How will religion change in years to come?

Question

Will there be more of the current religious minorities and less of the major? I think things will become more liberal; more freedom to think what we want instead of one idea surrounding us always. Instead of 33% of the world practicing Christianity, maybe ideas will spread and things will become less specific. I don't care if you think religious ideas changing in the future is a bad thing, I just want to know what you honestly think is going to happen. That is, at least, if the world doesn't end in 2012 as the Mayan calendar states.

Madre- http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

Answer 1

I think we can expect, as you mention, liberalization of religion across the board (but at the same time a further blurring of church and state).

What this might mean in specific? Catholics ordaining women (were talking decades here); a reform movement in Islam (especially in America, and as such we can expect a reaction from fundamentalist Islam, especially in the Mideast); we'll also see further cross-pollination of Prophetic religions (like Judaism) and Enlightenment religions (like Buddhism)--people will find a way to blend structure and dogma with meditation and spirituality. Modern people want a little Yoga in their religion, and those that feel the world making less sense or moving too fast want to return to the comforting constructionist purview their grandparents knew.

Having said all this, I think the idea of plurality as expressed by people like Diana Eck is pie-in-the-sky BS. America will remain a "Christian Country" (this coming from an agnostic) in that upwards of 80% of the population will remain either Catholic or Protestant.

Eck and her ilk contradict themselves by claiming that plurality doesn't mean relativism, but that true dialog leaves interacting religions changed. Which is it? Are we hybridizing religions through dialogue, and if not, what's the point? If I understand your religion, I empathize with it, and I leave with my religion a little different. Beyond that it's all hot air and lip-service. Typical academic myopia.

I personally think there's an argument for the Christian Right entering the mainline in this country, but there's no argument they are here to stay and will forever be a political force. The nightmare scenario has them growing (or increasing their coalition) and entering into belligerence with fundamentalist Islam. It isn't as far fetched as it may sound; I think it's clear that WW III will be equal parts oil and God.

At the end of the day, religion will remain what it's always been: the opiate of the masses. Empty people will fill themselves with it. People will sell out ideals for fellowship, and small minded people will bend scriptures to prove themselves right, never once troubled by the oxymoronic irony of "literal INTERPRETATION." We'll never believe in human dignity enough to trade religion for faith--we'll always need to look to the sky and talk to God (and we'll always need someone to hear that prayer). We'll always need someone to fear and blame as we walk through life in our permanent adolescence. We'll always need daddy.

Answer 2

I think it's a long shot to say that 33% of the world is made up of practicing Christians. And even if that's true, well there are a ton of different religions that make up Christianity so ideas area already spreading.

In a world where religion is what actually backs up governments, you'll never see the kind of change that you're expecting. There's not a government body on the planet that wasn't formed from some type of religious beliefs, and not one that isn't currently influenced by the majority religion of the nation.

In reality, it depends on where you live as to whether or not your beliefs will change...in the USA, there's 100% freedom to believe in whatever you want...but by living in the USA, you have to live life based on laws created by Christianity. So, even though you have the right to take a wiccan path, or muslim, or atheist, you'll still be living by Christian law, like it or not.

Answer 3

Remember though that while the internet has a lot of good information on it, it also is the world's biggest soapbox.

People continue to spout off about religion even if they know nothing about it. (Don't need to require proof of that statement in this forum).

Why? Because it's easy.

Unfortunately, I'm curious if the growth of the internet will lead to bigger divisions because people don't want to learn from each other and now they're in more contact with people that don't want to learn.

I think, either way, things will be more specific. People will either stay on their soapbox and not change or they will study more and become a lot clearer on what they believe (thus more specific). I hope the dialogs open up more.

Matt

Answer 4

Well--first, religious beliefs tend to shift in the short termm depending on the vagaries of events, political ideologies, etc.

