I attribute it to having an open mind to new experiences. That includes all of the items in this report. People aren't as likely to be religious drones now as they were in the 50s and 60s. We are also somewhat more tolerant.
Ada
Pew: Many Americans Mix Multiple Faiths
by leavingwt 16 Replies latest social current
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Elsewhere
This is a common pattern throughout history. If you research the origins of religions you find that they are all based on a mish-mash of several previous religions.
There in no such thing as a "pure" religion.
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slimboyfat
I don't grasp the connection.
As societies become more secularized "mystical" experiences become more common because, in a society truly immersed in religion, all of life is religious, not just a compartment called "mystical". But when religion no longer is the controlling influence on people's lives it opens the way for "mystical" expressions of beliefs in small installments, as well as a general relabelling of unexplaned or special moments in life as "mystical", such as seeing an apparition, experiencing an uncanny coincidence, or simply viewing a beautiful spectacle of nature. Other counterintuitive aspects of secularization also include the rise of Pentecostalism (and to a lesser extent JWs) and the decline in the number of avowed atheists.
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hamilcarr
These trends cannot be observed in Europe. Does it mean then that Europe isn't secularizing?
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Deputy Dog
Most Americans don't know what they believe. The lines are so blurred.
I'll bet most don't understand the differences between Catholic and Protestant.
For example, I was shocked at how many Protestants don't know that "Immaculate conception" is all about Mary having NO sin. Many if not most think that it is about Jesus having no earthly father.
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slimboyfat
Atheism as a stated belief has not been on the rise in Europe over the past sixty years or so. What has been on the rise has been: "who cares?"; "dunno"; "what do you mean?"; and, "sort of, I know I believe in something". Dawkins and his brigade have changed the discourse slightly in recent years in Britain and America, through their "consciousness raising" campaign to win over apathetic agnostics to their cause, but really mainly having an impact among those who are already prone to read about and care about such issues.
The trend during the process of secularization is not from religiosity to atheism, but from religiosity to indifference and apathy. What you end up with is not a population who disavow God, but rather people who don't devote much time or thought to the issue. I think that's where Britain and Europe is still at.
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glenster
Sorry about the video replacement of SNL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PLNt-HKKAI