The end of religion

[Anomalism]

I don't think science will become a religion; I think religion will just go away. I think future generations will look back on religion as part of our tribal past. I also want to clarify that I wasn't suggesting that something of the supernatural does not exist in the universe. Religion and God are not mutually exclusive. I am agnostic, and I believe there is no evidence to prove something supernatural does or doesn't exist. I think the Big Bang exploding from an infinitely small point of origin and creating the entire universe is one of the best arguments for God that exists. I also think if we somehow discovered that God does exist we would also discover that God doesn't particularly give a **** about Earth or human beings. I think we would find out that God just is. I can't believe some people actually think God created this universe just for us, and that out of the trillions of species that definitely exist out there we are the one that matters; we're the one God created in his own image. Human arrogance is astounding.

 

[Reformedfindlay]

I don't think science will become a religion; I think religion will just go away. I think future generations will look back on religion as part of our tribal past. I also want to clarify that I wasn't suggesting that something of the supernatural does not exist in the universe. Religion and God are not mutually exclusive. I am agnostic, and I believe there is no evidence to prove something supernatural does or doesn't exist. I think the Big Bang exploding from an infinitely small point of origin and creating the entire universe is one of the best arguments for God that exists. I also think if we somehow discovered that God does exist we would also discover that God doesn't particularly give a **** about Earth or human beings. I think we would find out that God just is. I can't believe some people actually think God created this universe just for us, and that out of the trillions of species that definitely exist out there we are the one that matters; we're the one God created in his own image. Human arrogance is astounding.

People who state that "science will become the next religion" are inherently saying a moronic thing.

Even if that statement is just hyperbole or is metaphorical.

The definition of science is the systematic search for the truth in a given situation. The very core of religion is faith, which is not a systematic search for the truth. It is a blind belief.

Oh well, never mind those who subscribe to such bull**** sayings. Bull****ters will always bull**** themselves.

 

[Thrilla]

I don't think science will become a religion; I think religion will just go away. I think future generations will look back on religion as part of our tribal past. I also want to clarify that I wasn't suggesting that something of the supernatural does not exist in the universe. Religion and God are not mutually exclusive. I am agnostic, and I believe there is no evidence to prove something supernatural does or doesn't exist. I think the Big Bang exploding from an infinitely small point of origin and creating the entire universe is one of the best arguments for God that exists. I also think if we somehow discovered that God does exist we would also discover that God doesn't particularly give a **** about Earth or human beings. I think we would find out that God just is. I can't believe some people actually think God created this universe just for us, and that out of the trillions of species that definitely exist out there we are the one that matters; we're the one God created in his own image. Human arrogance is astounding.

there's not even an inkling of evidence to suggest religion with go away..... quite the contrary, in fact.

I'd argue religion will survive just as long as humanity does.... not a second shorter, not a second longer.

 

[EdwinWillers]

I think you're delusional if you believe anything but an extreme minority of humans will still believe in the Garden of Eden 10,000 years from now.

And you know this... know it enough to proclaim anyone who believes differently is "delusional" --- how? "Studies?"

 

[Gathomas88]

Is that because Christians are growing, or rather, because the communist party is declining? The communist party is a failure and has continued to decline for some time now.

The article mentioned that 100 million Christians populate China.

WOW! Except for the fact that China is home to over 1.3 billion people, in which case, Christians don't even make up for 10% of that pie.

Irreligion is a concept that has deep roots in China. Don't just link an article, THINK. ****, I PERSONALLY SPEAK with Chinese kids FROM China who were RAISED in China. The communist party is unfavorable. At this point, any group outside of something whacko is going to outnumber the Communists.

Your article is proudly saying this, "Christians now outnumber a dying party!"

By all evidence, Christianity is legitimately growing in China.

The Economist - Rapid Spread of Christianity in China

The article itself actually mentioned this, so perhaps you should have read it a bit more thoroughly.

The Chinese Communist Party might very well be shrinking as well, but that is really neither here nor there.

 

[KevinKohler]

Religion will never end. People need to believe in something. That's not going to change.

 

[Gathomas88]

Religion will never end. People need to believe in something. That's not going to change.

Exactly. I don't know if they would necessarily worship "science" in its stead, per se. However, quasi-scientific ideology certainly isn't out of the question.

We're already seeing a lot of that kind of thing today.

 

[KevinKohler]

Exactly. I don't know if they would necessarily worship "science" per se in its stead. However, quasi-scientific ideology certainly isn't out of the question.

We're already seeing a lot of that kind of thing today.

The REAL question is, are those things going to be BETTER than what they are replacing?