If you want to see real changes, you have to think of centuries. From that standpoint, if religious belief within humanity continues on the course it has been on for the past 3500 years, we can look to three changes (though, as I said, these may take centuries to unfold):

>An abonding of the concept that religious belief permits exclusion or sanctioning of those with different faiths. For example, the "this is a Christian cuntry" dogma of the American right, the imposition of Islamic law on non-Muslims, or positions such as the recent papal assertion Catholicism is the "only true religion" will gradually be disgarded

>The current fals opposition of religion and science will dissappear as people--on both sides--gradually come to realize that the two are simply diferent paths to different kinds of knowledge and do not overlap

>However it is conceived, a belief that the spiritual is represented by each religion in different ways--but that all of these symbolic systems are simply alternative ways of conceptualizing the same spiritual reality.

One thing that will not happpen is the oft repeated assertion by atheists and(some) scientists tha t"religion will dissappear. Whether one chooses to view religion as "true" in that it is about some "real" spiritual aspect of existance, or as a symbol-ridden system of norms and mores, the religion fufills some very basic and important human psychological needs--and those needs will not dissappear; therefore, the effort to meet those needs will not dissappear.

Answer 5

If everything goes according to what Jesus said, "religions' will become DESOLATE, or people will REJECT them. When you have about 90 % of the world's population involved in one religious belief or another and the biggest majority of them live according to doctrines centuries and even thousands of years old, nothing MUCH is being done to ADVANCE mankind into EVOLVING into humane ideology. Most may TEACH IT but "actions" don't PROVE IT and that all is beginning to drive people AWAY from them RATHER than attracting a devout following. Can't preach perfection in the flesh when the ACTIONS of their clergy show them to be FAILURES. Though a small percentage, THIS still affects and hurts MILLIONS. I believe what Jesus said will come about one day. ALL people will get fed up with RELIGIONS. Not with GOD, just "religions......"

Answer 6

Today, we have terrorism but it will not last long because the succeeding generations of men from this present time will become materialistic in orientations; they will be no longer like their parents who were ideologues and spiritually or religious oriented. Instead they will be replaced by Science and tehnology which will usher them the comfort and convenience and prolonged or extended and healthy lives. Thus, it has already ushered the reigning of the harlot women of today even among all kinds of religions and races. But terrorism is an act of deceptions of satan who leads men to war, terrorism, crimes, biases, anger, hatred, etc.

Answer 7

in the beginning up the unique deity of folk worldwide became into the mummy Goddess. That went on for many 1000's of years with out any transformations. although, around 4000 BCE the Kurgans invaded Europe and the middle East (from what's now the Ukraine) and further with them a violent conflict-god... which they compelled anybody to worship above the mummy Goddess. This led to chaos in the part of religion, and persons began to think of that if there ought to be 2 deities, why no longer 3, why no longer 4 or 5 or 6 ? quickly human beings (extra often than not political leaders) began to make up deities to examine themselves... that marks the beginning up of the "classical pagan" era, which lasted approximately 4000 years. with the aid of the tip of the "pagan era" there have been easily 1000's of "deities" everywhere in the classic international... you may say that once human beings went incorrect, the placement merely have been given worse and worse. however the final disaster ocurred approximately 2000 years in the past. issues have been given so complicated that it sounded solid to return to a single deity. situation is, rather of the mummy Goddess, who had never led to any injury, human beings regrettably have been tricked into worshipping the Hebrew god Yahweh, who descends from the main violent of the Kurgan conflict-gods. you comprehend the rest... the persecutions, mass-murders, and compelled conversions accompanied.... and the final financial ruin is approximately to be written... Yahweh, the demon from hell roars with laughter, whilst the international is going up in flames and anybody dies.

Answer 8

Relegion is big business. Relegion is simply a means for some people to take advantage of other people's vulnerability in the name of god. I think that every individual has the inherent desire and ability to do good and avoid evil without relegion. For example: Do you know how much wealth does the Catholic Church have? or the Mormon Church, or the Young Moon, etc?

Answer 9

People will eventually become disillusioned with religion. They will stop taking their dogmas and theologies so seriously and start to realize that there is a content there that goes beyond the words that has been overlooked. Unfortunately, the world won't be ready for that for a long time.

Answer 10

We could only be lucky if the world ended in 2012.