Ask Americans what their religion is, and nearly 1 in 3 say this -- none. That’s according to the U.S. adults surveyed by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Mike Dulak grew up Catholic in Southern California, but by his teen years, he began skipping Mass and driving straight to the shore to play guitar, watch the waves and enjoy the beauty of the morning. “And it felt more spiritual than any time I set foot in a church,” he recalled.

Nothing has changed that view in the ensuing decades.

“Most religions are there to control people and get money from them,” said Dulak, now 76, of Rocheport, Missouri. He also cited sex abuse scandals in Catholic and Southern Baptist churches. “I can’t buy into that,” he said.

  • kicksystem@lemmy.world
    21·
    9 months ago

    I couldn’t agree more with the statement made. People who believe in fairy tales can’t be fully trusted.

    • Hadriscus@lemm.ee
      1·
      9 months ago

      Well, that’s very short-sighted and factually incorrect. I wish you meet more people and your outlook changes

      • kicksystem@lemmy.world
        1·
        9 months ago

        I think it is somewhat hard to change my outlook at this point. My reasoning is that truly devout religious people have been infected with a mind virus. They may be nice people or pretend to be nice people, but there is also the mind virus, which is ultimately not trust worthy. In general, if hard decisions need to be made by a third party that potentially have a big impact on my life I’d not fully trust a religious person.

        In daily life I am very friendly with a bunch of religious people, but I mistrust the religious part of them.