Why is this?
2007-03-14 18:09:24 · 17 answers · asked by dove2surf 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
The media and science are definitely influences yes. There seems to be less time in the world for spiritual enlightenment and more of a rat race going on.
2007-03-14 18:15:56 · answer #1 · answered by ☆Ele☆ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
People used to be far more mystified and isolated. Now, with the computer age, we realize that many things can be explained by science and we have come to realize the corruption within many of the major religions. This leads to disillusionment and ultimately a rejection of religious ideals. I don't think people will ever become atheists but most people now live as if they were. Many people have sex before marriage, 'live in sin', commit adultery, smoke, drink, swear, lie, cheat, steal, etc. People did these things 500 years ago but nowadays, people have no qualmes about showing up to church after doing some of these things anyway.
2007-03-15 01:45:38 · answer #2 · answered by kohai4 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you mean fewer people without religion as a percentage of the population or fewer people without religion as a gross number?
Either way I think it works out the same. Many people find religion irrelevant because of several factors 1) the superstitions that used to drive people to religion are not as strong as they once were 2) Religion takes too much time out a fiery short weekend. 3) Many are turned off by the hypocrisy of organized religion such as priests abusing young people. 4) People just don t feel a spiritual need when satisfying material needs are relatively easy.
5) People don't believe in god due to many causes not the least of which is all the suffering they see in the world. 6) The idea of going to heaven if you are a good little boy or girl, or being punished with everlasting torture for being bad sounds too much like some nightmare out of the middle ages, or the Santa Claus story. 7) Religionists seem to be out of touch with regular people.
2007-03-15 01:22:11 · answer #3 · answered by fredrick z 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who took the poll? That's a kind of broad, vague statement, really. It would have to depend on how you're defining "religion." Do you mean all religious practices combine, or just Christianity? While the total percentage of world population in the mainstream religions might be down somewhat, there's also alternative religions which are growing. Believe it or not, Wicca is one of the fastest-growing religions today. And the US Military seems to now class Atheism as a religion, since they allow an Atheist emblem on military headstones!
2007-03-15 01:21:04 · answer #4 · answered by BuddyL 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are more people now than there were 500 years ago.
Other reasons would include the fact that people don't have to follow the religion of their country anymore. Do realize that though people were religious back then, many were forced to be.
Also, 500 years ago, people believed in a higher power because life expectancy was low.
2007-03-15 01:11:46 · answer #5 · answered by martinlh 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This statement is not true. I define religion simply as a system of beliefs that apply to a higher power than ourselves. A belief that there is no higher power still refers to a higher power. Therefore, every living person has a religion. Atheism is arguably the simplest religion.
2007-03-15 05:02:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well theres the obvious= the things that were lethal back then are treatable now, hence, there are many more ppl in the world. further, back then, every1 had a religion. becuase it was so easy to die and your days were limited, and 2morra wasn even guaranteed, the ppl felt hopeless. they wanted to have something to live for, and thats wen ppl began to develop the idea of idols adn God. back then, it was unthinkable to even question that there was a God, u were born believing, and u never even considered otherwise. i think in a kind of odd way it was a shelter from the bleak reality, a vent. it was easier to accept the short time on earth if u could "understand" y it all happens that way, i.e. the bible, God's ways. i think its almost like they wanted some1 to blame? mainly, we're smarter ppl now and many ppl can't bring themselves to believe in what they can't see or hear or whatever.
2007-03-15 01:11:45 · answer #7 · answered by xLA NENA . 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because there's about 200 million thousand more people than there was 500 yrs ago!!!!!
2007-03-15 01:13:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Dark Ages ended. Time to party!
2007-03-15 02:31:48 · answer #9 · answered by G.reaper 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Increasing scientific knowledge--less reliance on the boogeyman vs. the invisible Santa Claus for explanations of our world.
2007-03-15 01:13:01 · answer #10 · answered by Phartzalot 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