Of course you used a poll with the lowest numbers you could find. And really, if you're going to ask Americans if they're atheists, you might as well go back to the 1950s and do a poll asking them if they are communists. Here's a poll you'll probably be less comfortable with. According to that, close to 1 out of every 6 of us are now "nones".
What you do in your own mind and your own bed is of no concern of mine, It certainly doesn't annoy me. What it does do is frighten me. it's frightens me that not only do regular folks believe in this shit and teach it to their kids it's almost a requirement to be elected, in america at least. it frightens me that unless you confess to believing there is a magic man in the sky it is practically impossible to be elected in america. It also frightens me that people think this magic man has given them rules and, at times, talks to them and tells them what to do. Outside of religion this would be seen as a severe and very dangerous type of mental illness. If you think elvis is talking to you and telling you to mutilate your childs genitals you get put in prison or a mental institution. if you think a magic man spoke to someone thousands of years ago and told him to tell you to mutilate your childs genitals you are "religious". Now to an atheist there is no difference at all between these two scenarios, and that is cause for concern.
Yes, there is not word of trinity in the Bible. You won't find any word 'Trinity' in the Bible. But the concept of trinity is the most central theme of Christianity. Most Bible scholars believe in it. The trinity expresses the belief that God is one, formed of three unique persons who exist in co-equal, co-eternal communion as the Father, Son and the Holy Spirity. The concept is clearly expressing about the Trinity in the following verses: Acts: 2:32-33. 2Corinthians 13:14, John 14:16-17 & 10:30, 17:11&21 & Mathew 3: 16-17; 28:19. Ezhil_09
No, I used the official poll that was used by the United States Census - the Pew Research Poll, which showed that 1.6% of Americans call themselves atheists. It's the official poll that the United States Census uses to determine the religious orientation of the country: http://religions.pewforum.org/reports (excuse me, it's gone up 0.1% since I last cited! Wow, must be a trend!) The U.S. Federal Government is prohibited from conducting religious surveys, so they farm it out to Pew. Of course, LogicFlux cited unathoratitive polls that showed the highest numbers he could find, right??? Of course, the 16.1% of "nones" (Pew calls them "unaffiliated) he cited were broad strokes that he didn't bother to break down. Common mistake made by LogicFlux's desperate search for anything that would support his weakened position... he cited a poll that deliberately misquoted Pew. SLAM DUNK FOR ME!!!
By that survey, 10.3% describe themselves as either atheist, agnostic or secular unaffiliated. To clearly define the difference in the three is an academic exercise in semantics. Bottom line is, according to your survey, more than 1 in 10 Americans admit to not believing in your garden/snake/rib woman/zombie-messiah story. Also, when you factor in the .7% of Buddhists(because Buddhists don't really believe in god as a part of their religion/philosophy) and the 1.2% of "other faiths"(which includes all the retarded new age stuff), you'll also find a lot who do not believe in god. Your flaw in quoting this survey is that "religious" affiliation is not the same as a belief in god.
this is a particularly deceitful trick by the religious when they want to cook the numbers. They divide into groups everyone who is technically atheist, and bunch together all different religions to make atheism look less abundant and theism more popular, then they apply the appeal to majority fallacy as if the amount of people who believe something is in any way an indication of it's validity. But then they are religious, so the denial of reality and compulsive fabrications are their speciality.
Nice try, Logicflux, but you've been powned! It's very simple. The official Pew poll clearly shows that only 1.6% of Americans are atheist. You even showed us the original numbers for me. Thank you for making my point all so beautifully.
Corwin, do you not know that agnostics and secular people lack a belief in a god too and therefor are also atheists? or are you less interested in reality as you are in deceitfully cooking the numbers?
No, it shows that 1.6% call themselves atheists. What's more important, the number that call themselves atheists or the number that actually don't believe in god? The semantics get murky. I don't even call myself an atheist, even though, for all intents and purposes, I probably am. In fact, some of the followers of those "religions", such as Buddhism, may in fact also be atheists. Another flaw in your statement that "atheism is not mainstream" is that your argument apparently implies that the only society that is important in defining what is and what isn't mainstream is American society.
It is not just Catholic, but most of Christianity that believes in a Triune God. And the OP is correct in stating that the term "Trinity" post dates the "Bible" and no, it is NOT mentioned in the "Bible". It IS however mentioned in the "Gospels" of Jesus Christ himself. As I understand it, the term is used more as a concept/reference for explaining God as the Father, the Son and the Spirit. As in the father, the son and the holy spirit, Christ's reference to all three as one, or God is where many believe the Trinity is derived. Anyway, it'd be kinda hard to make the sign of the cross with only one word.
Perhaps you could give us all the chapter/verse where this is at? I have done several searches for the word 'trinity' in several different versions of the Bible, as well as several Concordances, all of which would suggest you are wrong.
Do I need to repeat myself, or do you wish to re-read my post. It's not in the "Bible". You can re-read the post here: http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showpost.php?p=12323426&postcount=32 http://books.google.com/books?id=6O...refox-a#v=onepage&q=Trinity in the NT&f=false
You stated: What are you calling the "'Gospels' of Jesus Christ himself"? BY most accounts, the Gospels are the 4 books Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Then there are the apocryphal books thrown out by the Council of Nicene, but which some would still say have validity. Whcih "Gospels" are you referring to? Or, do you have a direct connection giving you secret information - you know, voices in the head kind of thing. Please don't repeat yourself. Simply provide the Book/Chapter/Verse where you found the word "trinity" used in the "Gospels". Your words, my challenge. Put up or shut up.
Don't worry about it, it is typical mia that he doesn't know what he is talking about and when he is called on it, he refuses to admit his ignorance.
Well we all know that theists outnumber atheists globally 8-1 at least. Looks like the earth has spoken. Time for hitchens and gang to go and have another 8 bottles of shiskey before dropping their kids off at christian school lol
Are you saying that the number of those who je*k off to those who have healthy sex is 8-1? Are you sure you have enough of mother Teresa pictures to go around if you succeed to convert every one?
"Gospel" is the "Gospel". It is not the "Bible". Two different books. Relax, you're taking this way too personally and are beginning to make an ass out of yourself.