the trend toward spirituality and religion will continue to grow.
---
you're fucking blind ... polls show people are becoming less religious.

On Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at 7:11:14 AM UTC-6, KeithInTampa wrote:
>
> I think you're misplaced, and that the trend toward spirituality and 
> religion will continue to grow.
>
> I've seen the 70 percent poll, (I think by Pew) but I've also seen 
> reputable polls that put the Nation's spirituality as a whole closer to 80 
> percent.
>
>
>
> On Wed, Dec 2, 2015 at 7:54 AM, Brian Bednarek <[email protected] 
> <javascript:>> wrote:
>
>> 70.6 is less than 75% (which I believe is 3/4) but the trend has been 
>> away from organized religion as a hole, it wont be long before it's below 
>> 50%.
>>
>> I personally stopped going to Church more than 30 years ago, I was raised 
>> Roman Catholic, I don't practice anymore ... I got it right!!!
>>
>> On Tue, Dec 1, 2015 at 9:24 PM, Keith In Tampa <[email protected] 
>> <javascript:>> wrote:
>>
>>> (The poll is by Gallop, and they're not too different than Pew....The 
>>> bottom line, is that more than three quarters of this Nation identify with 
>>> being Christian, and that is fact.....)
>>>
>>> On Tue, Dec 1, 2015 at 3:39 PM, plainolamerican <[email protected] 
>>> <javascript:>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'd trust Pew before a bunch of cowgirls in Houston.
>>>>
>>>> On Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 12:23:52 PM UTC-6, KeithInTampa wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Poll-Nearly-80-percent-of-Americans-say-they-are-2444092.php
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Dec 1, 2015 at 1:20 PM, plainolamerican <[email protected]> 
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Christians, which is 80 percent of the Nation
>>>>>> ---
>>>>>> delusion noted.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The number of Americans who identify as Christian has fallen nearly 
>>>>>> eight percentage points in only seven years, according to a new survey. 
>>>>>> Pew 
>>>>>> Research Center found that *71%* of Americans identified as 
>>>>>> Christian in 2014 - down from *78%* in 2007.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> and of those 71%, only a small fraction are zionists ... sorta like 
>>>>>> the small percentage of muzzies who are radical killiers.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> https://www.facebook.com/United.Syrian.Republic/videos/1730600583840768/
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 10:13:59 AM UTC-6, KeithInTampa wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> No doubt, there are some agencies who are Christian based, who are 
>>>>>>> advocating for the refugee program to continue.  Thankfully, the 
>>>>>>> majority 
>>>>>>> of Christians, which is 80 percent of the Nation, are opposed.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Tue, Dec 1, 2015 at 11:02 AM, plainolamerican <
>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I do know that most Christians are opposed to the resettlement of 
>>>>>>>> Syrian Refugees in the United States
>>>>>>>> ---
>>>>>>>> Christian groups break with GOP over Syrian refugees
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Evangelical Christians, as well as Christians more broadly, are a 
>>>>>>>> core group in the Republican electoral base and are among the most 
>>>>>>>> passionate advocates for aiding refugees.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> By NAHAL TOOSI <http://www.politico.com/staff/nahal-toosi> 
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> 11/17/15 06:24 PM EST
>>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Updated 11/18/15 08:43 PM EST
>>>>>>>> [image: Republican presidential candidate, former Arkansas Gov. 
>>>>>>>> Mike Huckabee speaks at executive committee luncheon during the 
>>>>>>>> California 
>>>>>>>> GOP fall convention on Friday, Sept. 18, 2015 in Anaheim, Calif. (AP 
>>>>>>>> Photo/Chris Carlson)]
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Mike Huckabee along with other politicians, have worked to gain 
>>>>>>>> evangelical support, but may be threatening that by taking a stance 
>>>>>>>> against 
>>>>>>>> Syrian refugees. | AP Photo
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Faith-based groups, who play a key role in resettling refugees to 
>>>>>>>>>>> the United States, say they are dismayed by the wave of 
>>>>>>>>>>> anti-refugee fervor 
>>>>>>>>>>> set off by the Paris terrorist attacks and are urging supporters to 
>>>>>>>>>>> contact 
>>>>>>>>>>> elected officials on behalf of victims of the Syrian civil war.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Evangelical Christians, as well as Christians more broadly, are 
>>>>>>>>>>> a core group in the Republican electoral base and are among the 
>>>>>>>>>>> most 
>>>>>>>>>>> passionate advocates for aiding refugees.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> A push by Republican presidential candidates to ban Syrian 
>>>>>>>>>>> refugees "does not reflect what we've been hearing from our 
>>>>>>>>>>> constituencies, 
>>>>>>>>>>> which are evangelical churches across the country," said Jenny 
>>>>>>>>>>> Yang, vice 
>>>>>>>>>>> president for advocacy at World Relief, an evangelical organization 
>>>>>>>>>>> that 
>>>>>>>>>>> helps resettle refugees. "Most of the people have been saying we 
>>>>>>>>>>> want to 
>>>>>>>>>>> continue to work with refugees, that what happened in Paris ... 
