Don't they now just stroll around the city centre? Surely after a few years they start losing faith in how nigh the end is and start considering Jesus is a bit of a flake.
What I find interesting is that people like this don't lose faith - in fact the more fantastic or ridiculous something is to comprehend, the more it seems to galvanise their faith in it. Even in the face of scientific advancement, which explains a lot about human life and the universe that we never previously knew, they dig in even harder to their beliefs and do not seem shifted by it. That's not "faith" to me, it's "brainwashing". And what is even more remarkable is that it's nothing to do with their level of intelligence, quite often these people are educated enough to question what they've been taught - but they dismiss anything that doesn't fit with their idea that some being called "God" created the universe and everything in it.
I do think though that the advancement of science and social changes throughout society have eroded the credibility of religion for others. I came from what I'd describe as a "God-fearing" family. They believed in God and often used it as a guiding reference throughout their lives. In many ways I don't think there's much wrong with that. If people get comfort or abide to good moral principles because of fear of being "judged" by some almighty presence watching over them, then that's not necessarily a bad thing. But when it interferes in their lives to an extent that they are completely ruled by it and those beliefs impact negatively on others, then that's where I have an issue with it.
I also know quite a few folks that say they don't really believe in God - and aren't religious - but they'll turn up at a religious service occasionally, say the prayers and sing the hymns, just to "put an appearance in" - so that their membership is still intact, if, come the final day, it turns out there is a God, because they don't want to be disadvantaged by it by being in the "non-believers" club. I think that's worse than being a religious zealot or an agnostic. It's wanting to have your cake and eat it!
I went to Sunday School, as did most kids of my generation. I've been to Church, Chapel, Salvation Army, Pentecostal Church, Spiritualist Church and all sorts of places to receive different takes on Christianity. I've come to the conclusion that the Bible is largely a work of fiction, but has some use in setting a moral code for people to live to - and therefore I feel it is of value. I don't believe in God. I think the words "God" and "Devil" are derived from "good" and "evil" and that what the Bible and other scriptures are instructing us to do is to lead a "good" life and not an "evil" one. And I'm totally subscribed to that idea.
And if I've got this all wrong, and there is a God after all, then I shouldn't need to fear the consequences of not believing in him (or her, or whatever gender God is), as long as I've led a decent life. Which is what I try to do.
