interesting societal trends?

Question

Did anyone ever notice how as society progresses scientifically we keep progressing in terms of human rights but somehow religion never seems to fade.

Of course there are people who say that science is killing God but there really aren't more atheists now than there ever were but society in terms of human rights has made vast leaps and bounds and for the most part religion slowly trudges behind but still changes enough. Take black people, believe it or not at one point the christians actually believed that black people were sinful inherently because of their race. Do you think the gay issue is going to be the one that finally breaks religious intolerance or do you think the gays will slowly be integrated into the culture as has happened before and they will find somebody new to hate?

Answer 1

Religion's biggest enemy: Common Sense.

Answer 2

It is a myth born of the Renaissance that society is getting better, that we are making strides, that human rights are improving. Society is NOT getting any better. People still kill people, despite the death penalty. People still commit crimes. I would bet my right arm that there is an Athiest somewhere that has committed a murder. People still die, wars still are fought, and people continue to hate others for stupid reasons or even no reason at all. There are still hate crimes: crimes based on race, religion, and sexual orientation. People still get discriminated against, whether it be due to race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender.

Christianity has changed quite a lot, believe it or not! They adopted Christmas trees, eggs and rabbits from Germanic Paganism. Every time that they take over a religion, they add something to their melting pot that is Christianity, just to ease the conversion. For instance, when Christianity took over the Germanic peoples, they could not stop them from celebrating their seasonal festivals - so they just adopted them. Even changing the season of Christs' birth!

To you it may seem that religions change little, but they change all the time, and Christianity is a big culprit. Religions survive as long as they are useful. I am enjoying a revival of my native religion, Asatru - people of Northern European descent want purpose and meaning - and for some, I suspect a lot, that Christianity doesn't give them what they need spiritually.

I doubt that the gay issue will break religious intolerance. The way that the fundamentalists read scripture, homosexuality will always be an abomination; a sin against god.



I like your question though. Food for thought!

Answer 3

As a born again Christian I very much believe that the gay issue will be the breaking point. What I see happening is that many large denominations will eventually cave to societal pressure and change doctrine they got from biblical sources. The ones who will be ostracized will be those who hold firm to the bible as God's word and do not change their stance. All of this is prophesied though. Also, not all of "Christianity" thought that blacks were sinful because of their race, only a couple denoms actually. Most Christians like the rest of the society they lived within were racist for no reason other than they were taught blacks were inferior as humans.

Answer 4

We better all hope that religion never fades. As many problems as it causes, Holy war, unfair judgement, it is needed to keep social order and morality intact. If everyone believed that there were no consequenses for thier actions here on earth there would be chaos. I believe poeple take the bible too literally the message is what matters. Being a good person is what matters and religion will slowly evolve away from unfair judgement. I believe science will help the gay issue with the church it will eventually show that it is genetic and therefore that is how God created that person and wanted them to be.

Answer 5

You are telling me that the same proportion of people in developed countries are religious as they were before the Enlightenment...?



Maybe if you take away education everyone would revert to dancing for rain again. But you'd have to take the education away. Ignorance is reversible, and so is education, at a societal level.



The religious fundamentalist will always hate someone, be they atheists, gays or other denominations.

Answer 6

I doubt anyone will entertain interesting social trends when they find out what is in store for them very shortly. God's patience is almost exhausted.Human history attests the wretchedness and oppression born of the human heart in consequence of the abuse of freedom. So very soon we will pay the price for our sinfulness. From about 2010 to 2039, the world will undergo very great sufferings and very great changes. This will be a chastisement for the sins of the world.The punishment is inevitable because we cannot expect the conversion of the entire world. The chastisement can be mitigated by prayers and penance. It cannot be suppressed.

Answer 7

There are more atheists now, actually, and our numbers will continue to grow as education levels rise and more people see religion for the antiquated and anachronistic thing that it is. You will also see a shift to agnosticism and spiritual beliefs at the same time, as organized religion continues to wither slowly away.

Answer 8

The need for transcendence from the ordinary every day stupid mediocrity of Earthly existence is too deeply ingrained into our psychology by evolution... Only the truly evolved and intelligent can break free from the spell of religion.



In the mean time we ought to display pity and as well as educative scorn upon those who insist on burying their heads in the religious sand.

Answer 9

Society changes. Religions have to keep up or eventually become extinct. History shows that.

Answer 10

Religion will find someone new to hate. Already, there is an alarming trend toward "obesityism"

Answer 11

They will have to find a new target. As much time as they spend destroying their own foundations through hate and schisms. It is only a matter of time.

Answer 12

"there really aren't more atheists now than there ever were "



I don't think you can substantiate this - in fact I have read that atheism is on the rise in Western societies.



In France, for example they refer to themselves as being in the "post-Christian" age.

Answer 13

Religion has already been broken in most of western Europe- only in the US does the cancer still linger.

Answer 14

Ah, but religion is fading.