Public Profession of Belief

I would like to begin by stating that chapter one of Paine’s The Age of Reason is one of the most powerful and candid statements on the involvement of the Church in religion that I have read in a very long time. I say this with such surprise because I have taken into consideration the fact that it was written in a time when freedom of speech didn’t present the same ‘freedom’ as it does today. I enjoyed it more so because I hold a very similar outlook on ‘dogma-contrived-beliefs’ and can relate to his frustrations with the church (regardless of the denomination).

I think if Paine was to view the world of faith today he would be happy to note that freedom of choice and freedom of speech has relaxed the creed-professed beliefs of churches and that attending these places of holy worship now is less about instilling fear into its patrons, and more about celebrating faith.

I am a true believer in one God. I also believe in modesty and the virtues we spoke of earlier, pillars which I live by and do my hardest to practice. However I can’t help but wonder where this world is headed to spiritually. Is it just me or does it seem that everyone has forgotten religion and our creator. Maybe they haven’t forgotten and they just don’t believe in God anymore? Maybe people never really believed in God anyway but only pretended to so as to fit in with church-going society as Paine had stated in his public profession?

All I do know is that when I watch the video clips of music artist these days, I can’t help but think ‘Godless industry’. When I hear the obscene lyrics of songs that are on today’s radio I can’t help but think ‘Godless society’. When I turn on the news and see malice and cruelty subjected on defenceless everyday people, I can’t help but think ‘Godless nation’. My point is that we need to find a balance between forced-religion and complete un-Godliness before our world turns into a wreck less and un-inhabitable place to live in. How we are supposed to achieve that in a society of people with such differing views and beliefs is beyond me. Maybe going back to our churches is a good place to start?
According to a recent poll conducted by Kirk Hadaway (minister for research and evaluation at the United Church of Christ’s Board for Homeland Ministries) weekly church attendance has dropped by 30% over the past 60 years. It is estimated that approximately 40% of Americans still attend Church (this includes Jewish, Christian and Muslim churches) however this number is slowly dwindling;

“Despite the rhetoric, active religious participation remains a minority interest
in American life." Tom Flynn, writer for Free Inquiry magazine, (1998).

I believe the declining number of church attendees is a result of many things. Firstly I deem it as the outcome of an absence of peer pressure. Just admit it; your neighbours will still love you if you don’t go to church (as long as you maintain the front lawn off course). I also feel declining number may be due to the aggressive approach the churches took in the past to ensure people came every week (threatening us with hell’s fury etc), it seems to have had the opposite effect and driven people away. I know from my own experience that when I am told I must eat piece of bread or drink a certain cup of wine to have my soul blessed I feel insulted because to me God is above these superficial man-created dogmas and rules.