Is religion still relevant in modern western society?
I believe religion is relevant because it provides a moral compass.
I think that religion helps people evaluate how their lives are guided. I think that it is important to help establish morals and help people focus on determining how to live their lives.
Posted by: AlricNic3rReligion is more relevant than ever.
Religion is and always will be the most important cause of all world conflicts. It is the main reason for the Middle East conflicts as well as the Muslim worlds assault on western civilization. Most religious leaders and therefore, believers are too zealous and unbending in their beliefs. Compromise and do what is right regardless of what your religion says.
Posted by: TheLoveGuy94People need religion more now than ever.
I absolutely believe that religion is more than relevant in modern western society. In this day and age, with all the wars, poverty, economic failure, disease & natural disasters, people not only need but want something to believe in that is better than the hell we live with on earth. Imagine if the majority of people believed in nothing after death. No consequences for our actions and nothing to believe in.
Posted by: 5h4yGloryReligion has changed but it is still part of us.
There are many people who are still devout Christians and Jews. Even if you aren't following the rules, most people believe in some sort of religion and use it as their morality basis. Religion is also relevant in a way of discrimination too. Many are prejudiced towards other religions and races.
Posted by: baarammulanUnfortunately, religion plays a very influential part of society.
Religion still plays a large part in western culture. American politicians are judged on their religious beliefs. Many of our laws are still based in religion. Many of the conflicts in our society are based on differences of religions, especially the conflict between the Christianity and Islam. Religion plays a large role in many people's decisions in life and still results in bigotry against many minorities.
Posted by: R43ShepYes, I feel that religion is still very much relevant in modern society because as society progresses, and technology becomes more advanced, we still need a way to connect to our spiritual side.
As society and technology develops there is an unseen danger that many fail to consider. We may at one point find that what it means to be human in a physical sense is suddenly irrelevant. Losing that would be disastrous. Religion however allows humans to connect to a spiritual side of things, and regain a sense of being human.
Posted by: R4yAnychYes, religion still matters because new religions are sprouting up everyday.
Religion is still relevant in today's world. It's not given as much attention or prominence as it once was, but religion is still important to a lot of people. Bibles are still being bought, there are numerous religious television networks/shows, old churches are still standing, new churches are still being built - there is plenty of evidence that religion is important in modern western society. The thing is that more attention is paid to controversy, violence and sensationalism. A lot of times we only hear about religion, or the church, when there is something scandalous going on in relation to it. When all the media hype dies down, people do believe in something other than worldly excitement. And, many times we aren't even aware of how much our religious beliefs affect our lives - but they do.
Posted by: MohaI0v35I think religion is still relavent
Religion leads us on the right path to become better people and be better to other people. Those that oppose this would say that religion is becoming the cause for war but it's not religion; it's the fault of those that misuse it. If nobody misused religion then the majority of the world's conflicts would be solved
Posted by: AnonymousToo many people still practice religion for it to have grown irrelevant.
There's no denying that atheism and agnosticism have gained a lot more popularity in modern western society, while religion has been gradually losing popularity. But, the fact is that there are still plenty of people who identify themselves as Christians. Many political figures, for example, claim Christianity as their faith. People don't tend to lead their lives by the rules laid out in religious texts. But, as long as such a large number of people believe in ascension to heaven and such, religion will remain relevant to society.
Posted by: TwoVicAs long as there are people who practice religion, religion is relevant.
We, as human beings have morality that extends beyond what is outlined within religious doctrine. There is a much larger number of people who identify themselves as atheist. Technology has certainly replaced spirituality in many aspects of daily life. But regardless of what any person believes religion will be relevant as long as religion is practiced, that's all.
Posted by: AnonymousI feel religion is prevalent in the modern western world; though there has been considerable erosion in the religious values amongst masses, it is not completely irrelevant.
Though religion and Godliness has lost a bit of footing amongst today's youth, it has still not been entirely uprooted. People still harbor hopes on religion and Godliness and the Pope is still the custodian of the Catholic Church. People still go to churches for the midnight mass on Christmas Eve and people still pray in times of need and emergency. Moreover, religious tolerance in most countries around the world also belies the fact that religion is still practiced and respected in the Western culture.
Posted by: SmarterTabbyReligion is the basic identity of a human being and still is very relevant
In modern society, although the world has become smaller, it doesn't need to make people lose their basic culture and religious identity. It is just like a bouquet of colorful flowers, representing the various religions and collectively denoting the beauty.
Posted by: dankilberryReligion is still relevant in modern Western society because people still need it for guidance.
While I am an agnostic, I have friends and family members who follow their own religions in different ways. I can understand how important spirituality is to many people, and how it gives them hope, comfort and guidance, much like meditation. And because society is a lot more open-minded, many people's spirituality is fluid, ranging from devout to casual (for want of a better word). For many people, it's a private thing, and as long as nobody tries to claim supremacy, it shouldn't have to be a point of contention. It's like liking a different color than someone else, that's all.
