Secular great awakening?

Something I've observed, and which seems to be backed by polls, is what you might call a "Secular Great Awakening" - a larger and larger segment of the population seem to be identifying themselves as nonChristian in the west, juxtaposing the rise of fundamentalism amoing those who still identify themselves as religious.

This is happening at the grass roots level, with no revivals, and no charismatic leaders.

Thoughts on that?

***I saw a poll a while ago (which I'll have to dig up) in which the majority of religious Americans believed their religion was not the only valid one, and that other faiths are also legitimate paths to heaven/salvation/whatever. Even though these were not irreligious, secular people, it stunned me that the majority of Americans are now open to the concept of more than one religion being valid, including non-Christian belief systems like Judaism, Buddhism, and Islam. ***

This isn't "secular'...it's simply a dropping of the arrogance of organized religions. More a testiment to deeper thought, and a dropping of believing only what is served on Sundays...leaving the blinders at the side of the road, and seeing that there is more to behold, than just what is in front of a person.

p

Europe is already very secular, when compared to the US. But I believe in the next 30 or so years, the US will become as secular as Europe, or very close. It's already being reflected in several social, cultural and political trends.

Even among religious Americans, there are indications of secular views. I saw a poll a while ago (which I'll have to dig up) in which the majority of religious Americans believed their religion was not the only valid one, and that other faiths are also legitimate paths to heaven/salvation/whatever. Even though these were not irreligious, secular people, it stunned me that the majority of Americans are now open to the concept of more than one religion being valid, including non-Christian belief systems like Judaism, Buddhism, and Islam.

phrannie, a society that is more tolerant of nonreligious ideas *is* more secular, because it makes it easier for nonbelievers to identify themselves as such, and also causes many marginal believers to question that belief.

If questioning and thinking were good for religion, faith would not be idolized as it is.

***Secular: adjective 1. of or pertaining to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred; temporal: secular interests.***

That is the definition of "secular"...the key word being "NOT" regarded as religious, spitual, or sacred.

And this is quoted from religionisgood...

***majority of religious Americans believed their religion was not the only valid one, and that other faiths are also legitimate paths to heaven/salvation/whatever.***

Key words "RELIGIOUS Americans not seeing their own RELIGION..."

p

OK, I guess I need to clarify what I meant. The majority of Americans are still religious, yes. But there is a trend toward a more secular approach to issues in the US right now, including toward religion itself. A secular approach to religion means you are neutral; you neither support nor oppose any one religious or irreligious view. I think that moving from an exclusive attitude toward other religions, to a non-exclusive attitude, reflects an openness to other belief systems and views overall. And this is a trend toward a more secular society similar to what exists in Europe right now. If Americans don't favor their own religion over that of another when it comes to true belief, that's very telling.

This is the original poll I was looking for.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/23/ST2008062300818.html

The article talks about the poll, and if you click on "Pew Religion Survey" it has some other numbers, including a very interesting poll on how often Americans attend religious services. Here is a link to the Pew Forum website, which has quite a few studies on religion in the US and other countries, including polls.

http://religions.pewforum.org/

One can still have religious belief and still be considered secular in their social and political beliefs, meaning that they do not expect that their religious beliefs, or anyone elses, will have any influence over political and social issues. When talking about a secular society, that is what is meant. Sure their are those who believe, but keep that belief to themselves and their church and don't proselytize to others.

It is inevitable with the spread of education and the advancements of science. Also once people become free to discuss religion without fear of torture or death the truth becomes easier to establish. Only extensive brainwashing during youth, and I include the unintentional brainwashing of growing up completely surrounded by unquestioningly religious adults and contemporaries, or emotional stress which leaves people feeling inadequate and desperately looking for support, can perpetuate the strange superstition of religion.
Once people have broken free of it and look at religion from the "outside" most religious beliefs become obviously,hysterically, ridiculous. Leogee