Decline in Southern Baptist Membership

Membership in the Southern Baptist church is declining. Why?

The number of people baptized in Southern Baptist churches fell for the third straight year in 2007 to the denomination's lowest level since 1987, and membership dipped as well.

The president of the Southern Baptist Convention blamed the decline in part on a perception that its followers are "mean-spirited, hurtful and angry."

Perception? It's not perception. It's the truth. He goes on to say:

"All Southern Baptists should recommit to a life of loving people and ministering to people without strings attached so people will be more open to hearing the Gospel message."

That would be wonderful. If people want to live their lives according to the teachings of Jesus--and if they get joy from it, yay for them. It's nice. I myself don't believe, but I am never bothered when people talk about Jesus to me. Prosletyze to me all you want! I'll listen. But talk to me about love, strength, acceptance. Show me that you believe in the fullness of life and humanity. I'll listen. I doubt I'll be converted, but I'll listen. But you bring up Leviticus reasons why gay people are condemned--even if they are faithful Christians, or you try to tell me that liberals are the reason for 9/11, I'll put you back into the category of followers of the "Christianity of Hatefulness". Those who join other Christians of Hatefulness so they can wallow in the hatred against gays, liberals, Democrats, Mexicans, unions, welfare recipients, bums, the mentally ill, etc.

Until the Southern Baptists decide that the salvation of souls is not a political activity, fuck them. They, of course, have every right to spread their message by mixing it with a political vitriol that appeals to the embittered Southern white population--says so in the First Amendment. But it's a choice which demeans their own faith, demeans all religion, demeans humanity. It's good that the leadership recognizes their failing.

Still, I have to admit, I have no idea what goes on the mind of an highly religious person. How? How can someone believe in the Rapture? How can Americans who went to school and understand the world think that one day, all of a sudden, the faithful will all disappear all at once leaving only the atheists, mormons, muslims, jews, catholics, orthodox, hindus, etc? I mean, I literally don't have even the slightest clue how a mentally healthy human being in an industrialized and educated society can believe in the Rapture. I can understand how they believe life begins at conception. But the Rapture? So I'll never understand the religious people. Maybe that's why they don't (or can't) see that they are using hatred rather than love to spread the Gospel.