What is the future of Religion?

[Galmat]

What's in store for the future of religion? Religion has been with humanity for a long time. Even back in ancient times like the Stone Age and Neolithic era, people had some form of religion, although it was less organized than what we see today. But in recent times, especially in Western countries, it seems that religion's influence is declining. More and more people around the world are starting to have doubts about organized religion and the idea of a god in general.

This leads us to wonder: What will religion look like in the future? Will it become something forgotten, a relic of the past? Or will it change and adapt to meet the spiritual needs of modern people? I have my own thoughts on what might happen. First, I think the major religions will decline significantly in the coming years, at least in places like the United States and other Western countries.

Second, I believe that a growing number of people who don't associate with any religion, often referred to as "nones," will become a powerful force in the future. We're already seeing more people in the United States identifying as "nones," and this trend might continue. It's important to note that these "nones" are a diverse group. Some are atheists or agnostics, while others have more unconventional and self-guided spiritual beliefs.

I also think there might emerge a new kind of faith in the future, one that doesn't necessarily believe in a God (or is nontheistic and isn't against the existence of God, but doesn't focus on God.) but focuses on making a positive impact on society. As someone who doesn't follow any religion myself, I crave a sense of community that doesn't involve either A) a traditional faith that I find hard to believe in or B) a shady group or scam. I wonder if others feel the same way, wanting a community that provides a kind of comfort that science can't, but struggling to find options that fit the modern world or are personal enough to believe in.

[Floofybit]

Atheism and agnosticism will almost indefinitely rise, but just because you stop believing in something, it doesn't mean it will stop being true.

[Galmat]

Atheism and agnosticism will almost indefinitely rise, but just because you stop believing in something, it doesn't mean it will stop being true.

I think out of all the alternatives, I think agnosticism is the most logical and reasonable belief in the modern era. To declare that there is no God is akin to the position of declaring there is a God. However, I think there will be many who subscribe to spiritual and religious beliefs, but not believe them wholeheartedly. Religion will be more along the lines of " I think there might be a God, but I'm not 100% certain."

[Vikanias]

[Galmat]

([url=https://i.ibb.co/b3d2L3J/4957-B52-B-39-E3-4024-A361-D454-AF811-A1-B.jpg]Image)[/url]

All jokes aside, I heard Orthodox Christianity is gaining some numbers. I think the beliefs of the religious are getting more extreme.

[Tangatarehua]

In the western world it increasingly looks like reason, rationality, logic and science are on the way out, which is great news for people who are into religion. Ultimately, whichever religion can most violently suppress its critics and brainwash society will dominate in the future - as has historically always been the case.

[Galmat]

In the western world it increasingly looks like reason, rationality, logic and science are on the way out, which is great news for people who are into religion. Ultimately, whichever religion can most violently suppress its critics and brainwash society will dominate in the future - as has historically always been the case.

Could you elaborate on that? I feel like the opposite trend is occurring outside of religious circles. If anything, I think the most successful religions in the future will provide hope for followers, have a contagious message, be tolerant of other beliefs and people, have a central belief, and is focused on tangible results (social work and change).

[Stellar Colonies]

Religions which can adapt to the changing world will remain relevant, ones that can't will not, and new faiths inherently borne from the current world will rise. It is possible that some social movements and beliefs we wouldn't call 'religion' currently could develop into genuine ones with time.

The nature of it may change, but religion itself will continue.

[Cessarea]

I've probably said it in the past, so I'll be brief:

The tendency of an organised religion that believes in a creator is to relegate that deity into being a minimal god. As science can rationalise how things came to be more effectively, belief will slowly limit itself to how whatever created the universe was created. Then they can say it was a god because no amount of science can disprove that.

This is a historical thing with religions: they deal with what the general public has no knowledge on, and as that knowledge expands they either die or change their message to account for scientific progress.

I'm a soft anti-theist: I don't actively fight against religion, but I think it would be for the best if we allowed religion to phase out and fade away eventually. I will advocate for atheism by dismantling arguments against it, but that is the most I'll do, as it is the only thing I can do so as to not infringe upon the liberties and personal beliefs of others.

