Ironically, most catholics have less knowledge of biblical stories, tales, than the evangelicals and other protestants.

Don't worry its metaphorical.

So you're saying that god exists but remains uncaptured by human systems?

@rainmanjr No, I'm saying exactly what the headline says -- hell is a human construct designed for control.

A mans got to make a living.

@jlynn37 Digging ditches is making a living. Selling lies for money, is stealing other peoples livings.

@Fernapple I didn't realize we were talking politicians.

@jlynn37 The difference between them, is that a politician sells lies that he will attempt to defend, and that he expects to be questioned. The priest has given up on the task of validation, and only want the lazy lies, that he can claim it is mistaken to question. A priest is as dishonest as a politician, but a coward as well.

He's going straight to...ummm... Cincinnati since there's no hell! And to make it worse, he's going by Greyhound! I'll pay for the ticket since the guy admits the truth.

I suspect he may need protection. There are ex-clergy organisations which can help

@BOBdammit He's saying god exists but human systems do Thou no justice. So you're agreeing that god exists?

@rainmanjr
Did I type that?

@BOBdammit I'm admittedly being playful with a tiresome topic. Reading back over what you wrote I'm uncertain what I was alluding to. Sorry. I think "the guy admits the truth" suggested that god is a truth.

@rainmanjr
No offense taken. I often think I'm being humorous and most people are scratching their heads.
Thank you for being kind enough to respond so politely.

But I was taught as a child that the equivalent of a used horse salesman from the Midwest found stacks of gold only he could read. They mentioned three levels of heaven. How could that be wrong?

@BOBdammit Just like ancient Egyptian priests who after looking at the level of water in underground wells could predict a flooding of the Nile.

@BOBdammit Doesn't everyone know there are 7 heavens?

Why do you assume the “gradual demise of organized religion” when religious affiliation is growing as a percentage of world population?

@skado I recall the you were searching for online statistics to determine whether or not there is a worldwide decline in religion. If you managed to find any information then kindly post a link or two here.

@skado [theguardian.com]

@ASTRALMAX
What I was looking for was a reputable survey that contradicted the Pew surveys which show religion to be growing worldwide. No one was able to produce any contradictory evidence. The Pew surveys are here:

[pewresearch.org]

[pewresearch.org]

@skado I have read the first article in the first link, interesting. 1.1 billion atheists in 2010 and a small increase in numbers projected for 2050. I think that the main reason is that atheists do not congregate as is a feature of most of the world's religions.

@ASTRALMAX
Regarding the article about the UK…
We all tend to assume that what’s happening in our part of the world is representative of what’s happening in the entire world, or will be happening as soon as the rest of the world catches up to where we advanced nations are, but that isn’t born out by the data. Check out the Pew data regarding “world” trends and/or see if you can find a world survey that contradicts it. I haven’t been able to find one.

@ASTRALMAX A small increase? Could you point out where it says that? I haven’t found it. Thanks.

@skado “In Germany alone, for example, there were an estimated 1.4 million more Christian deaths than births between 2010 and 2015, a pattern that is expected to continue across much of Europe in the decades ahead”.

I wonder as to the cause of more Christian deaths in the above quotation. Are Christians simply having fewer children?

@ASTRALMAX
Yes, but neither Germany nor even all of Europe are representative of the entire world. Atheists worldwide are decreasing in spite of increases in isolated areas.

@skado "Similarly, the religiously unaffiliated population is projected to shrink as a percentage of the global population, even though it will increase in absolute number. In 2010, censuses and surveys indicate, there were about 1.1 billion atheists, agnostics and people who do not identify with any particular religion.5 By 2050, the unaffiliated population is expected to exceed 1.2 billion. "

Of course, all of those figures are projections based on current patterns. I think that statistics while useful, assume an unchanging universe of discourse.

@ASTRALMAX
That’s what I’m saying - “the religiously unaffiliated population is projected to shrink as a percentage of the global population”. Religion is not shrinking but growing “as a percentage of global population.”

@skado There is more likely to be a decline in the 20 - 40 age group among Christians for a variety of reasons.

@ASTRALMAX
I don’t see any indication that the Pew organization is assuming anything. They are, as you say, judging by current trends and projecting that into a very limited piece of the foreseeable future. They don’t claim it will go on forever.

Still, the statistics of what is currently happening worldwide is diametrically opposite of what atheists continue to claim.

@ASTRALMAX
There are isolated pockets going this way and that, but as a percentage of global population, religious affiliation is currently growing.

@DenoPenno
Damn! Now I need to do more research about my afterlife retirement plan! You know, what clouds are fashionable, what color robe is acceptable, can I go barefoot, is flatulence aloud?

@BOBdammit You may need a crystal ball to see if you can get in contact the biblical Joseph, you know the one that wore the coat of many colours, I wonder did he foresee the LGBT movement...

@ASTRALMAX
Dammit, you are going to get sued for that comment! You just made me laugh today!

And I promised to save seats near the fire for some friends...