So if all those reasons you gave failed to work on you why do you think they worked on others?

 

I'm not sure, maybe lack of parental guidance or people who tend to just follow others thinking and believing false beliefs.

 

The devil is a great magician.

I think churches today have gotten away from teaching the Bible. There is a new style of preaching where the focus is "feel good" sermons and not concrete Biblically based sermons.

Simply, yes. Sad.

I would ask the question: Was there a time when the Bible held tremendous sway on the American Society?

 

Was it regional? National? A particular time?

 

I almost have to say with honesty that the influence of scripture is as it has always been. Influential in the areas people want it to influence and ignored in the areas people want the Bible to "stay out of."

^ I guess it depends on how one would define "tremendous sway."

 

Take the New England Primer, for example. I can't imagine some of its content being replicated in today's educational system (i.e. teaching the alphabet by using Biblical stories/imagery). That text was heavily used during America's founding years. I have a hard time seeing something like that being used today. It would be seen as a violation of separation of church & state.

 

But I feel the Bible is less influential in the lives of people in general, and I'm speaking specifically here of those who identify themselves as Christians. A lot of folks I know seem more in tune with the words of the Sean Hannity types than they are the apostle Paul types. Kind of what jolmstead said earlier in this thread.

State of the Bible 2012 | Fox News

I posted this article last year. There was one response from Alabama Larry. To summarize the article: on average you can find 5 bibles in any Christian home, we love the Bible, we debate the Bible...we just don't read the Bible. AL's response-Let's get to reading! So in answer to the question no I don't think the Bible is losing its influence in America. I think America has lost interest in reading the Bible. AL had it right!

^ I guess it depends on how one would define "tremendous sway."

 

Take the New England Primer, for example. I can't imagine some of its content being replicated in today's educational system (i.e. teaching the alphabet by using Biblical stories/imagery). That text was heavily used during America's founding years. I have a hard time seeing something like that being used today. It would be seen as a violation of separation of church & state.

 

But I feel the Bible is less influential in the lives of people in general, and I'm speaking specifically here of those who identify themselves as Christians. A lot of folks I know seem more in tune with the words of the Sean Hannity types than they are the apostle Paul types. Kind of what jolmstead said earlier in this thread.

 

I hear what you are saying. But the people of the New England Primer gave us the Pequot Wars didn't they? And the Salem Witch Trials?

 

I think you get where I'm going with this. It's always been selective in what ways the Bible swayed society.

The Bible influences individuals, not the society. Individuals influence society. Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. People read it. People can be "saved" as a result of reading it and believing what it says about Jesus. It takes the people who read it as a whole group to want to apply its principles to living and to society. Most agree that the Bible has good principles that are good for society (check history of starting of this country). When people totally stop reading the Bible or stop using it as a basis for living their life, the Bible stops having an ultimate influence on America. Jesus did not want us to keep His Word to ourselves. Christians must be about reading it, living it, and sharing it. Leave any of those steps out and somebody has the right to accuse us of NOT being a Christian.

I hear what you are saying. But the people of the New England Primer gave us the Pequot Wars didn't they? And the Salem Witch Trials?

 

I think you get where I'm going with this. It's always been selective in what ways the Bible swayed society.

 

True on the people behind the Primer, but I was speaking to the textbook itself & not the people who brought it. Curriculum such as that would not be considered today.

The Bible influences individuals, not the society. Individuals influence society. Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. People read it. People can be "saved" as a result of reading it and believing what it says about Jesus. It takes the people who read it as a whole group to want to apply its principles to living and to society. Most agree that the Bible has good principles that are good for society (check history of starting of this country). When people totally stop reading the Bible or stop using it as a basis for living their life, the Bible stops having an ultimate influence on America. Jesus did not want us to keep His Word to ourselves. Christians must be about reading it, living it, and sharing it. Leave any of those steps out and somebody has the right to accuse us of NOT being a Christian.

 

That goes back to my original statement. Is there a time when the Bible had a great influence on America so that we could say it was "losing its influence" today?

Yes and it has for quite some time now.

Yes and in part due to our chicken crap governments inability to stand up to atheist who discriminate against Christians and our Government allows them to take Christian freedoms away at will. Plus ACLU scaring the ---- out of people threating to sue if God is mentioned. Our military is even being forced to exclude religion in cases.

 

But all praise might Mohammed and allow everyone to worship that false religion.

 

It's a false religion because you say it is?

 

The United States is not a Christian nation, and never has been.

Yes and it has for quite some time now.

 

Can you be a little more specific. When and where in your estimation and what did America look like when it was a greater influence on our society.

It's a false religion because you say it is?

 

The United States is not a Christian nation, and never has been.

 

I would say we've never been a "theocracy."

Islam is a false religion, like it or not and ask any Christian and they will say the same.