Dry Spirits

With the dryness of people I see that people are not necessarily turning to religion for answers. I saw a show on TV the other day that portrayed the confusion of why would God wreak such devastation on people. Particularly on seeming innocent people. This goes with the show on PBS of "The Question of God" Click Here. This is a perfect question to be asking now. How is it that if God where exacting this devastation on people then why? Maybe people are confused, almost as if they are being faced with a conundrum that is perplexing even the most dedicated people.

Why? This does not make sense for a God to exact on it creatures that God has created. I don't see people turning to religion for this. If anything they are confused. They have no where else to turn for answers.

I suspect that people will turn to something else for an answer. They will look to ghosts and phenomenon associated with ghosts. This may seem like a strange bed fellow but it is the closest tangible element to search into, coincidence of October aside. People are not finding their answers in religion, so they will turn to another source for answer. This is besides what science can answer. Because people look for a spiritual answer to what is going on.
The people need a gradual change away from the droning confines that religion has bestowed upon them. To evolve from one aspect to a completely different aspect takes many steps toward the other perspective of true spiritual awakening.

I have noticed that today's classical religions do not focus on the spiritual aspect of life. More it focuses on sin and governing rules of society on how and who to be. Not what the original massager intended in my opinion. It also does not talk about the ways in which to practice to establish and become aware of the connection that we have to life and the life energy. I'm not really sure that I can view the church as an authority on spiritual awareness and connection. Yes, they tell you extensively how on how to worship God but not how to honor him by being connected spiritually with him. If you believe in God. They have some aspects in which I agree but I also see many misinterpretations of the original message passed down. I think it is time for another deliverance of the true message. A message of how to really become aware and connected. There are some who are getting, practicing, and spreading the message on how to become aware.

I have noticed lately that there has been a lull in spiritual activity lately. It is more like an absence of spiritual activity possibly not just being absent of voluntary thought or practice but more of possibly of confusion or a challenge of faith.

I have been noticing people are moving away from religion. They are not going to church any more. Some have told me, "why go?" There are no answers that people can use. Or wish to use. The whole notion that you must repent your sins with the church is far too controlling of a factor to deal with. From this I am seeing an evolutionary step towards thinking more for themselves.

Because of this I was inclined to do a little research, for what value it holds, to discover how much people are going to church.

After searching on Google for the phase "decline attendance church going population".

We are seeing a steady decline in people going to church. The following are articles pertaining to that:
How Many Americans Really Attend Church Each Week?
Is New Zealand’s Future Churchless??
Mission fields are no longer in Africa, but in Scotland
Study into the reasons for decline in church attendance
Church attendance on the decline

By far the most credible answer to people’s lack of church attendance is due to the ever increasing demand of work, children, and maintaining home. Particularly that both of the parents are working. This would also call for a poll for those of us who not in the married, married with kids realm.
Not by any means am I insinuating that people are declining in church because of the lack of faith or confusion. It is interesting to see the trend and to also see that people are becoming more confused about the question of God. I have heard other people reporting that they find it easy to be agnostic or atheist. This is some what surprising to me, but even as I ponder on the incredible thought process that has converted them to think this way is a sign of emergence from the control of classical religion.

For the results of the phrase "decrease attendance church going population":
Church, Lies, and Polling Data
Why I Quit Going To Church

In all fairness and in the realm of a true balanced measurement, I can not really call this a true scientific measurement, since I have not actually done the polls myself, it would be inconceivable not to do a search on the incline of church going people. So, the search was also included by the phrase "increase attendance church going population". The result ended up with approxiamately the same results from the first search on the decline of population. I was hoping to at least see something...
I know people who used to attend regularly are now turning their attention elsewhere. Now one could say that because we are seeing a change in society and our culture of that both parents in a typical family have to work to keep the expensive "American Dream" alive. Between working, taking care of the kids and not to mention the house there is no time to go to church. But is that really the reason why people are declining to go to church. This may be one of the several reasons why. I think we are seeing a desperate plea with the public particularly with the conservative religions to get people back. They can see that attendance is declining and they are desperate to hold onto what little power they have.

Questions for people on what their views are of religion and going to church.

1. Do you consider yourself a religious person?
2. Do you go to church every week?
3. What is your position on religion?
4. Do you think the classical religions have a strong connection with every day life?
5. Would you identify yourself with a religious sect? (Without naming it.)

What a time we live in, for if I where to publish say 100 or more years ago I would have most likely been persecuted and even executed for this blasphemous words.

Originally written on October 14, 2005