Regarding the future of religion

Wayfarer · 04-02-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

If you sodomize children, murder them, and bury them in your back yard, does it really matter whether or not you volunteer at the local homeless shelter?

Beats the hell out of sodomizing children, murdering them and burying them in your backyard and then just sitting around eating Cheez-Its.

**Janszoon** · 04-02-2011, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Beats the hell out of sodomizing children, murdering them and burying them in your backyard and then just sitting around eating Cheez-Its.

Tell that to the workers at the Cheez-It factory.

Howard the Duck · 04-02-2011, 02:23 PM

no future, noooooo fuchure for youuuuuuuuuuuuu

GeddyBass2112 · 04-02-2011, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVCA

For a large portion of the last two centuries, people have been predicting the demise of religion and the death of the supernatural. As science and technology slowly chip away at the unknown and explain the unexplained, one might conclude that religion is on its way out; that the future will have no room for dogma and superstition.

What do you believe the future has in store for religion? Personally, I'm tempted to believe that all the doomsayers are simplifying the issue when they say that "science is killing religion". While science can increasingly expound truths that traditionally lay within the realm of religion, I do believe that humans, to an extent, are "hardwired" for the supernatural. I'm no anthropologist, but it seems that all major cultures across the globe, at every time in history, believe(d) in some form of the supernatural, be it theism, spirituality, metaphysics, or anything else not directly observable, testable, and replicable.

That being said, I'm tempted to believe there is some kind of benefit, as a society or a culture, evolutionarily speaking, to holding supernatural beliefs. What this benefit is, I have not yet thought hard enough or conducted enough research to articulate and explain, but I am convinced it exists.

In the end, I do not think religion will vanish, or even become a minority trend, at any time in the near future. I think it will continue to exist throughout my lifespan and well after my death.

With regard to this, I'd argue that the opposite (to some degree) is the truth. Religious fanaticism is very much alive and well, possibly more so than in past times.

For example, 50 years ago the Creationist movement didn't exist in anything like the present form it takes now in organisations like Answers In Genesis, with its multi-million dollar ministry and Creation Museum. No Tea Party either (although this is a poliitical organisation, much of its membership is made up of conservative middle-class Christians).

Even here in the UK, there seems to be a religious battle of sorts, with many examples. One is the proposed academies system of schooling, where a private company could sponsor a school and help in running it for a say in what is taught. Inevitably, this has led to several fundamentalist religious groups (mostly Christian) proposing their own bids for their own faith-ran schools, which could then teach Creationism. Infact, one school here has been criticized for teaching Creation Science as a 'viable alternative to evolution'. This is something that even 20 years ago would be unthinkable.

(I must admit that the two examples above are both to do with Creationism, but that's not the only issue).

But to answer the OP fully, I can understand the role religion plays in the history of humanity, and I believe that rather than disappearing, it will simply morph into something else which fits in with the society of the time. It may not necessarily be that there is any concept of 'God' in these religions either, just as the ideas behind Buhddism and Shinto have no real concept of God. It may be that the future religion relies more on critical thinking and philosophical thinking that dogma and theology.

~~[MERIT]~~ · 04-02-2011, 11:02 PM

Has anyone else heard of the (or subscribe to) the theory of Ancient Aliens/Astronauts?

Ancient astronauts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Very Interesting. If (as theorized) all of the "Gods" of our religions were actually extraterrestials, it still begs the question of THEIR creation and how they came into existance.

Mr November · 04-02-2011, 11:03 PM

I wish religion would die.

The truth is that we will never be able to explain everything, and even if we could, we couldn't persuade everyone to pay attention long enough to understand it.

It's my hard view that religion has absolutely nothing to offer that can't be had a better way. I compare it to a drug, except one that you're looked down upon for refusing, and a drug who's users are constantly trying to dictate society. If you can't already tell, I don't like religion. If I'm dying the hospital, I'm not going to convert to any religion for infinitely small chance that I've chosen the right one let alone that there is a correct one. I'd rather live knowing and accepting reality, and allowing myself to grow fond of that reality. I have no need to confuse an already over complicated world with religion.

Howard the Duck · 04-03-2011, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oojay

Has anyone else heard of the (or subscribe to) the theory of Ancient Aliens/Astronauts?

Ancient astronauts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Very Interesting. If (as theorized) all of the "Gods" of our religions were actually extraterrestials, it still begs the question of THEIR creation and how they came into existance.

I actually subscribe to this more:-

Cthulhu - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Janszoon** · 04-03-2011, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oojay

Has anyone else heard of the (or subscribe to) the theory of Ancient Aliens/Astronauts?

Ancient astronauts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Very Interesting. If (as theorized) all of the "Gods" of our religions were actually extraterrestials, it still begs the question of THEIR creation and how they came into existance.

I'm familiar with it but it doesn't strike me as particularly likely.

RVCA · 04-03-2011, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Il Duce

I actually subscribe to this more:-

Cthulhu - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Both of those theories are enticing, but ultimately, there is only one true God.

Flying Spaghetti Monster - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

GeddyBass2112 · 04-03-2011, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian E Coleman

I wish religion would die.

The truth is that we will never be able to explain everything, and even if we could, we couldn't persuade everyone to pay attention long enough to understand it.

Religion doesn't claim in any way that we WILL know everything.

Quote:

It's my hard view that religion has absolutely nothing to offer that can't be had a better way. I compare it to a drug, except one that you're looked down upon for refusing, and a drug who's users are constantly trying to dictate society. If you can't already tell, I don't like religion. If I'm dying the hospital, I'm not going to convert to any religion for infinitely small chance that I've chosen the right one let alone that there is a correct one. I'd rather live knowing and accepting reality, and allowing myself to grow fond of that reality. I have no need to confuse an already over complicated world with religion.

Religion has some incredibly good messages for humanity. And also, there are several religious belief systems where it doesn't matter whether you're a believer or not. Buddhism in one, deism another, and also (interestingly) Judaism also. In the case of Judaism, anyone who is righteous, Jew or not, has a share in the World to Come.

I'm personally a deist, and I believe that any God capable of creating a race of poeple isn't going to let some be roasted in hell for all eternity simply for not believing in some petty rules.

04-02-2011, 02:23 PM	#53 (permalink)
Howard the Duck Live by the Sword Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 9,075	no future, noooooo fuchure for youuuuuuuuuuuuu

04-02-2011, 11:02 PM	#55 (permalink)
~~[MERIT]~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Missouri, USA Posts: 4,814	Has anyone else heard of the (or subscribe to) the theory of Ancient Aliens/Astronauts? Ancient astronauts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Very Interesting. If (as theorized) all of the "Gods" of our religions were actually extraterrestials, it still begs the question of THEIR creation and how they came into existance.

04-02-2011, 11:03 PM	#56 (permalink)
Mr November Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Halifax, Canada Posts: 429	I wish religion would die. The truth is that we will never be able to explain everything, and even if we could, we couldn't persuade everyone to pay attention long enough to understand it. It's my hard view that religion has absolutely nothing to offer that can't be had a better way. I compare it to a drug, except one that you're looked down upon for refusing, and a drug who's users are constantly trying to dictate society. If you can't already tell, I don't like religion. If I'm dying the hospital, I'm not going to convert to any religion for infinitely small chance that I've chosen the right one let alone that there is a correct one. I'd rather live knowing and accepting reality, and allowing myself to grow fond of that reality. I have no need to confuse an already over complicated world with religion.