What do you predict for the future of organized religions in the world?

Question

Will they grow?

Will they combine?

Will there be new movements within them?

Will all of the above happen?

I think its fascinating to look at the future of religion from a secular perspective. Obviously, from the point of view of any particular religion, that religion can never change or die - only grow or do whatever its doctrine and prophetic writings say it will do.

But looking at the future of religion from a secular, sociological perspective takes into account many more factors.

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

Speaking as one who is coming from the "point of view" of a particular religion, I have to take some issue with the "religion can never change or die" statement.  Christianity has undergone massive changes - from being a sect of Judaism to being a major political power to the reformation and beyond.  The same is true in other religions - in Islam, there's been the division into the Shiite and Sunni factions, Sikhism is similar to a reformation of the Hindu faith, Buddhism also grew out of Hinduism.  Each of these religions will (I hope) agree that they have undergone change.  Such is life.

Will they grow?  Some will, some won't.  There is some ebb and flow to this sort of thing.

Will they combine?  I actually doubt it.  Looking at the history of the Christian church, it's tended to grow more fractured over time rather than less.  Though there are movements which are trying to bring understanding between the various denominations, and some appear successful.

Will there be new movements within them?  Certainly.  Every generation brings their own perspective to old questions, and new movements are often the outgrowths of this new insight.

Some say that religion will become redundant or will decrease in popularity.  I don't think it will, and I say that not from a religious perspective but from a scientific one.  Many years ago, a scientist predicted that, as science advanced, it would become impossible for a scientist to not be an atheist.  A couple of years ago, a study was done on the religion of scientists, and no appreciable increase in the number of atheists was found.  And before anyone brings it up, yes, it would be better if I could link to the study, but I really don't know where it is - it was just something interesting I heard on a science program but never really looked into more deeply.

Answer 2

As long as we have questions we cannot answer and national pride which presupposes superiority and the need for imposition of culture precepts, we will continue to have a segment of any population seeking solace within the context of organized religion.

Answer 3

Considering nobody prays at the temple of Jupiter and Minerva these days, I'd say it's a bit grandiose to suggest no religion can ever die. Although you do mention that from the perspective of the religion's adherents.

Grow, sure. As long as we have uncertainty, people will always try their hardest to cling to what is safe and certain, even if it's just a bunch of mythology and fantasy.

Combine, possibly. We might see the Judeo-Christian-Islam arc blended into one faith, should another faith or group of faiths grow to prominence elsewhere in the world. Nobody likes the idea of being left behind, so there will always be people willing to join forces to prove they're the chosen few.

Personally, I see major organized religions taking on less of a local role and becoming more and more involved politically. It will get much worse before it gets better, but eventually I see the so-called "faithless ones" being the dominant population, bolstered by a heavy complement of those who identify as "spiritual but not religious".

As an atheist, I can only hope for the days when organized religion is revealed as the sham that it is.