A link between the recent decline in religious practice, and the police force?

Question

***Please read the question before answering. I hate it when people read the first line and decide they know what it's about. ***

There is an arguement that one of the main reasons religion developed, was to bring about a sense of law - If soceity wasn't advanced/developed enough to have a FAIR court of law and police force, the next best alternative would be to enforce your laws (10 commandments etc.) through a God.)

Religion through history has pretty much had a constant presence. Never really dipping in 'popularity' and church attendance - until recent years. In the UK at least, you hear reports and complaints all the time that we are becoming less and less of a religious nation.

Could this have even a slight connection to the fact that as police forces and law evolved to a stage where they could enforce the 'thou shall not kill' rules etc. that religion has become undone by it's own origins?

In response to Sharon:

I do agree entirely that the 'god as a police force' idea couldn't support itself.

Trying to explain a bolt of lightning is a better reason as to why people would jump to conclusions and invent a God.

I just wonder if it could have been part of the perceived benefit of inventing a religion at the time?

In response to Dust:

That is exactly my point. It had validity in ancient times. Hence it was created back then.

Since then, it has become less and less valid a reason to believe in God, and that's why religious practice has decreased (in the UK at least).

In response to U98:

Excellent! I must admit I was referring to the UK, but you raise a superb point about the US!

I can only suggest that maybe the UK is more of a police state (more CCTV cameras per person than any other country) and the US regulates itself more with the 2nd ammendment?

I've read freakonomics as well, great book!

Answer 1

You might be onto something there. I would just like to point out that it is a common tendency for people to refer back to "The good old days'" when the "Good old days," they are referring to never existed.
It is likely that less than 7% of the people in the USA had any religious affiliation at all when the nation was founded. People who believed in the Bible were only about 40% in the 1950s. There are more religious people per capita in the USA now than there ever has been.
How does this matter to the crime rate, the growth of police power, or the increase in teenage pregnancy?
It is interesting to look at the statistical results.
I especially recommend the Freakonomics site.
http://www.freakonomics.com/blog/

Answer 2

religion I doubt very much that the police efficiency has anything to do with the decline of religion.
Religion promises life-after-death to those who follow the commandments. The police can only put you in the slammer.
I believe the reason for the decline of religion is that a great many of the superstitions that have been passed down from mother to child, through the ages, have run their course. There was a time, four or five generations ago, when everybody believes in evil spirits, the evil eye, casting spells, every bush or tree had an evil spirit behind it.
People would move their hand from side to side, then up and down to form a cross. That was supposed to keep the evil spirits away.
You can see how closely religious superstition was tied to non-religious superstition. My own grandparents were very religious and superstitious. They passed it down to my parents who were skeptical of the old beliefs. I heard all of the stories about ghosts, and people being possessed. As I grew up, I believed none of that. So when I had children of my own, they started life with no superstitions of any kind. They never heard of the boogie man, angels, devils, gods,,being overlooked, or any other superstitions.
This is what's diluting religion. Superstitions are disappearing. If it's supernatural, it's simply stupid superstition.

Answer 3

I say the breakdown in religious standards causes the need for increased police involvement.

High moral and ethical standards produce little need for police.

For example two extremes:

A soccer game requires dozens of cops all over, inside and out of the arena. Then call in reenforcements.

A 3 day convention of Jehovah's Witness. Takes no cops. The city usually has a couple there for show but they have nothing to do. Plus no garbage headache for the custodians unlike the one day soccer game.

The difference is living by high spiritual values or not. The two examples operate at the same time, in the same country. So all other things are the same. That is the only difference.

Answer 4

I don't think the argument holds water. While I believe in God, I do think that the many religions arose more from people trying to make sense of the world rather than enforcing rules. In other words, primitive religion was more about why is there lightning than don't beat your brother.

As in everything, though, I think it is all much more complicated than this theory allows for. And I'm not sure that the modern police force is doing that great a job at enforcing the rules.

Answer 5

No...your belief that its about the "law" had validity in ancient times and I agree that some "law" came from man and not the creator.

We live now under the new covenant, which teaches love, peace and forgiveness...we still need those things. Perhaps this is why there is a new Covenant.

The Ol' Hippie Jesus Freak
Grace and Peace
Peg

Answer 6

Interesting. Yes, the threat of eternal damnation has been exploited by religions / governments to keep the peoples at bay. But I never thought about the latter before - man's law is more imminent than god's law now.