Jewish Scene
Survey: Fewer people believe in God
Yoav Friedman
Published: 28.08.12, 13:56
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
86 Talkbacks for this article
1. Atheism is trendy these days.
Henry from New York ,   Currently under the Tuscan Sun   (08.28.12)
Most people are idiots just following the latest fad. Considering the very idea of belief in a god as silly is kind of cool among some kids.
2. the world is waking up
david ,   Jerusalem   (08.28.12)
realizing religion is BS. It comes as no surprise at all, but is still interesting to see the link between (the lack of) education and religiosity.
3. "Light Unto the Nations" is now the heart of darkness
Steven Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (08.28.12)
The world sees this darkness every day, making them question their beliefs in the supernatural. "Light Unto the Nations, is...the universal designation of the Jewish People as a mentor for spiritual and moral guidance for the entire world."
4. Atheism is the new Jewish
deavman ,   Acco, Israel   (08.28.12)
5. The rise in Israel of people who ...
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (08.28.12)
define themselves as religious,that is what counts. The rest are details.
6. Still far too many take this seriously!
Mark ,   London, UK   (08.28.12)
7. the less education the more faith
iselin ,   Oslo, Norway   (08.28.12)
The well-educated realize that most religion is based on myth and superstition and they want substantial proof of any hypothesis. The less-educated do not question as much and are more likely to embrace irrational things that can't be proven and to rely on faith. Education teaches us to think for ourselves, to not swallow dogma whole - we are going in the right direction!
8. 2 david A different education ...
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (08.28.12)
is not lack of education Those whom are taught that the world was created by accident ,don t belief in G-D and are consequently not religious. The religious people don t believe that the human mind could be created by accident.They belief that ONLY G-D could be the author of the extremely sophisticated human brain and wonderful world. I agree with you,there is a link between education and religiosity.
9. Up and rising, thanks god for that!
tom ,   tel aviv   (08.28.12)
10. Thank G*d :)
Philos ,   Herzeliya   (08.28.12)
11. Religion has no concept of God
ex-frummie ,   Johannesburg S.A.   (08.28.12)
12. Very encourraging article.
Israeli 2   (08.28.12)
Judaism was never about religiousity. It was never about BELIEVING. It always is about KNOWING. So yeah...it is expected to see a drop in religiousity...and now get on with KNOWING the God of Israel.
13. The secular are taking over. Match result: Michael 1, ORA 0.
Michael ,   California, USA   (08.28.12)
Yes, like the rest of life on earth, human brain is the result of evolution. Evolution continues and a higher level human brain will come up. I am sure that this brain will not need religion at all. We must be diligent to protect our earth and not destroy ourselves before then.
14. #7 Iselin, You are making a very important point.
Michael ,   California, USA   (08.28.12)
Ignorance is the breading grounds for religion, for all religions. The level of education has increased tremendously in the last 150 - 200 years and with it agnosticism and atheism have also increased tremendously. It is great shame that Yeshiva studies are not valuable education because they don't cover modern subjects.
15. As a result
American Sabrah ,   Israel   (08.28.12)
There has been an increase of clinical depression,drug use,self-destructive behaviors, and psychological disorders among those people no doubt.
16. 7 Iselin I agree with your post...
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (08.28.12)
BUT,who are the well educated? I think it is open to dispute. Is it those who are taught that the world came through the big bang and men descend from apes...or is it those who belief,as Einstein admitted that the world and men were created by G-D? Highly reason recognise that are things which are beyond it. G-D is not perceived by reason but by the soul.
17. 4deavman You are wrong !
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (08.28.12)
People who have a Jewish soul ,which is the divine part in men,are deep inside them believers.
18. 9 tom WOW !
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (08.28.12)
19. #8. Education and Believing
jonatan ,   Argentina   (08.28.12)
There is a little misconception in your thinking. Education is not a belief, but a discovery and research of evidence. God is just a belief with no proof at all, and just simple coincidence. Let me ask you a question, if your mother was from India in which God would you believe ? You didn't even decided it, it was imposed to you by your parents.
