Are there dangers to being 'spiritual' but not 'religious'? ? ?

[Bravus]

What answer do you get when you *ask* young people why they are not religious?

[olger]

I am told that they see religion as outmoded, mean-spirited, short-sighted and intolerant.

Ezekiel says: "And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof." Ezekiel sounds kind of intolerant here.

courage,

g

[Bravus]

...and those who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the church? (Jesus did - and got angry too).

I see a lot of pointing outward and no looking inward. I get your point, olger: there are some elements of faith that are difficult and demanding, and challenge us, and many people find it all too hard and give up.

But if we're at all serious about encouraging people to believe, we need to at the very least acknowledge that we have a beam, while we work on other's motes...

[olger]

I understand.

I am amazed at how God can change a life. He wants to change your life and mine !

og out

[John317]

I have grand children and other children in our extended family who are "religious." They love going to church, studying the Bible and having family worship. Whether children are "religious" or not depends to a great extent on how they were brought up and what their family is like.

I've found that most of the reasons young people give for not being religious have to do with their feeling that "religion" keeps them from being free to do what they want. Their reasons have less to do with doctrine and more to do with their impressions from what they've heard people say, particularly their peers. If they hang with kids who hate church or are in rebellion against God, they tend to do the same. On the other hand, if they hang with kids who enjoy church and love Christ, they will likely have the same values.

[olger]

Good analysis.