Posted by: R053NeddyWe haven't dispensed with religion yet, Unfortunately.
Religion should really no longer be applicable, existent or relevant in such an age of discovery, natural wonder and mystery. Yet the outdated ideals of people long past, (who could never have imagined the current situation), continue to rule the hearts (and more importantly) minds. While I can see the relevancy of believing emotionally in a religion, I struggle to see how you could allow it to shape and guide (also know as limiting) your logical thought process and scientific ability to discover and analyse the new. Having faith is all well and good, as long as you don't allow it to inhibit your mind or slow the progress and discovery of new things. Respect of others beliefs are very important too. Most atheists mockingly criticize believers, but only on the points they can find backing proof for. Religious people tend to attempt to challenge atheists on points laden with undeniable proof that makes them look foolish... The main reason atheists criticize believers is because of that.
Posted by: AnonymousEveryone holds to some philosophic beliefs which are beyond the temporal, physical world.
Religion has been prevalent in human society from the beginning of time. It can be argued that humans have never existed without some form of religious belief which offered a philosophic explanation of things beyond the physical and temporal world we live in. Modern Western society is still very much subject to various religious beliefs, and history shows that this will remain true for a long time.
Posted by: RaymoCanyonsI do believe that religion is still relevant in modern western society since most of our social morals are still based on religious doctrine.
Though I do not believe that religions in western society have the power that they once did, I do believe that many people are still committed to the basic ideas and principles of their religions. This is why a political candidate's religious affiliations and beliefs can still strongly affect a vote.
Posted by: ToughEfrain26Religion is as relevant in modern society as God.
Some people think that now society is so well advanced, that we no longer have a need of God. However, there is a God, and He is always a relevant issue. We need Him now more than ever. We need Him to combat our pride at thinking we don't need Him. We need God to sustain us in the hard times, and bring us joy again. We need God to heal this broken country, and lead us into the future. If religion is no longer relevant, then God help us...
Posted by: elen111Religion is the foundation of society!
Yes it is still needed. Should all of history be relegated to the garbage dump just because science, which by the way is a fairly newcomer to the scene and can only explain certain things, not all things, and by the way it only explains how it works not how the universe flashed into existence. They can't even explain the building blocks of matter.
Posted by: AnonymousThere are more religious people than non-religious
If the greater percentage of people in the modern western society identify themselves as members of a religious faith then that society is still religious. I have yet to be shown a survey that says more people identify themselves as non-religious then the total number of people identifying themselves with any of the major religions. Its not even a debate really, just basic mathematics. A country's government is elected by a majority, the culture of society is also. Just because a few strangely angry people don't like religion doesn't mean its not relevant. If we didn't have religion then what would the angry, anti-religious, its the biggest evil in the world ever, I don't believe in fairy tales (and other nonsense) spouting crowd have to moan and whine about? Heaven forbid they might have to look at their own lives and maybe realize how little they actual contribute to the world.
Posted by: AnonymousReligion is still relevant in modern society because fundamental human needs remain the same, no matter the shape or wealth of the society.
Every human has fundamental needs that include the need for purpose and meaning. Modern materialistic ways of looking at the world fail to provide adequate purpose. Religions fulfill that fundamental human need by connecting people with something greater than themselves. Religion also provides values for interacting with the many choices available in modern western society. Without guiding values, our decisions about how to use technology, money, and freedom quickly become self-centered.
Posted by: RomeoWestern culture could not believe in human rights without religion.
Christianity being a communal faith requires that consense be met when talking about the most practical matters. While Christians can dispute specific doctrines the decision by the global Christian community to see each life as having intrinsic value has let western culture's belief in human rights. No other study but religion could produce such advancement in society, and keep such advancement moving forward. With the loss of religion we would loose one of the basic societal community formats which reach individuals to keep evolving their intellect. I explain why religion does this (I am not a "science basher" so don't freak out about my title. it is meant to be provocative) here: http://www.exegeticalstruggles.com/2011/08/religion-is-better-than-science-why.html
Posted by: Anonymous
Not at all!
You don't need to follow a made up text and believe in nonsense to do secular things that benefit everyone.
There is nothing that religion does that benefits human society, because it forces you into close-mindedness.
Evolution is a good example, all the evidence points to the fact that we evolved from a common ancestor but if you believe in any religion you cannot accept that even though the evidence is overwhelming!Posted by: AnonymousReligion is nothing but man-made stories
Religion is nothing but theories made by people who were not educated like how we are today. As modern sciences grows, this means that were can see what species were are closer to. Also, we have discovered the DNA lay out and how many of us are coded and here today.
