What is the future of religion?

stvdv · Dec 11, 2020

adrian009 said:
So in 2015 Christianity was the largest religion in the world at 31% of the world's population with Islam 24%, Hinduism 15% and Buddhism 7%

adrian009 said:
2050...The projected percentages of adherents sre: Christainity 31%, Islam 30%, Hinduism 15% and Buddhism 5%.

adrian009 said:
Does this analysis concur with your own perception of the changing demographics of the affiliation with the major religions?

I think that Pew might be totally wrong here. Seems to me impossible to make such kind of predictions (about whether or not people choose which religion or not). Why I think that? Because Koran clearly states that the choice people make is up to Allah. And that makes sense to me. Insha'Allah, God willing, Deo volente; not Pew volente. Pew can never correctly predict Divine trends IMO (coincidentally, Deo volente, it might be right though)

Sai Baba always warned us about this human pitfall to think human knows about the future. He laughingly told us "you know how you can make God laugh?....tell Him your plan". Now imagine how much God will laugh IF you tell God His Plan?

. Just in this context I remember all the Christians who have been predicting and claiming to know when Jesus/Christ will return. God must have had a blast, I guess.

But, by all means, don't stop making predictions of course. I think one of the best karmas you can create is by "making God laugh". Because Sai Baba also told us that "Be happy" is all God wants of us (happy within, serenity).

thomas t · Dec 11, 2020

osgart said:
It's oppressive overall, with the exception of Hinduism, and Buddhism.

do you mean there aren't Hindus and Buddhists that oppress?
That's what OpenDoors says: Converts from Buddhism Forced from their Village in Myanmar
India - Open Doors USA

These types of accounts are numerous. I believe them.

SalixIncendium · Dec 11, 2020

thomas t said:
do you mean there aren't Hindus and Buddhists that oppress?
That's what OpenDoors says: Converts from Buddhism Forced from their Village in Myanmar
India - Open Doors USA

These types of accounts are numerous. I believe them.

Woah! An article about Christian oppression on a website dedicated to posting articles about Christian oppression??! I'm shocked!!

Yeah, we all oppress. I do it every day.

Riders · Dec 11, 2020

adrian009 said:
What is the future of religion worldwide? In some countries, particularly in the West there has been a dramatic increase in secularism and decline in those identifying with traditional religious beliefs. However according to Pew research we're unlikley to see these trends worldwide in the next few decades. Paradoxically we will see an overall rise in the number of those who identify with some of the mainstream religions.

What is the current state of religion worldwide? Pew research has done some interesting studies and analysis that I'm sure has been discussed on RF before.

Christians are the largest religious group in 2015

So in 2015 Christianity was the largest religion in the world at 31% of the world's population with Islam 24%, Hinduism 15% and Buddhism 7%. So there is 77% of the world's population affiliated with four religions, and 55% of the world's population affiliated with either Christianity or Islam.

World’s largest religion by population is still Christianity

The future of religious affiliation in the next 50 years is likely to see Islam overtake Christainity as the largest world religion. If we take some of the projected figures from another Pew research analysis the numbers by 2050, just 30 years from now based on population growth and trends within each country, a clear picture emerges. The projected percentages of adherents sre: Christainity 31%, Islam 30%, Hinduism 15% and Buddhism 5%. So those four main religions now make up 81% of the worlds population with a clear predominance of both Christianity and Islam (61%).

The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050

Does this analysis concur with your own perception of the changing demographics of the affiliation with the major religions? If not, why? More importantly, how might these changing demographics impact the state of the world and international relations in the decades to come?

I think MUslims will eventually catch up with Christianity.

firedragon · Dec 11, 2020

osgart said:
More violence is something I'm afraid might happen depending on the nature of faith Islamic people will have.

I don't see these religions as being peaceful.

Christianity is far less violent. But I'm losing sight of what kind of Christianity is prevalent. Protestant? Catholic? Evangelical?

It's oppressive overall, with the exception of Hinduism, and Buddhism.

