From: Wim Nusselder (wim.nusselder@antenna.nl)
Date: Tue May 18 2004 - 07:28:46 BST
Dear Platt,
You wrote 15 May 2004 12:04:31 -0400:
'What do you think the chances are that those who call themselves spiritual
take the bible literally? I would say none. Of the 50 percent of Americans
who call themselves religious, only the fundamentalist sects take the bible
literally and they are definitely in the minority. So will "proof" may too
strong, such statistics cast extreme doubt on your 59 percent claim.'
May I remind you that 59% American believers in literal truth of Revelations
was not MY claim, but one I would prefer NOT to believe? Also that my
concern is not about taking literally information that has no practical
consequences now but only symbolic ones (like the resurrection of a dead
human some 1972 years ago). I am concerned about people applauding and
pushing for a foreign policy that destabilizing effects elsewhere for
irrational reasons (i.e. not global public interest of even national
self-interest).
'Only' 50% of Americans calling themselves religious does cast doubt on the
59% claim, but doesn't silence my concern. Do you agree that the strength of
the 'manifest destiny' idea in your culture and the popularity of 'end time'
thinking even among non-fundamentalists (as suggested by David B. 12 May
2004 21:44:35 -0600 and 15 May 2004 20:10:37 -0600) makes my concern more
serious?
You continued:
'Do you have any other statistics about religion either of the Netherlands
or Europe? According to the last American census, the breakdown of religious
affiliation by percentage is: Protestant 53, Catholic 28, Jewish 2, Other 8
and None 9. What are the comparable percentages in Europe?'
This census at least shows that 'being religious' can mean different things.
This would mean that 91% of the Americans is religious...
According to a graph shown in the Enlargement issue of my newspaper (1 May,
when the European Union grew from 15 to 25 member states) both the total
percentages for religious affiliation and their composition differ wildly
among these 25 countries: from some 30% religious affiliation in Czechia to
nearly 100% in Greece, Spain, Cyprus, Hungary and Malta. In 17 out of the 25
countries one church clearly dominates (13 times the Roman Catholic one), in
others like Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Latvia there is much
more diversity.
I found a website for you where you can look up and find references to a lot
of comparable (and contradictory) statistics on religion worldwide:
http://religionstatistics.bravehost.com/statofrel1.htm . I haven't studied
it yet for relevance for my concern.
I don't know the 'Left Behind' series. That information was provided by
David B.. Maybe he can comment on your statement that it doesn't support the
59% claim and my doubt whether it is relevant for my concern.
With friendly greetings,
Wim
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archives:
Aug '98 - Oct '02 - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
Nov '02 Onward - http://www.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/summary.html
MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Tue May 18 2004 - 07:31:16 BST