Posted by: AnonymousReligion has been a major cause of conflict since its advent
Without doubt, the majority of people reading this would oppose conflict caused by oil, land and wealth, yet apparently 78% of members are perfectly happy to overlook conflict caused by religious differences (past or present). Why are the pointless deaths of millions perfectly acceptable in this instance? We are taught about WWII and Vietnam in schools, yet the Crusades, Northern Ireland and the Spanish Inquisition are often overlooked. What makes the deaths of those involved in these conflicts less important than the deaths of civilians in Vietnam? War, whatever the cause, only destroys, it doesn't create anything...
Posted by: AnonymousAll religion has done in the past 2000 years has hindered progress.
There is no denying that some of the morals religion preaches are correct. However for the past 2000 years science has been making discoveries and all religion has done is censor them. For example if you argued against the earth being at the center of the universe you got burnt as a heretic yet we know now that we are not in the center of the earth. Same story with the flt earth theory just imagine how much further we would have progressed if religion wasn't there slowing us down with its stupid out dated and down right ignorant teachings. Homosexuality is frowned upon in most religions yet the god they so quickly defend and worship gave the human race freewill so who are they to judge what other people do with their life. Religion in general is the most hypocritical and down right stupid ideal left in today's society. It has caused more wars and bloodshed in the world than any other reason yet these people claim to love everyone and be tolerant to others... (look at the middle east for a perfect example) We shouldn't stop people from believing in God I mean hey I had an imaginary friend when I was 4. We should just remove these dangerous people from any position of power.
Posted by: AnonymousIt is Relavent, but I don't see how
Religion is relevant in the fact that over 90% of americans still are religious. This is, however, ridiculous because religion is full of contradictions and has been proven to be made up by man to use fear to control others. There are so many different religions, how can they all be correct? Religions come and go like the wind. We laugh at the idea of Zeus and Poseidon as gods, but people used to believe in them. Someday, people will look back at what people believed in their religions similar to how we look back and laugh at how people used to believe the earth was flat. People need to wake up and not fall for the hoax we call religion.
Posted by: AnonymousWe don't need religion, just good morals.
That sounds contradictory but let me explain. The planet we inhabit is on the edge of a mediocre galaxy in a mediocre location in the Universe. There's no hot property nearby except for our planet. If there was indeed a God, and we are indeed created in his image, why aren't we at the centre of the Universe with his bounty in our hands, living in a world without famine and child rape? Why are we not there? Jesus supposedly came down to save us, but it's all been downhill since then. At least in the Old Testament God was proactive. These days he's all quiet. Like really? How does a God who supposedly loves us just let his own creation slide down a path where we have men humping his own cattle? Bringing it back to my original headline, religion isn't vital in society. It raises more questions and every one of them is met with a simple 'Jesus is my Saviour and I trust in Him and I want to spend my eternity by His side'. Am I wrong in needing more than that to make one of the biggest decisions in my life? I am certainly not going to raise my kids in a religion. That doesn't mean they're going to end up as drug-peddling homosexuals who draw Pentagrams on their Crowley books. I'm an Atheist, raised as a Hindu. I see no problems in my life. I have a wonderful wife, a great job and great friends. Sure, I've battled with the fear all my life that if there is a God, I'm going to end up polishing Satan's knob. We all have. But if I do end up doing that, I'll know I was happy on Earth.
Posted by: Anonymoustimes have changed
Ancient religion is basically like modern politics. Theres different beliefs and they fight a game of domination, first to have all people under their one religion "wins". Theres no evidence to say religion is real, no interactions with god as reported in ancient times. Theres evidence for science, not religion.
Posted by: AnonymousReligion is not relevant because when the Bible was written the world was, in fact, different than it is now.
Things that were written back then do not apply the modern world we know today. We have come very far socially and technologically. Any aspects that made up the world of 1 A.D. Do not make up the world of 2012. They didn't know what electricity was, yet today the average westerner is miserable without it. Being gay wasn't even an idea. We don't know any answers. Anything is up for interpretation until we invent a time machine. So what is practicing an over saturated idea going to do to benefit mankind? Nothing.
Posted by: AnonymousWe don't need God anymore
In the past, people prayed to God for advice on crops, protection in raids and for miracle cures. Nowadays we don't need God to protect us or advise us as we have medicine providing us with cures for previously deadly diseases and science predicting the weather forecast advising us on when to plant or harvest our crops. Engineers have developed weaponry sophisticated enough to protect us against invasion.. Society has diversified and we can do more things for ourselves. We are no longer so reliant on spirituality, we can look things up with a click of a button. We no longer need the wisdom of God, we have found our own way and whether you believe or not that He led us to where we are now, we no longer need His guidance.
Posted by: AnonymousReligion is personal
Religion is not something to be shared among society. Whether or not you believe it is irrelevant. The fact of the matter is that placing religion in society is an attempt at making everyone believe it, and that it completely unrealistic and ridiculous.
