Taking a wider view, it's clear that different cultures at different times invent whatever gods they want and need. It's only a matter of time until Christianity, Islam, etc. will be gone, and there'll be newer & better things for the True Believers to worship. The biggest laugh I get with religion are the 4.4 million believers in a very recent religion started by L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction writer. So, there's a great way to become a millionaire. Make up a great new religion and people will put money in your plate.
You're welcome.
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Many Christian leaders are saying Christianity is doomed without a rapid reform of the way it is taught. Unfortunately for Christianity rapid reform has never been it's strong suit. A further complication is that Christianity is only currently growing among less sophisticated cultures. This has created a conundrum for religious leaders who don't want to lose the new converts, yet are aware that a more sophisticated message is necessary in order to assure long term survival.
Seminarian
Level 7
Apr 9, 2020
1
I've noticed that I rarely find a "Christian" who lives a Christ-like life. But more of my Buddhist friends do it quite nicely.
There is a song by Cake. We are building a religion"
Janiesuper
Level 6
Apr 8, 2020
1
...which apparently can be a good way to start a business. (But I couldn't do it.)
The older I get, the more I realize that principles are priceless. I'd never even consider being a charlatan for my own profit.
Freespirit64
Level 8
Apr 8, 2020
2
I think the real religion of the last 60 years is greed and consumerism, and perhaps will ultimately prove infinitely more dangerous to mankind than any of the others.
Marionville
Level 10
Apr 8, 2020
3
We're watching that and corporation monopolies destroying America right now....
@Freespirit64 All around the developed world I’m afraid...not confined to America,
The god of mammon has always been around, perhaps the only god there has ever been, just wearing different masks and going by different names. Like all gods, mammon is a human construct.
I've already moved on and now pray to Schroedinger's Cat, he's always there for me, maybe, but I dare not check...
prometheus
Level 7
Apr 8, 2020
1
I'm confident that what will happen with some or all of these religions is that overtime they will change and evolve into completely different and unrecognizable religions, similar to how Christianity developed out of Judaism, etc.
AHWalter1989
Level 5
Apr 7, 2020
1
Religions will eventually disappear as science knowledge grows.
Mofo1953
Level 9
Apr 7, 2020
2
It hasn't helped so far.
I think there will always be those who want to have something to believe in.
@itsmedammit it's getting there.
[pewforum.org]
When i see all the 'conspiracy theories out there I am positive that there will always be people who prefer a fantastical theory instead of a scientific one.
@MsDemeanour Yup! I think sometimes the scientific ones are too difficult to understand. That is not meant in a sarcastic way. A lot of science requires a deeper dive than many are willing, or able, to take.
@Mofo1953 I have seen that, but it appears to be mostly a drift from organized religion, which is fair to your original point.
I do think there is a trend toward a more vague concept of god, more like a spiritual force or a somehow universal connection that is taking the place of the sky daddy.
@itsmedammit Panpsychism is interesting...
@Storm1752 Indeed it is.
I almost wish you were right. But the human mind is VERY addictive to Belief. That start back even before we were living in caves. So, I think some percentage of humans are always going to seek out some kind of cockamamie imaginary belief system to wrap their brain around.
@mischl doubt it. Look what happened to ancient religions, with science they just became myths. When we were living in caves there was zero science. All following ancient religions disappeared like Egypt's Osiris and Isis and all their so called deities, Nordic Wotan or Odin and Valhalla, Greek Zeus et al, Roman Jupiter and all the Roman gods, all went belly up as soon as science proved lightning is not something thrown by a god who's angry. And so will all the invisible men religions as science progresses. It will take some time but they will become irrelevant as the secrets of the universe keep revealing themselves through science. We now can go way back with the space telescopes, and probably in 30 years we will be able to see as far back as the origin of the universe. 30 years or even 100 years is but a nano second in astronomical time.
I think Islam and atheism will grow while Christianity's numbers and influence will decrease.
CommunityTom
Level 7
Apr 7, 2020
1
Islam is just as doomed as Christianity.
But Agnosticism is already gaining steam. From it a new paradigm will emerge.
Atheism is a dead end.
Just my opinion.
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