>>>>>>>>>>> doesn’t 
>>>>>>>>>>> reflect who refugees are."
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Reports that a Syrian migrant may have played a role in last 
>>>>>>>>>>> week's attacks in Paris, which killed around 130 people, have set 
>>>>>>>>>>> off a 
>>>>>>>>>>> GOP-led backlash over the Obama administration's plans to admit 
>>>>>>>>>>> 10,000 
>>>>>>>>>>> Syrian refugees next year. More than half of U.S. governors have 
>>>>>>>>>>> said they 
>>>>>>>>>>> do not want Syrian refugees resettled in their states, while House 
>>>>>>>>>>> Speaker 
>>>>>>>>>>> Paul Ryan says he wants a vote this week on GOP-drafted legislation 
>>>>>>>>>>> to halt 
>>>>>>>>>>> the administration's plans.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> World Relief is one of nine not-for-profit organizations, 
>>>>>>>>>>> several of them faith-based, that help resettle up to 70,000 
>>>>>>>>>>> refugees from 
>>>>>>>>>>> around the world in the United States each year. Others include the 
>>>>>>>>>>> U.S. 
>>>>>>>>>>> Conference of Catholic Bishops, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee 
>>>>>>>>>>> Service, 
>>>>>>>>>>> and the Church World Service. Many other faith-based groups, 
>>>>>>>>>>> including 
>>>>>>>>>>> evangelical Christian organizations, also perform aid work overseas 
>>>>>>>>>>> specifically aimed at refugees fleeing conflicts.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> 151117_Paul_Ryan_AP_1160.jpg
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> House likely to vote Thursday on Syrian refugee bill
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> By JAKE SHERMAN
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> For Republican presidential contenders such as former Arkansas 
>>>>>>>>>>> Gov. Mike Huckabee and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who have been working 
>>>>>>>>>>> hard at 
>>>>>>>>>>> shoring up evangelical support in a crowded field, harsh words 
>>>>>>>>>>> against 
>>>>>>>>>>> refugees carries a risk of looking politically opportunistic 
>>>>>>>>>>> instead of 
>>>>>>>>>>> compassionate. Some advocates were particularly shocked when 
>>>>>>>>>>> Republican 
>>>>>>>>>>> presidential candidate Chris Christie, New Jersey's governor, said 
>>>>>>>>>>> that the 
>>>>>>>>>>> U.S. should bar Syrian orphaned toddlers if necessary.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> "That was offensive. That was mean-spirited," said one advocate 
>>>>>>>>>>> with a Christian group that resettles refugees. He added: "it’s 
>>>>>>>>>>> disappointing because there have been Republican senators and 
>>>>>>>>>>> presidents 
>>>>>>>>>>> who have strongly supported this program over the years. There’s a 
>>>>>>>>>>> proud 
>>>>>>>>>>> tradition in the Republican Party of welcoming those who are 
>>>>>>>>>>> fleeing 
>>>>>>>>>>> persecution, and this takes the party in a negative direction. It’s 
>>>>>>>>>>> easy to 
>>>>>>>>>>> pick on vulnerable refugees who have no voice. But there are 
>>>>>>>>>>> immigrant 
>>>>>>>>>>> groups who have voting power that understand what is going on. They 
>>>>>>>>>>> understand that it’s an anti-immigrant message."
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Even though many on the Christian right have reservations about 
>>>>>>>>>>> immigration overall, and may in particular be unhappy about people 
>>>>>>>>>>> who 
>>>>>>>>>>> illegally enter the United States, there's long been a recognition 
>>>>>>>>>>> that 
>>>>>>>>>>> refugees fall under a different category. The 11 million Syrians 
>>>>>>>>>>> who have 
>>>>>>>>>>> either fled the Arab country or are displaced within it are dodging 
>>>>>>>>>>> terrorist groups such as the Islamic State or the barrel bombs of 
>>>>>>>>>>> Syrian 
>>>>>>>>>>> President Bashar Assad. Many are elderly, widowed or in need of 
>>>>>>>>>>> medical 
>>>>>>>>>>> care.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Some Republican candidates have suggested that only Syrians who 
>>>>>>>>>>> are Christian be allowed on U.S. soil, something President Barack 
>>>>>>>>>>> Obama has 
>>>>>>>>>>> blasted as shameful. Yang said many evangelical Christians would 
>>>>>>>>>>> also 
>>>>>>>>>>> oppose such a religious test, especially because many are eager to 
>>>>>>>>>>> share 
>>>>>>>>>>> their faith with new arrivals.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> The United States so far has admitted roughly 2,100 Syrians 
>>>>>>>>>>> since the conflict in the country began in March 2011. To be 
>>>>>>>>>>> allowed in, 
>>>>>>>>>>> refugees have to undergo the most stringent security checks of any 
>>>>>>>>>>> traveler 
>>>>>>>>>>> heading to the United States, according to the State Department. 