Christians have been violent as any. So have atheists. So have Hindus, and so have Buddhists.

You are not aware because these things are not in your preferred news channels. Its a shame that the world has become such a bigoted place to live in.

stvdv · Dec 11, 2020

adrian009 said:
So in 2015 Christianity was the largest religion in the world at 31% of the world's population with Islam 24%, Hinduism 15% and Buddhism 7%

adrian009 said:
2050...The projected percentages of adherents sre: Christainity 31%, Islam 30%, Hinduism 15% and Buddhism 5%.

adrian009 said:
Does this analysis concur with your own perception of the changing demographics of the affiliation with the major religions?

adrian009 said:
Does this analysis concur with your own perception of the changing demographics of the affiliation with the major religions? If not, why? More importantly, how might these changing demographics impact the state of the world and international relations in the decades to come?

1879 - 1973 = 00% to 25% Atheists (in 94 years)
1973 - 2015 = 25% to 50% Atheists (in 42 years)
2015 - 2050 = 50% to 99% Atheists (in 35 years) could be IF increase Atheism goes at similar speed

IF there are 99% Atheists in 2050 then not so many Theists left
Of course this is just the Netherlands where Atheism grows so fast
Other countries Atheism might grow much slower or not at all

For something to grow it should be popular
IF there are many ISIS attacks THEN Islam will become less popular, hence Islam will grow less
IF Muslims would have 5 children each and others only 2 THEN Islam might grow faster
IF Covid-20 will start THEN even more might die and absolute numbers might decrease more

In Short: There are too many variables to make a good prediction IMO.

thomas t · Dec 11, 2020

SalixIncendium said:
Woah! An article about Christian oppression on a website dedicated to posting articles about Christian oppression??! I'm shocked!!

Yeah, we all oppress. I do it every day.

I didn't say you oppress.

osgart · Dec 11, 2020

firedragon said:
Christians have been violent as any. So have atheists. So have Hindus, and so have Buddhists.

You are not aware because these things are not in your preferred news channels. Its a shame that the world has become such a bigoted place to live in.

I'm not prejudiced! I'm just not in touch with the violence of Hindus and Buddhists. Buddhism doesn't teach violence. And Christianity teaches peaceful resistance til it has its day. Affiliation with a religion does not equal true belief. The religion is used for hatred and the violence and isn't representative of the religions. The underlying cause goes deeper.

firedragon · Dec 11, 2020

osgart said:
I'm not prejudiced! I'm just not in touch with the violence of Hindus and Buddhists. Buddhism doesn't teach violence. And Christianity teaches peaceful resistance til it has its day. Affiliation with a religion does not equal true belief. The religion is used for hatred and the violence and isn't representative of the religions. The underlying cause goes deeper.

Nothing of this sort can be generalised to religions. Nothing. I am speaking in general terms, not specific terms. Yet, if you wish to get into specific things I dont mind. Religion is a protocol. A language. Everything that's happening around the world has a sociology behind it, and that's what we must try and understand.

There is no need to go into in depth analysis of what people have done. Oh, Buddhists have done some of the worst crimes in humanity, but that cannot be blamed on Buddhism because it is stupid to do so. Its not only what Buddhism teaches, but its just nonsense to blame it on the religion because extensive study has already taken place. Read up on sociology of religion and you would know.

This same thing applies to all religions. All.

SalixIncendium · Dec 11, 2020

thomas t said:
I didn't say you oppress.

I know you didn't.

Quintessence · Dec 11, 2020

"Religion" as understood in English-speaking cultures is largely a Western intellectual construct that applies well to some cultural traditions and poorly to others. As multicultural awareness increases, the construct called "religion" has shifted to accommodate. This has already happened in academia as far as I'm aware, but mainstream conversations tend to lag behind those dialogues. So in the immediate future, the construct of "religion" will become more multiculturalized and broadened in the West, probably. Eventually this may require a shift in thinking about religious demography to better reflect contemporary realities.

