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It's the 21st century for Christ's sake, why would anyone in the developed world be religious?
The more basic question is what itch does religion scratch, however imperfectly? It is just one way to ease existential angst, the fear of death, dissolution, insignificance and alienation. Religion's relevance and potency in such projects is getting more and more diluted in the 21st century but it is far from marginalized or irrelevant, at least for many personality types, just yet.
People who really, really want and need to believe things that they find comforting will be highly resistant to any facts, evidence or argument that contradicts their beliefs. This is not just true of religious beliefs. Studies show that once an opinion has been formed, even a snap judgment, many people cling to it and ignore all sorts of data pointing in the opposite direction. Because they have a lot more trust in snap judgments than in often counterintuitive facts.
This didn't go away just because the calendar ticked over into a new century.
We are at the stage now in western democratic republics where we are just getting the more conservative religious and political types to tolerate a bit of discomfort and uncertainty and the presence of people with different beliefs. Step one is for them to accept, like it or not, that the old regime of their treasured beliefs never being questioned or argued against, is over forever, as is their special status of never having to make a lick of sense. Step two is for them to accept, despite it not being intuitive, that the existence of dissent or lack of mindlessly embracing their ideas does not constitute an existential threat. Step three, that letting the Other be as s/he is, doesn't constitute "condoning" or "agreeing" with things you don't believe, it is simple humanity. Step four, converts are to be won by actual persuasion rather than coercion. Step five, understanding what "actual persuasion" consists of. Step six, introspection about what you actually believe and how to make one's beliefs compelling while remaining both humane and intellectually honest.
Rome wasn't built in a day but if you look at the sweep of human history from say 1516 to 2016, I'd say we are making steady progress.
We are at the stage now in western democratic republics where we are just getting the more conservative religious and political types to tolerate a bit of discomfort and uncertainty and the presence of people with different beliefs. Step one is for them to accept, like it or not, that the old regime of their treasured beliefs never being questioned or argued against, is over forever, as is their special status of never having to make a lick of sense. Step two is for them to accept, despite it not being intuitive, that the existence of dissent or lack of mindlessly embracing their ideas does not constitute an existential threat. Step three, that letting the Other be as s/he is, doesn't constitute "condoning" or "agreeing" with things you don't believe, it is simple humanity. Step four, converts are to be won by actual persuasion rather than coercion. Step five, understanding what "actual persuasion" consists of. Step six, introspection about what you actually believe and how to make one's beliefs compelling while remaining both humane and intellectually honest.
Rome wasn't built in a day but if you look at the sweep of human history from say 1516 to 2016, I'd say we are making steady progress.
what about... serious and complete religious devotees not "spending" their time monkeying around (I suppose, unless instructed to via Devine inspiration)?
It's the 21st century for Christ's sake, why would anyone in the developed world be religious?
we are social animals with emotions. Also, we need some type a validation and hanging around like minded people offers that. I don't see a problem with a group of people expressing their feeling of gratitude or offering hope to others either. False hope can bring real strength, I cannot dismiss that observation. Its emergence.
Now, why would anybody be part of a literal religion that has the bible idol? That befuddles me. To be honest, tht aint hard to do tho.
Re: 'Europe is rejecting religion but still gives it too much credit.......As soon as the millions going in to peddling Biblecrap to other countries, then they will start to wake up.'
You know I'd say that there are European countries notably in Eastern Europe who are going the 'other way' relative to Britain and the Nordic areas. That's in response to the perceived Islamist threat. Religion tied up with nationalism is the hot thing now. Non belief has a way yo go there for the foreseeable future.
And as for those 'evangelists' I have to figure there's been a dropoff considering the state of society in those areas where they go hunting. If they do go boy they've thrown rationality to the winds. It's rough out there in the 'religious world. Pretty soon boxing with clerics and evangelists signing up will be the new prep!
religion was invented to control the ignorant masses, these days people are more educated and can think for themselves, church congregations are shrinking, or have already shrunk, to an all time low, now people only go to church for a wedding or a christening and even that is only "a show for the neighbours"!!
Re: 'Rome wasn't built in a day but if you look at the sweep of human history from say 1516 to 2016, I'd say we are making steady progress'
And I'd just suggest that progression is part and parcel of experiencing the waves and troughs of history as we bob around trying gloriously and energetically in trying to make sense of both worlds we inhabit which is the exterior and interior. Where this goes is anyone's guess.
This is all a long work in progress.
For myself, the only thing I fear is not non-belief per se but the responses to it. From a religious point of view it appears to me the flirtation with non-belief has not been responded to in any forceful way considering some changes in acceptance. It's like business as usual. But indeed if non-belief makes great inroads to such an extent that the 'last' becomes 'first' then the battle commences. It will be an interesting battle for sure!
Britain is very much a secular country these days as far as the white population is concerned, most would say they havent got the time to bother to go to church, that's pretty much their argument for anything these days....too busy.
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To be honest, tht aint hard to do tho.