I attended a christian school for seven years and i must say that establishments like this truly an awful idea. It is commonly enforced to shove your beliefs down everyone's throat, especially if you knew someone who happened to not be a christian. I remember thinking for a very long time that anyone who wasn't a christian was a bad person and that they deserved to go to hell. In my newly revised opinion, this is not a good thing to teach children and it encourages discrimination.
Also, as the church/school got bigger, it became less about God and more about money. This meant that every week we were lectured about donating more money to this gigantic church. We were also told to get people we knew who were not christian to go to church so that they would be able to go to heaven with us.
Religion should not be something that we force into society. It should have nothing to do with business, government, or school. It belongs in your personal life, not in society.Posted by: AnonymousBelief in something that does not exist is harmful.
The bible and the Quran both assert that god is omnipotent, omniscient, and benevolent. In other words, he is all powerful, all knowing, and cares deeply about us.
This cannot be the case, for evil exists.
Some might try to stop me here and attempt to say that morality is relative. They would try to say that my argument falls apart because the premise relies upon the existence of evil.
However....Evil does exist. To say that all morality is relative would be to attribute absolute truths to morality. When you do this, it ceases to be relative. Moral relativity is a self-defeating concept. It is for this reason that we can know there are certain laws of morality. We may not necessarily know what they are, but we can know they exist, and so that which we call evil must exist in some form.
An all-powerful, all-knowing creator who cares about his/her/its creations has an obligation to stop evil from existing, just as we have an obligation to stop evil from occurring if it is in our power to do so.
We are now at the point in this argument where someone will say that free will is why evil occurs, that it is the fault of man, not God.
On the surface, it seems plausible,and it certainly will satisfy any questions the devout have, because while they do like to think, they don't care to question. Someone says free will, and the Christians, Jews, and Muslims collectively breathe a sigh of relief.
But there's a small problem. Evil exists independently of our will. That's right. We could theoretically achieve world peace, with everyone getting along, and evil would still be lurking somewhere. In our hearts, our minds, it doesn't matter. Regardless of where it has gone, it's still there. It may no longer occur, but it still exists.
Free will is a poor argument. No feat of will can allow me to levitate, produce fire from my fingertips, or turn my landlord into a sandwich. The laws of physics restrict most of those things to use in science fiction. I can imagine doing those things, but I cannot in reality do them.
It is established that whether we are aware of what they are or not, there are laws of morality, and that at least one of those elements is the thing we call evil.
Free will and morality do not have to be mutually exclusive. An omnipotent god could have made it so that we had free will while at the same time making us incapable of doing evil. He could have made it so that evil was just as impossible as turning my landlord into a sandwich. He could have made it so evil was a concept you only read about in science fiction.Posted by: AnonymousWhat makes more sense to you, religion or science?
Which do you believe makes more sense--a giant magic man who made life exactly how it is today, or creatures developing traits to help better their survival, along with a fossil record as proof? Dog breeders are able to breed dogs with specific traits using "selective evolutionary pressure," by crossing dogs with certain traits and breeding them. Other factors such as environment and sex appeal also effect evolution. Predators will hunt the weak while the strong survive.
Posted by: AnonymousNot at all!
Today in the western world, we use science to explain what religion used to explain 2000 years ago. So there is no reason to have religion other then it being a personal thing.
Religion anyways is just there to manipulate our mines in to think what wrong is right but all me need is to have good morals instead of religion in today's society.-callum worth 16 years oldPosted by: AnonymousReligion is incompatible with society today.
Religion has, throughout history, been eroded away as time progressed towards a more secular approach to problem-solving. Our society today is characterized by events and luxuries unimaginable to peoples of the past. Stem cell research, space exploration, chemistry, technology, and so on are incompatible with the religious teachings of many western religions. Now that secular education has proven many aspects of life non-supernatural (crop failings, disease, sunlight, etc.) religious preaching against such notions will prove ineffective. Thus, the gradual eroding of religion in western society will ultimately abolish it completely in due time, as its relevance is no longer applicable to modern times.
Posted by: Tenor11Religion is no more relevant in western society; it has lost its battle with science in modern world.
I think that in western society with the rise of science, the fall of religion began. New inventions and discoveries in science are proving more and more of religious thoughts wrong. Maximum number of people in western society have either turned atheists or are on the verge of it. Also in this fast moving world people have no time for themselves, so how will they get time for god?
Posted by: delicatepinkNo, religion is not relevant in modern society, western or otherwise, because you can have faith in something without religion.
Organized religion is about believing in what others tell you to believe and doing what others tell you to do. This comes into conflict when so many different religions exist at the same time, all with their own sects vying for your belief. You can have good moral values taught to your children without religion, and you can have faith in something without a church or book telling you what to believe. There is a place for spiritualism in modern society, but there is no place for organized religion.
Posted by: H_Baird