>>>>>>>>>>> Officials 
>>>>>>>>>>> from the Obama administration on Tuesday began reaching out to the 
>>>>>>>>>>> media 
>>>>>>>>>>> and lawmakers in a bid to explain the screening process, which 
>>>>>>>>>>> takes an 
>>>>>>>>>>> average of 18-24 months.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Meanwhile, faith-based groups have also stepped up their 
>>>>>>>>>>> advocacy efforts for refugees. The U.S. Conference of Catholic 
>>>>>>>>>>> Bishops 
>>>>>>>>>>> released a statement expressing distress over calls by elected 
>>>>>>>>>>> officials to 
>>>>>>>>>>> halt the resettlement program.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> 151117_syrian_refugees_AP_1160.jpg
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> White House pushes back against GOP on refugees
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> By NAHAL TOOSI
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> "These refugees are fleeing terror themselves — violence like we 
>>>>>>>>>>> have witnessed in Paris," said the statement by Bishop Eusebio 
>>>>>>>>>>> Elizondo, 
>>>>>>>>>>> chairman of the conference's committee on migration. "Instead of 
>>>>>>>>>>> using this 
>>>>>>>>>>> tragedy to scapegoat all refugees, I call upon our public officials 
>>>>>>>>>>> to work 
>>>>>>>>>>> together to end the Syrian conflict peacefully so the close to 4 
>>>>>>>>>>> million 
>>>>>>>>>>> Syrian refugees can return to their country and rebuild their 
>>>>>>>>>>> homes. Until 
>>>>>>>>>>> that goal is achieved, we must work with the world community to 
>>>>>>>>>>> provide 
>>>>>>>>>>> safe haven to vulnerable and deserving refugees who are simply 
>>>>>>>>>>> attempting 
>>>>>>>>>>> to survive."
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Since the Paris attacks, World Relief has used a website to urge 
>>>>>>>>>>> people to contact their governors to express their support for 
>>>>>>>>>>> resettling 
>>>>>>>>>>> Syrians. The Anti-Defamation League also has spoken out in favor of 
>>>>>>>>>>> helping 
>>>>>>>>>>> the Syrian refugees, noting that U.S. wariness to accept Jewish 
>>>>>>>>>>> refugees 
>>>>>>>>>>> during World War II is an example that must not be repeated.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Jonathan Greenblatt, the chief executive officer of the ADL and 
>>>>>>>>>>> a former Obama aide, stressed that much remains unknown about the 
>>>>>>>>>>> Paris 
>>>>>>>>>>> attacks, including the exact nature of the allegation that a Syrian 
>>>>>>>>>>> migrant 
>>>>>>>>>>> was one of the eight or nine attackers. Even if a terrorist posed 
>>>>>>>>>>> as a 
>>>>>>>>>>> migrant to reach France, it's less likely that the U.S., with 
>>>>>>>>>>> oceans to 
>>>>>>>>>>> protect it and a stricter screening process, faces the same level 
>>>>>>>>>>> of 
>>>>>>>>>>> dangers, other advocates said.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> "Republicans and Democrats have to tread very carefully here," 
>>>>>>>>>>> Greenblatt said. "Faith-based voters are very attentive to these 
>>>>>>>>>>> issues. 
>>>>>>>>>>> They’re very sensitive to helping those in need."
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Joanne Kelsey, assistant director for advocacy with Lutheran 
>>>>>>>>>>> Immigration and Refugee Service, said she hoped that the sound and 
>>>>>>>>>>> fury 
>>>>>>>>>>> over refugees would soon be replaced with reason as Republican 
>>>>>>>>>>> lawmakers 
>>>>>>>>>>> and officials get more details about how the refugee program works.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> "This is a very reactionary time," she said.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>
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>>
>>
>> -- 
>> brine
>> http://brineb.blogspot.com/
>>
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>
>

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