To think religion will play less of a role in 21st century?

[sockatoe]

AIBU to think as society and the human race evolves, there is less need for organised religion? Are we moving towards a less religious society?
We can explain the world around us with science
We have laws to outline acceptable and unacceptable behaviour without the threat of eternal damnation as a consequence of not conforming
We have access to healthcare without going through a religious organisation
People are able to be "spiritual" and self aware without a God figure
People socialise and support one another and charity through means other than religion.

Obviously, many horrific and inhuman acts have and continue to be made in the name of religion. Also, many amazing, heroic and kind acts take place in the name of religion too.
AIBU to think that the majority of people are good, kind and helpful and they outnumber the rest? And that as time goes on, the human race will simply cooperate with one another because that's what you do, without outpouring love and obedience to a God figure who may or may not cast you into eternal damnation if you don't serve them well enough?

As long as "I believe" trumps "I think" then religion will overshadow rationality. Hence my observation upthread.

I suspect that as climate change smashes apart civilisation there will be a massive surge in religious faith.

Hopefully. It should be banned, the same way we ban terrorist groups.

Nothing good has ever come from it.

It's strange isn't it. If a six year old has an "invisible friend", people say it's cute. If a 26 year old has an "invisible friend", people call it religeon.

If I got dressed up and walked down the street at half past ten every sunday, praying to the God who lives in the bus stop. People would say I was mental. But if I get dressed up and walk into a church and pray to the God in Heaven, that's fine, because thats religeon. The whole thing is mental.

Look at all the trouble it's caused, all the deaths, the wars.

"I'm going to kill you because my invisible friend is better than yours".

Utter utter rubbish.

@Out tbf most deaths and wars are causes by politics, money, oil and power but we aren't going to stop having a democracy anytime soon, nor are we going to share oil out equally amongst the world.

But for the OP as a PP said, UK definitely can't be seen in isolation regarding this matter.

There is a decline in nominal chrisitianity in the West but those who are Chrisitans are generally more committed than the previous generation. Despite huge state opposition the number of christians is growing very fast in places like China it was thought that when chairman Mao died there were less than 1 million now they are estimated to be closer to 70-80 million
Persecution in Russia, China, parts of Eastern Europe, the Middle East did not actually decrease numbers though in Middle east it has led to a lot of Christians leaving despite the huge disadvantages of being a Coptic Christian in Egypt as opposed to being Muslim there numbers are not decreasing
The numbers of Muslims are also growing worldwide faster than population is growing
so I do not think a decrease in attendance at organised worship in Western Europe can be interpreted as an overall decline in religious beliefs in the world as a whole

Now I understand what you mean @Isabella and it's a tricky one.

Maybe take them to church occasionally for educational purposes so they don't feel alienated from them when they're older?

Anything could happen in the next 900+ years. 'The 21st Century' is too long a period to judge.

There might be a nuclear or climate-driven disaster that could see a return to a primitive way of living.

I think Nostradamus foresaw the growing ascendency of the East, so our long term future might lie in Oriental religions - I say that not because I attach particular credence to Nostradamus, but simply as an example of one of the thousands of possibilities that are out there.

if you look at the wars UK has been involved in, the last two hundred years very little is anything to do with religion, nearly all are to do with territory and Colonies

Peninsular Wars, Waterloo Trafalgar early 1800's NO
Crimean War No
Opium Wars NO
Indian Mutiny/ independence No
Boer war No
WWI No
WWII No
Northern Ireland maybe but it is more political than religious
Falkland Islands NO
Gulf Wars maybe but mostly about Oil
I may have left something out

Just to muddy the waters, there are also atheists who are so obsessed by their beliefs they may as well have a God/god/gods ...

Sometimes popping up on MN with AIBU about being invited to a Christening in a church !!!!!! (And correctly slapped down for being ridiculous about "catching god" ). If you are an atheist, surely a church is just a building ?

Personally I think faith and religion are two different things. Faith is a spiritual belief and experience. Religion has hijacked this into social and political organisations which sometimes act to their own advantage in terms of power, wealth and control.

ScreamingValenta - re "Anything could happen in the next 900+ years. 'The 21st Century' is too long a period to judge."

A century is 100 years, not 1,000 years.

There are less than 82 years until the end of 21st Century, not "900+ years".

@CoteDAzur Sorry, it's been a long day.

Islam is growing in prominence because of India’s population growth — eventually most of the world’s muslims will be in India. Admittedly Indian Islam is traditionally a much more tolerant form than Middle Eastern forms, but this does raise the risk of terror attacks in Islam’s name. There’s also the issue of China sponsoring Pakistani terrorist activity in India. Eventually the issues there will impact everyone.

Spiritually is an inherent part of the psyche for a huge proportion of the human race and always has been. It’s not going away because it’s temporarily become unfashionable for a few decades.

I always laugh slightly when vehement atheists post about violence in the name of religion, conveniently ignoring the atrocities carried out by atheists like Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot...

Trouble is, to paraphrase, when people stop believing in something, they'll believe in anything.

Screaming - No worries. It happens

Nothing good has ever come from it.

Good grief Outoutout - have you never studied any social history?
What an absolutely ludicrous thing to say.

Spiritually is an inherent part of the psyche for a huge proportion of the human race and always has been. It’s not going away because it’s temporarily become unfashionable for a few decades.

But you don't need to be religious to be spiritual ... the two aren't synonymous. Or even close in some cases.

Back.

Twll me how grown adults, believing in an invisible friend, has been of benefit to society.

Prison reform for a start or haven’t you heard of Elizabeth Fry?

I'd rather people were nice to each other because that's a nice way to live - religion or not. I guess I'm a bit odd like that.

Think it’s increasing. We live in a country where religious rights are protected and this won’t change anytime soon.

@OutOutOut.
Come along to our church one day and see how much time and money we spend on Food banks (founded by the church), the homeless via the Salvation Army and soup kitchens ( church organisations), overseas fundraising through Christian Aid, housing and providing water systems and education in 3rd World countries. Visiting care homes to talk to old people who have nobody else. ...
I could go on, but just a few examples of how the church is a benefit to society today.

Elizabeth Fry acted because of a basic sense of humanity, NOT because she was a Quaker. She had influence and access to wealth.

How do you know what her motivation was?