Over the past few decades, the number of Americans who identify as religiously unaffiliated—often referred to as “nones”—has grown rapidly. In the 1970s, only about 5% of Americans fell into this category. Today, that number exceeds 25%. Scholars have debated whether this change simply reflects a general decline in belief, or whether it signals something more complex. The research team wanted to explore the deeper forces at play: Why are people leaving institutional religion? What are they replacing it with? And how are their personal values shaping that process?

  • jaupsinluggies@feddit.uk
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    1 month ago

    Not really; one guy died, by his own choice, but came back to life two days later. A real “cult of human sacrifice” would require it as an ongoing practice and for the victims to stay dead.

    • sangriaferret@sh.itjust.works
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      1 month ago

      Jesus alone doesn’t make it a death cult. It’s a death cult because the whole religion is predicated on death. Dying is the entire point. Your entire life is a means to gain the rewards of dying and only then will you truly be happy.

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Just because there was only one sacrificial offering doesn’t mean jesus wasn’t a sacrificial offering.

      The whole thing about jesus being both fully god and fully man is that no “normal” human would ever be sinless- and therefore would be an inadequate sacrifice. Therefore god became man- that is, jesus- whose sole purpose was to be a “perfect” sacrifice.

      • not_fond_of_reddit@lemm.ee
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        1 month ago

        But isn’t the whole trinity thing God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit the same entity? So God sacrificed himself for himself… wouldn’t really call a two day nap for some eternal being a sacrifice either.

        • Sc00ter@lemmy.zip
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          1 month ago

          This was always my biggest struggle growing up in a catholic house. “He sacrificed himself to save everyone who came before and will come after.”

          Like, is that really that big of a deal? Shit if i was presented with the option of a much smaller number than infinity, idk say 1000, id sacrifice myself. AND i don’t know that I’m god or that my father is god and that ill be taken care of for all eternity.

          In all reality, that numbers way less than 1000 for strangers, and if you include anyone i know/care about, that number could be as low as 1.

          • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            He set ad and eve up, too. He meant for them to eat the dam fruit,

            All so he could LARP as the White Knight™️.