[Honeydewistania]

In the western world it increasingly looks like reason, rationality, logic and science are on the way out, which is great news for people who are into religion. Ultimately, whichever religion can most violently suppress its critics and brainwash society will dominate in the future - as has historically always been the case.

Could you elaborate on that? I feel like the opposite trend is occurring outside of religious circles. If anything, I think the most successful religions in the future will provide hope for followers, have a contagious message, be tolerant of other beliefs and people, have a central belief, and is focused on tangible results (social work and change).

I mean, just look at the cult of personalities surrounding people like Tate or Trump. People aren't interested in hope, tolerance, and social work. They just buy into whatever crap they've been spoonfed, like they have since the dawn of organised religions.

[Galmat]

I've probably said it in the past, so I'll be brief:

The tendency of an organised religion that believes in a creator is to relegate that deity into being a minimal god. As science can rationalise how things came to be more effectively, belief will slowly limit itself to how whatever created the universe was created. Then they can say it was a god because no amount of science can disprove that.

This is a historical thing with religions: they deal with what the general public has no knowledge on, and as that knowledge expands they either die or change their message to account for scientific progress.

I'm a soft anti-theist: I don't actively fight against religion, but I think it would be for the best if we allowed religion to phase out and fade away eventually. I will advocate for atheism by dismantling arguments against it, but that is the most I'll do, as it is the only thing I can do so as to not infringe upon the liberties and personal beliefs of others.

On one hand, I see your point, traditional forms of religion definitely deal with things that are in this grey area of how it can be provable. But I don't think an atheistic world is any better. The only form of belief which is untouched by extreme claims of belief (or lack thereof) is agnosticism. I myself agree with the ideas of Agnostic Theism, that I believe there to be a god (a higher entity/ sum of everything. A great mind composed of smaller minds if you will) but I know it is not provable. I think spiritual institutions that focus less on pseudoscience and more on just general self-improvement, community, and hope for the future are beneficial and need to be maintained and preserved. If by the phasing out of religion, you mean the elimination of all supernatural beliefs and groups who hold certain supernatural beliefs, I would have to respectfully disagree, If you mean strict dogmatic religions like Christianity or Islam, I agree,

[Jebtopia]

This is a broad question, which can be approached by a number of avenues

1) The countries whose populations are reproducing at the highest rate, and so whose populations will inherit the world, are overwhelmingly religious and with high rates of regular congregational attendance

In the western world it increasingly looks like reason, rationality, logic and science are on the way out, which is great news for people who are into religion. Ultimately, whichever religion can most violently suppress its critics and brainwash society will dominate in the future - as has historically always been the case.

You are correct, Western nations seems to be eschewing science, reason, and pragmatism in favor of race-denialism, political witch-hunting, and tribalism. Not only are the IQ averages of Western nations declining (though still above the world average), their fertility rates are also well below replacement rate (2.0 or 2.1 children per woman, whereas the European average is 1.5), as are those of the other cluster of high-IQ nations in East Asia, who are also less religious than average.

Do these points taken together mean that logic is dead and that billions of religious fanatics will inherit the world - but because of low group average intelligence will not be able to maintain modern civilization or make the scientific advancements necessary to stop climate change and achieve renewable production and energy generation? In general, yes

[Jewish Partisan Division]

It will probably become less organized and more individualistic as a lot of people especially in the west don't have to time or care enough to participate in organized religion.

[Galmat]

Could you elaborate on that? I feel like the opposite trend is occurring outside of religious circles. If anything, I think the most successful religions in the future will provide hope for followers, have a contagious message, be tolerant of other beliefs and people, have a central belief, and is focused on tangible results (social work and change).

I mean, just look at the cult of personalities surrounding people like Tate or Trump. People aren't interested in hope, tolerance, and social work. They just buy into whatever crap they've been spoonfed, like they have since the dawn of organised religions.