20. Magog
Tim ,   California USA   (08.28.12)
Ezekiel 39 So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day forward. Israel will return to Yahweh. God keeps His promises.
21. Rabbis and God are a myth.
Melvyn ,   zichron Yaakov   (08.28.12)
I'm a detail Ora? ones when I didnt think for myself I was religious but when I decided to think for myself things began to change at this end. No more doing what the rabbis who think themselves as god say .......Think for yourself Ora, believe me its much more healthy.
22. Religion
Gregg ,   Haifa IL   (08.28.12)
An old way used in order to control people's mind. The world is finally waking up... Israel should educate its citizens to enlightment and freedom of minds. God is just a fantasy. A fable that used to be told to children to scare them. An imaginary friend
23. #2 david, amen to that!
yaya ,   sagi   (08.28.12)
24. Creed, or observance of the covenant?
Guy ,   KC, USA   (08.28.12)
The survey would be more useful if it defined religion prior to prompting respondents for answers. Arguably, the neo-Platonic, alien, Greek concerns for souls, transcendence, and afterlives were not grafted onto rabbinical Judaism until Prophets and Writings were compiled, making the Torah itself a legal covenant more concerned with proper conduct than "what's in it for me" issues of creed. (Please correct me if you disagree.) But the diaspora and societal changes drive a wedge between Hebrew ethnicity and Judaism, and creedal pollution from Philo's day onward have reshaped the notion of what religion means. The sad part is that most humans are 1. still not ready to cope with G-d's ineffability, and 2. can't even trouble themselves to follow kashrut or the written law. It would be better if people of Hebrew ethnicity refrained from calling themselves Jews unless they were capable of both. You're not a medical doctor just because you feel like one; you're a medical doctor because you swore the Hippocratic Oath, are board-certified as being evaluated, and so on.
25. Ora , 16
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (08.28.12)
I corrected you already more than once about Einstein . He did'nt believe in a god as you do . He did'nt believe in a god who punishes or rewards , as the god you believe in . I know that you have a bad memory , but try to put this in your head : Einstein believed in some "architect" of the world , as the freemassons do , very far from your god . I would not like to call you a liar , but sometimes i'm not far from it .
26. Not fast enough
Joshua ,   USA   (08.28.12)
Religion is the worst human invention ever! It is a cancer in the heart of all human society. Just imagine a world based on free thinking with no devine reason for hating those who do not subscribe to your own version of lunacy. JFC
27. #21 Melvyn, People like you give hope to Israel. Thank you.
Michael ,   California, USA   (08.28.12)
28. #24 Guy, Semantics can be anything.
Michael ,   California, USA   (08.28.12)
Whether one believes in g is what determines the difference. Your belief will make you chose the language you want, make you to choose your religion. Naturally, a Christian will "speak" a different language pertaining to religion than a Jew will. Don't you think my secular language is different from yours right now? It wouldn't make a speck of difference if Jews called themselves Jehovites or whatever else you want. Analyze your belief in what doesn't exist and then come back to post a smarter comment.
29. #2 david, I agree. Please read my posting here #14.
Michael ,   California, USA   (08.28.12)
30. HaSatan has control of the schools which turn the children
Rivkah   (08.28.12)
against God. 90% of people graduating from high school in America no longer believe in God. What is the answer since Satan has gotten God, Bibles, the Ten Commandments and morals thrown out of the schools? When the children come home from the Satan controlled public schools, parents and neighbors should read Bible story books to the children every day. 90% of the believers become so by the age of 10 years. After that only one in ten will come to saving faith. Remember that Yeshua of Nazareth healed ten lepers and only one returned to thank Him. That is a reflection of the small number (10%) who return to the Lord and are saved eternally. It is actually far fewer than one in 10, but that is the most one can expect of any group presented the Gospel. Christ was called Chiefest of 10,000. So to be Christ like means being greater than 9,999 others. Solomon said only one man in a thousand is worthy of the name, Man. To be worthy of the calling of Christ is to be one in 10,000. That means there are about 700,000 true believers on the planet or one in 10,000 people.
Next talkbacks
Back to article