As for the stuff this label "religion" is actually describing? That's never going to go away. It's an inseparable, inevitable facet of all human cultures. For as long as humans experience life, they will want guidance for life and living. They will want to anchor their values in stories and songs, rituals and communities. That won't be going anywhere, regardless of the academic label put to it.

URAVIP2ME · Dec 11, 2020

idea said:
The Bible has changed just as everything else has, with everyone making their own translations of it and leaving in and taking out what they want... Poor Tyndale, he thought if everyone could just read it everyone would agree on it.... I suppose that is the beauty of it too though, what parts of it are inspired (and I do not believe the entire thing is), lead to a great diversity of beliefs and interpretations just as any grand creator of this universe created a great diversity of creatures and religious groups....................

The Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book.
Translating does Not change the Bible. People are the ones who might pick and choose what they want from the Bible, but does Not change the Bible itself.
What has lead to a great diversity of beliefs (religious syncretism) and interpretations of cultures and religious groups can be traced back to ancient Babylon.
As the people migrated away from ancient Babylon they took with them their religious-myth practices and ideas and spread them world wide into a greater religious Babylon or Babylon the Great.
This is why we see so many similar or overlapping religious ideas or concepts in the world's religions and out of harmony with Scripture.

URAVIP2ME · Dec 11, 2020

firedragon said:
Christians have been violent as any. So have atheists. So have Hindus, and so have Buddhists.
You are not aware because these things are not in your preferred news channels. Its a shame that the world has become such a bigoted place to live in.

Not Christians, but 'Christendom' ( so-called Christians ) are the violent ones.
The history of Christendom ( started after the 1st century ended ) and she is Not compatible with Jesus' teachings.
Jesus taught to lay down the sword ( Not be violent ) - Matthew 26:52
Remember: the fake ' weed/tares ' Christians would grow together with the genuine ' wheat ' Christians until the Harvest Time - Matthew 13:24-30.
A harvest comes at the end of a growing season, Not earlier.
We are nearing the Harvest Time or the soon coming Time of Separation on Earth as found at Matthew 25:31-33,37.
The violent ' fake/weed' tares will be destroyed for playing false to God and Jesus.

Evangelicalhumanist · Dec 11, 2020

URAVIP2ME said:
Not Christians, but 'Christendom' ( so-called Christians ) are the violent ones.
The history of Christendom ( started after the 1st century ended ) and she is Not compatible with Jesus' teachings.
Jesus taught to lay down the sword ( Not be violent ) - Matthew 26:52
Remember: the fake ' weed/tares ' Christians would grow together with the genuine ' wheat ' Christians until the Harvest Time - Matthew 13:24-30.
A harvest comes at the end of a growing season, Not earlier.
We are nearing the Harvest Time or the soon coming Time of Separation on Earth as found at Matthew 25:31-33,37.
The violent ' fake/weed' tares will be destroyed for playing false to God and Jesus.

Although I'm an atheist, I must take exception to some of what you said. There are many Christians, who rightly see themselves as members of "Christendom" who are anything but violent. I point, for example, to the Society of Friends -- the Quakers. And I see them, by the way, practicing what appears to be very close (as near as I'm able to tell) to Jesus' teachings.

URAVIP2ME · Dec 11, 2020

Evangelicalhumanist said:
Although I'm an atheist, I must take exception to some of what you said. There are many Christians, who rightly see themselves as members of "Christendom" who are anything but violent. I point, for example, to the Society of Friends -- the Quakers. And I see them, by the way, practicing what appears to be very close (as near as I'm able to tell) to Jesus' teachings.

Absolutely, there are those who are anything but violent, but false clergy support violence even if it is to be a conscientious objector to patch up the wounded so that they could continue supporting the violence / war efforts.
Jesus and his 1st-century follows were ' neutral ' in world affairs. They did Not even get involved in the issues of the day between the Jews and Romans.

