Religion may become extinct in nine nations, study says

[FightingFat]

My fourteen year old son has asked some questions about this BBC head line:

bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12811197

This is my response, trying to be as objective as possible:

This is a contradictory little article, how typical of the BBC’s secularist agenda! I think more and more people would consider themselves spiritual rather than religious. They seem to think that religion limits their ability to do certain things thus they’re better off without it. In other words, rather than understanding that behaving in accordance with the moral norms which society relies on actually sets you free, they think that is a restriction of their freedom to do wrong. In fact, you are choosing slavery and turning your back on happiness.
Let’s be scientific about this. A quick look at the government’s website for national statistics shows that out of a UK population of 57 million, 41 million consider themselves to be Christian statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=954

Also, when predicting trends, it is important to recognise that religious affiliation, historically, suffers from a tendency to wax and wane, and different social groups tend to interact with religious affiliation differently at different points. Right now, between clergy scandals, the politicisation of religious belief, and a rise in secularism, religion is taking a beating. This is particularly due to a serious lack of proper education. Young people no longer learn proper principles for thinking clearly (philosophy), instead, they have Wikipedia, which negates the necessity of actual study, providing you with a “pseudo answer” instead.
Can we say that will that remain true in the future? I have my doubts. Humans have been religious for tens of thousands — if not hundreds of thousands of years (Look, it’s on Wikipedia, it must be true!! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_religion#The_Prehistoric_era_.28300th_millennium_to_34th_century_BC.29 ). Spirituality is endemic to our culture and our understanding of ourselves. That’s in large part because our natural curiosity and urge to find meaning in life leads us to it inexorably.
So even if it is accurate to say that religious affiliation is on the decline in certain places, right now, if history is any indicator, traditional religions will integrate, adapt and embrace the technological and cultural changes of the past century, in order to explain our inter-relationship with a new society. Societal moral trends are inevitably cyclical, it may be considered de rigueur to be anti-religion at present, but don’t be surprised if this trend changes very soon!

What do you think? Any comments??

 

[rben20]

People want religion to become extinct. Quite different from what will happen. As far as I know, they have been sayings this for years. Remember the Time Article “Is God Dead?” He’s very much alive thank you very much!

 

[Cat_Herder]

Religion is as much a condition of humanity as is any other cognitive function. Atheism is just a religion that doesn’t involve God and looks to other (ill fitting) bases for morality, ethics and other life stances. So unless the human race is going away then neither is religion.

Anyway, the Beeb is no different from the rest of the mainstream media: they want to scare you so that you will pay attention so that they can sell you something (a TV Licence). At least most media companies are just selling ad spots; the BBC is actually selling you television itself (and ad spots for the international market).

 

[FightingFat]

Religion is as much a condition of humanity as is any other cognitive function. Atheism is just a religion that doesn’t involve God and looks to other (ill fitting) bases for morality, ethics and other life stances. So unless the human race is going away then neither is religion.

Ooo I like that! Thanks!

Anyway, the Beeb is no different from the rest of the mainstream media: they want to scare you so that you will pay attention so that they can sell you something (a TV Licence). At least most media companies are just selling ad spots; the BBC is actually selling you television itself (and ad spots for the international market).

Yes, increasingly I agree. I have to say, there is a great deal of national pride in our national broadcaster over here. I would agree that it’s independence from the need to generate revenue does mean that the quality has, by and large, been superior. However, increasingly I feel that it is a box that tells British people what to think, and that makes me cross.

 

[JRKH]

Well - To me the very fundemental flaw in the idea that religion might die out in these countries is this. As religious affiliation wanes the Church, whether directly through Catholic efforts, or indirectly through efforts of other faith (protestant, evangelical, etc.) groups will step up missionary efforts in those areas. These efforts will bring in a new influx of converts and even if the numbers are small, it will be enough to prevent the extinction of religion in those countries.

Peace
James

 

[Santi2]

My fourteen year old son has asked some questions about this BBC head line:

bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12811197

This is my response, trying to be as objective as possible:

What do you think? Any comments??

We are currently in the middle of a Census which the British Humanist Association is using to further its campaign against faith schools (amongst a few). It’s as simple as that.

The BHA has consistently campaigned against faith schools on the grounds that they are unnecessary, discriminatory and divisive. See Faith schools – why not? for a summary of the main arguments against these schools and some challenges to the usual assumptions about them. We want all schools to include and educate pupils of all beliefs together, so that they can learn about and from each other. Because we doubt that some faith schools can contribute to social cohesion or fully recognise the rights of all their pupils, we strongly oppose Government plans to expand their number and variety. Instead, we propose that faith schools be absorbed into a reformed community school system in which faith groups are offered facilities for voluntary worship and other ‘accommodations’ in line with developing anti-discrimination law. We recognise the right of others to practise their own beliefs, but not to have their own schools at public expense. For these reasons, we do not currently campaign for humanist schools…
humanism.org.uk/campaigns/religion-and-schools/faith-schools

As to the BBC, it would be worth to the taxpayers and licence fees if the Beeb reported on why government awarded the Census contract to Lockheed, instead of allowing itself to be a platform for the BHA.

Two-thirds of Britons not religious, suggests survey
Nearly two-thirds of people do not regard themselves as “religious”, a new survey carried out to coincide with the 2011 Census suggests.

The British Humanist Association (BHA), which commissioned the poll, said people often identified themselves as religious for cultural reasons.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12799801

Humanist religious question census campaign launched
Campaigners are urging members of the public who are not religious to say so in the national census.

For only the second time, the 10-yearly survey will include an optional question about religious belief.

Some secular groups, including the British Humanist Association, say the question is skewed and may overstate the extent of religious affiliation.
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12637201

 

[Alex111]

All this so-called “study” shows is that liberal neo-Christian denominations have made themselves irrelevant and are dying out, especially in modern Western secular countries. But they’ll be replaced, by real Christianity, or by Islam. Or possibly by militant totalitarian political ideologies, which are essentially religious cults without God or spirituality.

Also, as far as I can tell, this so-called “study” seems to have been published online; not in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Lame.

 

[Robert_Bay]

This is already being discussed in World News.