Ireland losing its faith at an alarming rate suggests new poll

WHAT HAS THIS GO TO DO WITH YOU ?? ....ZILCH !!!

Loosing Faith in the invisible man in the sky- sure it is like waking up to there being no Santa.

This is encouraging not alarming!

The complete Red C report is available to download at the WIN-Gallup International web site. It lists Ireland among the top 10 atheist countries, with 47 percent of 1001 Irish declaring themselves religious persons, 44 percent not religious, and 10 percent atheist--the same atheist rank as Austria, Iceland, and Australia. Since 2005, the percentage of Irish claiming to be religious has dropped by 22 percent, compared to an average 9 percent drop in the other 56 countries studied. The US dropped 13 percent. The question they responded to was "Irrespective of whether you attend a place of worship or not, would you say you are a religious person, not a religious person or a convinced atheist?" The USA ranked 60 on the Global religiosity Index; Ireland ranked 47. The USA is number 5 (low) on the Atheism Index, Ireland is tied for 10th with the three others, and China is highest. Ireland is actually behind not only the Western European average, but also the USA in religiosity. That's the big surprise I think: Americans are more religious than Irish according to this report.

HermitTalker concedes that "grievous errors were made in ignorance" but tries to convince us that those who made the errors were "diseased," sick, so they bear no responsibility for devastated lives and deserve no blame. Those on the outside of the Church, HermitTalker says, cannot judge those on the inside, ah but those on the outside, HermitTalker says, should repent their own "sick-selfish ways" because they, not the pedophiles or pedophile-protectors, need "forgiveness"! If they don't overlook the sickness of the pedophiles, they're hypocrites, according to HermitTalker. Incredible! "Only Jesus can judge their hearts" the Hermit says. As I recall, in the same chapter of Matthew (7) that he said "Do not judge," Jesus warned us to be always alert, always to be testing those who claim "authority" over his followers: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them." That's one judgment that Christians can't afford to let slide.

To the challenge that I denied coverup- I made it clear grevious errors were made in ignorance until medical data explained the disease of abuse as well as alcoholsim which used be treated by prayer and nothing much else. Philadeelphia has had two archbishops since Cdl Bevilaqua so we are talking quite a while back, the indicted vicar was from his time. As to Cdl J R, now BXV1, there is absolutely no cover-up to explain, MORE importantly, most of the IC posts on Catholic topics remind me of the blind men trying to describe an Elephant. To judge the Christian Faith, which has been based in Rome since Peter was cricified for it, and is buried under the papal altar, one has to come inside. Be converted by hearing Jesus say "be converted, turn totally around, see your own sick-selfish ways and accept forgiveness and share it with others. Anything else is hypocricy, whether from peasant or high Church official, but only Jesus can judge their hearts and our own. Do not judge in that sense.

I was about to note that there's nothing "alarming" about it, but I see others have beaten me to it. Glad to see that. This is very good news. The tyranny of religion does seem to be on the wane. Hooray!

All part of the deconstruction of Ireland, softening it up whatever unpleasantness that is planned for it. The Catholic Church had better drag itself out its comfortable way of thinking if it doesn't want to become a footnote in Irish history.

Who are you Red C ? Please tell us your credentials and your own slant. What way do you phrase your questions. Do you classify all 'non religious' as atheists or do you have any agnostics in your listings. Polls are very subjective and usually reflect the intentions of those who set it up. For those of us who have stayed the course we do not think The Almighty lied when he said "The gates of Hell will not prevail" against the Church. When folk, who should know better, turn their backs and mock Him they are taking a huge gamble. Beannacht De oraibh.

Christianity isn't the only religion available. I'm originally from Dublin and I joined a non-Christian faith group based on the ancient texts from India (such as the Bhagavad Gita) in 1993, and I've been very happy ever since. This group I'm involved in is theistic.

wilhoef, read a post you wrote on guantanamo. you want to get rid of president obama? that ship has sailed. it is numerically impossible for willard to win the electoral votes necessary. you may just have to suffer for four more years. is feidir linn.

wilhoef, referring to the politicization of the mass. the use of the mass as a political forum. it has been going on for a long time. but it seemed to end after vatican 2. now under the current pope it has re-emerged. bishops issuing pastoral letters about what catholics should or shouldn't believe. some bishops to their credit have ignored these directives, but they are in the minority.

should of happened a long long time ago.

Anyone for a Pint O Guinness @?..!

I see I am not the only one who wonders what is "alarming" about this encouraging sign.