From 'cafeteria Catholics' to New Age nones, religion is getting very personal.

[guillaumeb]

From the article:

Do you believe astrology governs your love life? Do you think some people have extraordinary powers of perception that allow them to predict the future? Do you hold that some items – such as crystals – possess special spiritual energy? Do you believe in the concept of past lives?
If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, you’re far from alone. According to an October Pew Research Center poll, about 62 percent of Americans believe in at least one of four beliefs the poll classifies as “New Age.”

To read more:

https://religionnews.com/2019/01/02/from-cafeteria-catholics-to-new-age-nones-religion-is-getting-very-personal/

[Major Nikon]

1. So atheists are the least likely to believe rocks have magical powers

Good to know.

[MineralMan]

2. No to all four.

Still, crystalline minerals were my business for several years. They had magical powers to get people all over the world to send me money for them. Collectors.

[guillaumeb]

3. That does sound magical.

In our area, when there are estate sales that have various types of rocks, there is generally a line to look at the various specimens.

[MineralMan]

4. Mineralogy is fascinating.

Crystal magic is utter nonsense. Gullible people can be ruled by all sorts of hocus pocus. Guillaumeb, or course, is immune to such foolishness, right?

[trotsky]

5. Are any of those Christian beliefs?

Does believing in them make someone a non-Christian?

A whole lot of Christians who would argue that it does - including the leader of the largest Christian church in the world.

What does that say, gil? Compared to what you THINK you're trying to say.

[Major Nikon]

6. According to the survey, 47% of Catholics believe in spirit energy contained in objects

It would seem to present something of a credibility issue when you promote the idea of talking bushes on one hand and try to discredit the idea of magic rocks on the other.

[guillaumeb]

7. Spirit energy can easily be seen as metaphor for transubstantiation.

And many in the RCC believe that certain relics contain spiritual energy.

[trotsky]

8. The leader of the RCC would reject such an assertion.

You're making shit up again.

[Major Nikon]

10. That's actually a talking point Martin Luther used to discredit Catholicism

He essentially accused them of idolatry.

[Major Nikon]

9. Or not

https://www.catholic.com/tract/relics

[MineralMan]

11. Utter nonsense!

The stuff you mentioned is all condemned by the church as heretical. Crystal vibrations? Superstitious bullshit, with no basis in fact. Of course so are the official teachings, too. Every last one of them...

[Voltaire2]

12. Nope, transubstantiation is a specific

instance of spirit energy. But we all agree “spirit energy” in all instances is utter bullshit right?