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The Future of Religion

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
Tomorrow’s Gods: What is the future of religion?

What is in store for the future of Religion? What will help it stay relevant?
Is the internet helping or hindering Religion?

I didn't read the entire article, but plan on coming back to it later.

I don't personally see religion dying out. I do see religion changing, though. I think in perhaps a few hundred years, many of the movements that no one has heard much of will gain traction. New religious traditions that have little dogma will gain popularity, as many of the Abrahamic dogma's become socially unpopular.

The nature of agnosticism will change. In my eyes, there are two branches of agnosticism... the 'don't know, don't care' variety, and the 'I don't know, but isn't it fascinating to wonder?' I think the latter will increase in numbers, and formal religion may die down. Religion will adapt to a point in which it and science are in harmony, and no longer conflicting.

I don't see the Eastern religions taking the same hit as some of the Abrahamic faiths are. Buddhism can be compatible with atheism(it is speculated that Buddha himself may have been an atheist). Hinduism adapts, and I feel it will continue to do so. It is the reason that it has survived for so many thousands of years...

I don't think the Abrahamic faiths will die out completely, but will be reinterpreted. Perhaps we'll see more Sufis; I certainly suspect we'll see more Baha'is. I just don't think the God of Abraham will continue to affect Western culture in the same way he has over the past few centuries.

The internet is both helping and hurting religion in the same way it helps and hurts all other avenues of society. It helps that it connects us with people and information that we wouldn't be able to access without it. It hurts in that it makes us more disconnected from those things we seek as it disconnects us from the physical environment around us. I see no difference here in regards with religion than I do any other aspects of life.

And as religion changes, I hope the divide between the religious and the irreligious dies down. I hope we get to a point where no one cares what God, if any, people believe in, and we're all able to respect and appreciate our differences. Because if we were all the same, this place would suck.

(My own personal predictions, of course.)
 
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ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
I also think access to places like RF helps strengthen it in some respects? Wouldn't you think?

Also, as noted in the article, Religion is predicted to go up 3%. It's really only secularizing in cultures with relative comfort/safety.


I have learned quite a lot from RF but its not made me religious, on the contrary, it's makes me realise i made the correct choice to leave religion behind, I can't speak for others though.

Interesting about the increase claim, i believe in some areas there may be an increase in numbers. However population growth will eat that increase with the end result of an overall decrease. As has been predicted and observed for many years.
 

VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
I think there are a lot of new religions surfacing and it's interesting. I think there will be more interest in creating and mixing beliefs. I've noticed and heard people are becoming more spiritual and less religious. I dont know if thats indeed the case. I wonder if Christianity will lessen I think it might.
 

Native

Free Natural Philosopher & Comparative Mythologist
Tomorrow’s Gods: What is the future of religion?

What is in store for the future of Religion? What will help it stay relevant?
Is the internet helping or hindering Religion?
The Author in your link forgot to mention the Global Natural Shamanism which was the first religious practise.

My guess is that the next common religion just will be based on all things natural once again.

"All humans live on the same Earth, in the same Solar System, in the same Milky Way Galaxy and in the same part of the observable Universe".

Of course, all genuine religions mirrors these natural conditions in their Stories of Creation - and without any dogmas too.
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
I think religion as a whole is going to continue to decline, and probably die off within a few centuries.
 

Evangelicalhumanist

"Truth" isn't a thing...
Premium Member
I also think access to places like RF helps strengthen it in some respects? Wouldn't you think?

Also, as noted in the article, Religion is predicted to go up 3%. It's really only secularizing in cultures with relative comfort/safety.
That should tell you something, if you stop and think about it! :rolleyes:
 

robocop (actually)

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Could you please elaborate on this?
Think about what happens when computers get so smart, that they create an alternate history we can't dispute and control everything we do in a bubble. We know what happened in the past... the computers taught us, but they actually lied to us, but what difference does it make, they're helping us do the right thing right?

We were the ones that told them that's what we wanted. But we get what we want and become highly successful.

In fact I came up with this religion a long time ago. I call it infinearthity:

"The earth could have existed forever. People at some points could have gotten it to move in the Universe. Traces of the past are hidden away to be discovered or hidden as people make or lose progress. At some points the population is low to ease pressure on the earth and at some points high because there is a lot of activity in the cosmos. The past may or may not be covered up.

Miracles in your religion may be the result of some ancient technology."
 

Brickjectivity

Turned to Stone. Now I stretch daily.
Staff member
Premium Member
What is in store for the future of Religion?
Maybe in the future everyone will know a lot of things like Bruce Lee did, and we'll all be advanced theological philosophers knowing about Confuscious and Buddha and Moses and the Vedas and Upanishads and Voltaire and Kant and Stoicism and all of it. We'll pop a chip into our heads and know it all. Will it hurt? You bet it will hurt.
 

The Hammer

[REDACTED]
Premium Member
Maybe in the future everyone will know a lot of things like Bruce Lee did, and we'll all be advanced theological philosophers knowing about Confuscious and Buddha and Moses and the Vedas and Upanishads and Voltaire and Kant and Stoicism and all of it. We'll pop a chip into our heads and know it all. Will it hurt? You bet it will hurt.

Truthful knowledge always does hurt.
 
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