Those are a radicalized minority that gains the most publicity. Which is trendier, a cult of personality worshipping a man with a tainted reputation (and even causing an insurrection), or a spiritual group that believes in helping and improving the community? The statistics say people are leaving traditional religion because of abuse, because of rigid strict dogma, and because intolerance. References;
https://www.apa.org/pubs/highlights/spotlight/issue-255#:~:text=About%20half%20of%20the%20sample%20%2851.8%25%29%20reported%20leaving,the%20sexual%20abuse%20scandals%20in%20the%20Catholic%20Church.

https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/

[Galmat]

This is a broad question, which can be approached by a number of avenues

1) The countries whose populations are reproducing at the highest rate, and so whose populations will inherit the world, are overwhelmingly religious and with high rates of regular congregational attendance

(Image)

(Image)

In the western world it increasingly looks like reason, rationality, logic and science are on the way out, which is great news for people who are into religion. Ultimately, whichever religion can most violently suppress its critics and brainwash society will dominate in the future - as has historically always been the case.

You are correct, Western nations seems to be eschewing science, reason, and pragmatism in favor of race-denialism, political witch-hunting, and tribalism. Not only are the IQ averages of Western nations declining (though still above the world average), their fertility rates are also well below replacement rate (2.0 or 2.1 children per woman, whereas the European average is 1.5), as are those of the other cluster of high-IQ nations in East Asia, who are also less religious than average.

Do these points taken together mean that logic is dead and that billions of religious fanatics will inherit the world - but because of low group average intelligence will not be able to maintain modern civilization or make the scientific advancements necessary to stop climate change and achieve renewable production and energy generation? In general, yes

I agree with your points except on IQ, how accurate is IQ truly at measuring intelligence?

[Cessarea]

-snip-

Ah yes, IQ and fertility rates... Is there anything else to expect from good ol' Jeb?

[Existential Cats]

Religion's not going anywhere. Here are Pew's projections for the next three decades.

[Galmat]

It will probably become less organized and more individualistic as a lot of people especially in the west don't have to time or care enough to participate in organized religion.

I agree, if any new major religion is founded, it will probably work more like a charity organization rather than a typical church.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Religion is a mainstay. Although I’m sure less people will rely on it as time goes by, it’s not going anywhere.

[Galmat]

Religion's not going anywhere. Here are Pew's projections for the next three decades.

Don't unforeseen events impact religious affiliations? I remember reading from Pew that church attendance decreased substantially during the pandemic and numbers stayed down.

[Parmistan]

All our current religions will keep getting sleek and streamlined until there's only like six of them total

[Emotional Support Crocodile]

Religion will be around for as long as people indoctrinate young children with it, before they are old enough to realise it isn't true.

[Narseau]

Idealisms and ideologies have already replaced religion to a large extent. Liberalism, fascism, communism, and the like are all basically religions in a lot of ways. They have ideas that one cannot really substantiate like "universal human brotherhood," "the nation," "the people," "the will of the people" and the like. They have their priests (journalists, academics) who make moralistic value judgements on what is "good" or "bad" (Why does John Rawls know anything at all about "justice"? Anyone...?) People act in the name of these ideas right now and will continue to. Wars in the name of these ideas have killed more than religious wars.

[Existential Cats]

Religion's not going anywhere. Here are Pew's projections for the next three decades.

Don't unforeseen events impact religious affiliations? I remember reading from Pew that church attendance decreased substantially during the pandemic and numbers stayed down.

Of course, these are just the projections. But for the matter, there could be unforeseen events that bolster religiosity.

Pew is characterizing the decline not as substantial but as small but noticeable, so it still seems in line with the prediction.

[The Archregimancy]

All jokes aside, I heard Orthodox Christianity is gaining some numbers. I think the beliefs of the religious are getting more extreme.

The construction of these two sentences implies that you think that Orthodox Christianity can be classified as 'more extreme'.

If that was your intent, I'm genuinely curious how you think that Orthodoxy can be described as 'more extreme' within the context of this thread, especially compared to other flavours of Christianity.