
Originally Posted by
Cogito Ergo Sum

Originally Posted by
alex888
I personally believe that we are living a transitional evolutionary period in which human are separating themselfes from religion (especially in western countries or Christians) and getting closer to science as with more accessible technology, information and knowledge is easier spread across different social backgrounds.
I am playing the Devil's advocate here:
Yes, but religious teachings and dogmas can also be spread easier across the world.
Why do you think that the number of people "getting closer to science" is greater than the number of those getting closer to religion?
My personal thought (not inherent with Esteria question) did not want to quantify at this moment in time the amount of people who are closer to religion not to science, but how as the power of religion is shifted, scientific knowledge could rise taking over religion, (in a very distant future). After all there is a thin line between the two. They both aim to try to explain life but in very differnt ways.
Today, western societies are not politically ruled by the church by dictating law and consequently 'thinking' (indoctrination), as it used to be centuries ago (Dark Ages).
Today western societies operate a democratic level, pushing religious believes as INDIVIDUAL needs, (that is why we have different religions in a same territory) which indicate how socially we recognise religions as subjective (as they are all based on faith and not scientific proves). The power of religion has shifted from a national (law) to individual (community) level.
Democratic Capitalistic cultures (which developed by PROTESTANT countries such as UK and USA) - liberal - are influencing the rest of Europe and the world (conflicts with islam cultures for example). As leading economic powers they are spreading new liberal (from religious extrime rules) social practises and 'thinking', as the Romans spread christianism around Europe at their time. To their economic growth, scientific discoveries (studies) plays a fundamental role, which in turns influence the society itself.
The social impact this had in modern societies are visible. Radical Christian social behaviours, such as going to the church every sundays, have been pretty much replaced by going to the shopping centers instead, for example (this do not mean that people are closer to science but that they are more distant from religion)(many churches in England are closing, sold and converted to apartments) (in Italy many monastries are empty). As with wealth is linked education (and the centre role for science) more people would be offered more opportunity to education - to scientific understanding and practices in their life. Today when people are ill, they rely on medicine more than the priest to get cured.
The two realities coexist, by viewing and living religion in a liberal way rather than an orthodox way (shifted power). But is more than evident that today our resources and survival depends more from science than religion (rise power). With the advance of scientific knowledge (thinking) in a distant future maybe religion would be an abstract concept.
Of course today religion is still part of our life, it is still part of our identity. Christian religious groups provide for sense of belonging for comunities and for the support of the most vulnerable in society (the poor or lower structure of society), which is a symbiotic inter relationship. Mostly the poorest are those who belive literally what is written in the bible (as with wealth is linked to education). After all their belief represents the resource from which depend their survival (financial and spiritual support). And is not a coincidence as Esteria commented, Christianism is spreading in Asia and Africa.
Increasing wealth involves increasing resources which are linked to more studies opportunities so new practises. The middle structure (science) of society will consequently influence more the social practices and thinking of the lower structure. it is the new thinking that people will acquire because linked to resources so survival.
In the process religion will still evolve as it did untill now. But maybe one day scientific understanding of ourselves would produce the most powerfull mediatic 'self conscious society' structure (body) which will balance power relations between the different social structures of society (inequality and differences), from which, at the moment religious groups are there for.