Why the decline of Religion in some parts?

I’m very interested in the question of why religion has declined in some parts. I have read many theories. One states it’s due to there being knowledge of so many religions each producing it’s own truth. This makes people doubt that their own religion is the truth. Another theory is the collapse of the lochal community. Personally I feel both these theories realy are about the same cause in the decline of religion. Vulnerability. When you see many religions each preaching it’s own truth you feel vulnerable in your belief in your religion’s truth. And I believe it is this vulnerability which puts us off. At the same time if there is a lack of lochal community or group close around you that practices your religion you also feel vulnerabe in it’s truth. Another theory produced is the rise of bearucratsized science. I say “bearucrtaized” science becasue science believes in a “step by step” process to believe something is true. This belief that only a step by step process can prove something destroys the belief something can be true simply becasue it is. It is this belief that destoys beliefs in concepts like heaven and God. However we must be tolerate of Science and it’s process. As Science needs to be tolerate of religion. The question is then how do you make people believe in the scientific method at the same time as puting their religious beliefs in a seperate box where you dont need to have this step by step process to believe where you simply have faith. All these reasons I feel have led to the decline of religion in some parts.
But what do you believe has led to the decline of religion in some parts?

Because it sucks :banana-dance:

Nice sig.

Because it does indeed suck!

Come on how about changing the tune already at least it might provide a popcorn moment in between the drivel we’re asked to believe is in the name of God. Killing in the name of is getting soooo lame. :slight_smile:

The age of reason is responsible who’d of known we’d get a reason not to believe, certainly not God?? :wink:

We should of all been happy little minions by now ~1000 years ago if not ~2000, but someone funked it all up. [-X

C.S. Lewis wrote extensively about the effect of the engagement of other cultures on religion. It is indeed quite deadly.

But I think the bigger issue is charity. Traditionally, it has been the dominant religion’s responsibility to deal with society’s unwanted. This includes the poor, the disowned, the homosexual, and so on. But as society’s progress and the government takes over roles that have traditionally been reserved for religion it makes sense that those who were traditionally beholden to the noblesse oblige of religion are now beholden to the noblesse oblige of the state.

I actually think this is a good thing. The integration of the care for those less fortunate with the right to rule is important.

But the less life sucks, the less religious people are wont to be.

Like a bunch of recalcitrant teenagers is man which would be fine if we weren’t also incorrigible.

I don’t think this is’nt always the case. But I think sometimes it is but it does’nt mean religion doe’snt make people happy becasue people sometimes have to be unhappy for them to at first engage themselves within it. It’s a bit like jupming on a trampoline. Sometimes you have to go down to go way up. Christianity as a religion is especially this way as it appeals to the downtodden when it comes to the unlucky, the poor, the abused. While ancient greek paganism is not so much and tends to heroise those who suceed in life as happy better people. I think both religions have their good sides. But as a religion I dont think Greet paganism would find it’s place among the religions that attract the unhappy. Rather I think as a religion it tends to attract the happy.

Killing in the name of God is getting lame but personally I dont think that religion very much tends to do that anymore. When it is with me I tend to think the positive side of religion outweighs all those negatives aspects.

Some would beg to differ.

A couple things to consider:

  1. The success of religions that appeal to the downtrodden, pretty much to the point of eliminating all others, suggests that such an approach is best for religion. That is, religions grow when such standards are met.

  2. There were plenty of charitable organizations in the Greek and other pagan religions. This hilariously ancient NYTimes article details many of them.