One thing Jesus practiced (Luke 4:43) was to tell others about God's kingdom (Daniel 2:44) as to why pray for God's kingdom to come.... (thy kingdom come)
Jesus instructed others to do the same preaching work as he did according to Matthew 24:14; Acts of the Apostles 1:8 and Matthew 28:18-20

I only met one Quaker family. In a nursing home an elderly woman in the next bed besides the one I was visiting had lost a sock off of one foot.
She did Not say anything nor asked for any help, but I simply picked up the sock and put it on her foot.
Well, later when 2 family members came in she told them what I did and I was never in my life so very heartedly thanked for what I did.
Since this was many decades ago those loving people will have a resurrection and then can be completely in line with what Jesus teaches.

Vinayaka · Dec 11, 2020

Does anyone know if Pew, or anyone else keeps a record of their predictions, since say about 1950. It would be interesting to me how accurate anyone has been historically.

For some odd reason, I can't see that in 1950 they would have predicted there are over 1000 Hindu temples in America in 2020.

firedragon · Dec 11, 2020

URAVIP2ME said:
Not Christians, but 'Christendom' ( so-called Christians ) are the violent ones.
The history of Christendom ( started after the 1st century ended ) and she is Not compatible with Jesus' teachings.
Jesus taught to lay down the sword ( Not be violent ) - Matthew 26:52
Remember: the fake ' weed/tares ' Christians would grow together with the genuine ' wheat ' Christians until the Harvest Time - Matthew 13:24-30.
A harvest comes at the end of a growing season, Not earlier.
We are nearing the Harvest Time or the soon coming Time of Separation on Earth as found at Matthew 25:31-33,37.
The violent ' fake/weed' tares will be destroyed for playing false to God and Jesus.

Okay. I can agree with that.

The thing is, I dont generalise it to "Christendom". I say "Christians have been" because even when any Christian group does some bad thing in our eyes, it still does not represent the whole of Christianity or Christendom per se.

Jesuslightoftheworld · Dec 12, 2020

adrian009 said:
What is the future of religion worldwide? In some countries, particularly in the West there has been a dramatic increase in secularism and decline in those identifying with traditional religious beliefs. However according to Pew research we're unlikley to see these trends worldwide in the next few decades. Paradoxically we will see an overall rise in the number of those who identify with some of the mainstream religions.

What is the current state of religion worldwide? Pew research has done some interesting studies and analysis that I'm sure has been discussed on RF before.

Christians are the largest religious group in 2015

So in 2015 Christianity was the largest religion in the world at 31% of the world's population with Islam 24%, Hinduism 15% and Buddhism 7%. So there is 77% of the world's population affiliated with four religions, and 55% of the world's population affiliated with either Christianity or Islam.

World’s largest religion by population is still Christianity

The future of religious affiliation in the next 50 years is likely to see Islam overtake Christainity as the largest world religion. If we take some of the projected figures from another Pew research analysis the numbers by 2050, just 30 years from now based on population growth and trends within each country, a clear picture emerges. The projected percentages of adherents sre: Christainity 31%, Islam 30%, Hinduism 15% and Buddhism 5%. So those four main religions now make up 81% of the worlds population with a clear predominance of both Christianity and Islam (61%).

The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050

Does this analysis concur with your own perception of the changing demographics of the affiliation with the major religions? If not, why? More importantly, how might these changing demographics impact the state of the world and international relations in the decades to come?

Armageddon.

IndigoChild5559 · Dec 12, 2020

As far as the growth of Atheism, Pew research says that it seems to have reached a point of stasis, where it is no longer growing.

What seems to be growing is people expressing their religion outside of organized religion, aka spiritual but not religious. In response to this, I think that clergy will offer counsel to those who are not members of their churches.

But will people still believe in God and supernatural beings like angels and ghosts? Absolutely.

URAVIP2ME · Dec 12, 2020

firedragon said:
Okay. I can agree with that.
The thing is, I dont generalise it to "Christendom". I say "Christians have been" because even when any Christian group does some bad thing in our eyes, it still does not represent the whole of Christianity or Christendom per se.

Instead of ' group' I would say an individual or individuals within a group.
After all, we know we are Not humanly perfect but what the group does is what counts according to 1 Corinthians 5:9-13

What is the future of religion?

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