I think.

but...what caused it?

Aisling, good point, but...this is a little too "big" for that. I mean, here in Europe, atheism is the standard. really, I don't think we'll ever return to the Church or anything. My question is, what caused (or is the cause that) athism being so strong in here. (we only have one *real* religous party any more*)

Heheh. My bet is you could already figure that, as a believer, I would claim that it's because the spiritual enemy has a grasp in Europe and is constantly fighting to prevent the return of religion.

However, if you'd like a more quantifiable answer try this: Europe was the home of the Church. And by Church I mean, not the religion or beliefs themselves, but the governmental-style organization behind it. The Church as an organization of imperfect human beings wielded its power in some unpleasant ways, as most people should know. However, the authoritative body and the religion were melded in people's minds so when they pulled away from the Church, they pulled away from the beliefs as well.

America was never really under the reign of the Church the way Europe was. (Heck, America was founded by people trying to get away from the Church.) So America never suffered the whole-hearted cultural rejection of religion that Europe did.

In short, I would suspect that Europe is still recoiling from past mistakes while America has yet to make those mistakes.

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't they leave Europe because they didn't approve of a certain King divorcing his wives? Because it was against their religious beliefs so the King had them skip off to the New World... maybe I'm getting the facts wrong... But in all actuality the original settlers of this country were actually more religious than their European Kings and that was why they were sent here. Puritans in particular. While there are many other different types of original settlers found in America the majority of them came here for one particular reason. Tolerance. They themselves were religious (probably more than their home countries were, and that's why they had to leave). In this article that's one of the first reasons that's said as to why the people left:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_history_of_the_United_States

So yeah they all found their religion in America in there own certain land spots but the irony of the situation is while they themselves wanted tolerance from their old countries they wouldn't allow other religions to flourish in their own little part of the world. Each colony had it's own beliefs and didn't put up with any other beliefs in said colony. People are funny like that.


Please note: I'm talking about the early settlers, nowadays people are much more tolerant to other religious views in America... aside from certain cult like groups.

My knowledge of American history agrees with pretty much everything you just said, Jade. And actually, that is kind of what I was trying to say. I guess I didn't make myself clear enough.

I was trying to draw a distinction between the actual beliefs/religion of the people and the acting authoritative body of the Church. While Europe and America have both had strong religious movements and America was founded by colonials searching for religious freedom, the difference I was attempting to point out was the authoritative and, at times, oppressive body of the organized Church that Europe experienced. That is what I believe people in Europe have been pulling away from and as a result leaving behind their religion as well.

Well nobody has responded to this topic lately. I have grown quite attached to this topic, which is ironic considering my lack or religious value, therefore I will post a query for Christians to answer. I apologize that I am not picking on any other particular religion but Christianity is the only religion I have a prior association with.

I need personal input on this subject as it confuses me. Try your best at it as it is not easy to answer for most christians.

Back in the year 0000 when Christ was born unto this world till 0033 (the resurrection), what happens to those who were not exposed to Christs message? Is it fair? If it is not, can God truly be called a just God and if so, why?

Seriously think about this instead of posting the first defense that comes to your head. I'd appreciate a resonable response.

GD what exactly do you mean? Because i might have an answer...

I was referring to people who were not in the Middle East, in Europe, or Asia, or people in the Americas. People who were not exposed to the message?

that it what Jesus then told his disciples to do. "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

WHILE Jesus was living though..i guess they didn't know. I'm not God, so i don't know how He's going to judge...i can only watch over my own soul. sorry that i couldn't help GD.

This link is pretty good; it incorporates lots of different denominational views on the non-Christian afterlife: http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_savn.htm