 

[Anomalism]

And you know this... know it enough to proclaim anyone who believes differently is "delusional" --- how? "Studies?"

All of humanity did not come from two people; that is absurd.

 

[EdwinWillers]

All of humanity did not come from two people; that is absurd.

Well, that doesn't answer my other question; but out of curiosity, you know this is "absurd"... how?

 

[Anomalism]

Well, that doesn't answer my other question; but out of curiosity, you know this is "absurd"... how?

You think humanity came from a series of incest? Seriously, think about the implications of what you're saying.

 

[Paschendale]

Religion will never end. People need to believe in something. That's not going to change.

Believing in an ideal is a long stretch from worshiping things. We won't worship science. We won't even worship material gain or wealth. We'll stop worshiping. There's no need to worship at all. But when you have an ideal, rather than have faith, your ideal can change and evolve.

 

[EdwinWillers]

You think humanity came from a series of incest? Seriously, think about the implications of what you're saying.

Hey, just answer the question - either of them.

 

[Anomalism]

Hey, just answer the question - either of them.

I did.

 

[free_think]

The end of religion as we know it seems to be the next logical step in the evolution of humanity. What was once an asset to primitive humans has become a severe liability in our advancement.

After all, early religious movements and mysticism helped us to unite. The great religions of the world were the nucleus of many of the first great civilizations. Christianity came late in the game, and it could be argued that by the time of Christ we had already outlived the usefulness of organized religion, but as an early force for organization it's hard to argue that religion didn't play an essential role.

In modern times though, organized religion has definitely outlived its usefulness (IMO) to humanity and only serves to create divisions among us.

At the same time, spirituality is clearly a positive force in many humans lives and perhaps to society in general. The teachings of Buda and Jesus for example, taken in and of themselves seem to be real positive additions to our thought processes. The unfortunate part is modern organized religions bear little resemblance to these teachings.

I don't believe we will see the end of religion. Only that it will evolve as we do. I "believe" that we can eventually take the positives from religious thought while shedding the dogma that drags the whole thing (and the whole human race) down.

Anyone interested in where religion might be going in modern times, I would encourage to check out John Shuck. He's a Presbyterian minister exploring the future of Christianity.

http://www.religionforlife.com

It doesn't have to be a black/white issue. We can take the positives from all our musings and move forward. But move forward we must, unless we are to twiddle our thumbs until the supposed rapture. Which seems to be the thought process of most modern Christians. That we don't need to address our problems and try to ensure the long term survival of the human race, we only need to hold on till the second coming when it will all be over anyway.

Personally (and it seems a growing sector of the population agrees with me) I hope for a "Star Trek" type future for humanity rather than a Revelations future.

 

[KevinKohler]

Believing in an ideal is a long stretch from worshiping things. We won't worship science. We won't even worship material gain or wealth. We'll stop worshiping. There's no need to worship at all. But when you have an ideal, rather than have faith, your ideal can change and evolve.

I think you're wrong. I think wealth is already worshiped. And I think that will continue. I think that people NEED something to place faith in, something to...congratulate when things go right, and something to blame when they don't.

 

[ludin]

I can almost guarantee you that when science replaces religion, people will, eventually, make science into a religion.

they already have what are you talking about. science is their god.

 

[ludin]

Is that because Christians are growing, or rather, because the communist party is declining? The communist party is a failure and has continued to decline for some time now.

The article mentioned that 100 million Christians populate China.

WOW! Except for the fact that China is home to over 1.3 billion people, in which case, Christians don't even make up for 10% of that pie.

Irreligion is a concept that has deep roots in China. Don't just link an article, THINK. ****, I PERSONALLY SPEAK with Chinese kids FROM China who were RAISED in China. The communist party is unfavorable. At this point, any group outside of something whacko is going to outnumber the Communists.

Your article is proudly saying this, "Christians now outnumber a dying party!"

Yet the communist party still controls a strong grip on the people and it is illegal to be a Christian in China.
you can be arrested and thrown in jail.

it gets worse if you are caught ministering to people.

not as bad as the middle east where they will kill you, but still a Chinese prison is not a good place to be.

 

[ludin]

People who state that "science will become the next religion" are inherently saying a moronic thing.

Even if that statement is just hyperbole or is metaphorical.

The definition of science is the systematic search for the truth in a given situation. The very core of religion is faith, which is not a systematic search for the truth. It is a blind belief.

Oh well, never mind those who subscribe to such bull**** sayings. Bull****ters will always bull**** themselves.

yep and when science cannot produce and answer to that truth and you accept it as truth anyway then you put your faith that science is correct even if it is wrong.
in which science has been wrong many many times and people accepted it as pure truth.

accepting something without evidence is faith and that makes it your religion whether you want to believe it is or not.

 

[Logicman]

All of humanity did not come from two people; that is absurd.

Science says there is a Mitochondrial EVE! Sounds a lot like the Bible to me!

Are we all descended from a common female ancestor? - HowStuffWorks

Now you want to argue against science too?

 

[Anomalism]

Science says there is a Mitochondrial EVE! Sounds a lot like the Bible to me!

Are we all descended from a common female ancestor? - HowStuffWorks

Now you want to argue against science too?

I hope you don't actually believe that study shows evidence of the Eve from the bible. :lamo

 

[Radical]

Studies are showing that recent generations are the least religious in our nation's history. Religion is also on the decline in pretty much every country on Earth. I believe we are witnessing the beginning of the end of religion. From the perspective of the religious there is no way that humanity is leaving behind the one true religion on its own, so the only possibility left for them is that our culture is attacking and suppressing them. In reality humanity is slowly waking up, and as time goes by they will become more and more of a minority until their way of life is something we read about in history books. I believe these religions will become more and more fanatic as that time draws nearer, and then all of a sudden it will be over. Humanity will march onward into infinity with science as its sigil, and the never ending quest for knowledge will bring us to heights we can't possibly imagine.

Hopefully it'll bring us back to God.

 

[Paschendale]

I think you're wrong. I think wealth is already worshiped. And I think that will continue. I think that people NEED something to place faith in, something to...congratulate when things go right, and something to blame when they don't.

Greed and worshiping simply aren't similar. Saying that greedy people worship wealth is just trying to frame non-religious things in religious terms. Worship is what greedy and powerful people want others to do for them. People don't need something to worship, they're just vulnerable to being exploited.

And let's not mix the kind of faith you're talking about with religious faith. Dedicating oneself to an ideal, to a community, to a leader, to others... that's not religious faith. People need things to strive for, and things to give themselves a sense of identity. Religion just exploits those things. People don't need myths or supernatural power structures or things to worship.

Yet the communist party still controls a strong grip on the people and it is illegal to be a Christian in China.
you can be arrested and thrown in jail.

it gets worse if you are caught ministering to people.

not as bad as the middle east where they will kill you, but still a Chinese prison is not a good place to be.

Can you source this claim? I'm pretty sure it's just a fearmongering lie perpetuated by those who want to push a victim narrative for Christians, despite being the most powerful and wealthiest religious group in the world.

they already have what are you talking about. science is their god.

By science you mean knowledge? Yeah, we like knowing stuff. Why don't you? And no, as one of "they" that you're talking about, we don't have any gods. We don't need them.

 

[RAMOSS]

Yet the communist party still controls a strong grip on the people and it is illegal to be a Christian in China.
you can be arrested and thrown in jail.

it gets worse if you are caught ministering to people.

not as bad as the middle east where they will kill you, but still a Chinese prison is not a good place to be.

Please show that currently, it is against the law to be Christian in China. Give a source from within the last 5 years.

 

[EdwinWillers]

I think you're delusional if you believe anything but an extreme minority of humans will still believe in the Garden of Eden 10,000 years from now.

And you know this... know it enough to proclaim anyone who believes differently is "delusional" --- how? "Studies?"

All of humanity did not come from two people; that is absurd.

Well, that doesn't answer my other question; but out of curiosity, you know this is "absurd"... how?

You think humanity came from a series of incest? Seriously, think about the implications of what you're saying.

Hey, just answer the question - either of them.

I did.

Um, no... you didn't.

You first asserted people were "delusional" who believed people would believe in the garden of eden 10,000 years from now. I asked how you could possibly know that, let alone make such a firm assertion.

Then, rather than answer that question, you asserted it absurd that all of humanity could come from two people, which doesn't answer the first question - it merely makes another assertion, which I queried you about, asking you how you know how that is "absurd."

Your response to that question was to ask me if I thought humanity came "from a series of incest."

So three times now you've dodged the question. Accepting the fact that perhaps you didn't actually understand my questions, I'll re-frame them to make them easier to understand:

You assert with absolute certainty knowledge about what people will believe 10,000 years from now - with so much certainty in fact that you proclaim anyone who believes otherwise is "delusional." Your words. I'd like to know how you came to this knowledge about humanity 10 millennia from now.

THEN you assert with similar certainty knowledge about how mankind didn't begin. I'd like to know how you know that.

.......