Okay, humans have been around for give or take 1 million years.
Critical thinking about 5000 years.
Science (real science) since the 1700s.
Human invention about 1 million years.
The biggest 3 religions only about 2500 years (jewish, christianty, islam).
Of all the things I stated here the only ones that encompass the entire human population are critical thing, invention, and science. I conclude that religion will eventually die out as it isn't sustainable. As humans discover more and more, even the least educated among us will come to realize that there is no god, never was a god. Yes, it might take another million years or so, but it will happen.
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Damn right mycob4
Haha, this is a brilliant, well thought out post.
Great post, but Judaism is 4000 thousand years old. Christianity is 2000 years old, and Islam is roughly 1600 years old.
Thanx! I didn't actually do the research to find out how old they really were. I only knew that they were less than 5000 years old.
Ah, well regardless, your point still stands.
A few years ago I heard an interesting theory about the fate of religions. I can't remember who said it. Possibly Richard Dawkins.
Basically, the evolution from vast pantheons to monotheism has been very positive for atheism, because religion has been pushed into an ever-shrinking corner that is becoming easier and easier to demolish. As we learn more and more about the universe, the monotheist god is being diminished from an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being into the pathetic god of the gaps. I don't think it will take millions of years to tidy up this little pile of goddy-doo. I'd say one or two generations at most.
I believe it will take about 80 years, as we progress in fields such as genetics any basis of creation will seem like childish conclusions put forth by ignorant sheep herders from antiquity. I mean, was it the book of Psalms other than the over-glorification of the ignorance of sheep herders?
Shamanism was considered to be the world's 'first religion' according to researchers. Dating back to before the Neanderthal period. People will always be curious as to what may or may not exist outside of the here and now, and this material world. It isn't a bad thing, it is just humankind's curiosity at work. Likewise, atheism will continue to grow, but I don't see religion dying out altogether. Maybe certain religion(s) but not the concept of it.
@ Deidre
The fact that I am making is that religion will die out. As humankind progresses that actual thought process is changing. Before we relied on others to think for us. Those who had a reason to keep superstition alive. As we as a culture become ever more intelligent, we rely less on others and can review data on our own.
Remember the bible wasn't available until Gutenberg. And the printing press actually caused the splintering of the christian church. Now that basic education is making its way though out the whole world, more and more people will learn how to critically think A major tool. They will rely on this tool, which invaribly will cause them to leave all superstition. And they will face the unknown with confidense instead of fear. They will be able to say with confidence of things that they don't know, "I don't know, but some day I will know."
That is why religion, faith, superstition, will eventually die out. Notice I didn't say anything about curiosity. That will always remain. Because it never killed the cat. It got us where we're at!
Animism (worship of animals, ancestors, and totems) is the earliest religious practice. Maybe Shamanism is categorised under Animism idk. But here is a evolutionary time line of world religions.
Attachments
Attach Image/Video?:
image too small please post a link to the image.
https://www.google.com/search?q=evolutionary+tree+of+myth+and+religions&...
Thanx great info.
Why is the scientific method and quantum mechanics listed on a graph of myths and religions?
Because of the fact the a majority of early mathematics and science in general has it roots in the abrahamic religions, not all mind you but without it we would not have had them, or at least not at that point in time.
Religions have certainly made significant contributions to maths, science, art and architecture/engineering. But it's debatable whether those contributions resulted from qualities in the religions themselves, or from the fact that churches/religions were a major career path for the most gifted people, especially those from humble backgrounds. If we take the latter view, we have to wonder what even greater advances might have been made if the churches hadn't monopolized the supply of geniuses. If Leonardo and Michelangelo were here today, would they be working for the Pope, or for Google, NASA, etc.?
Well that's a tree that's been amply watered with tears and fertilized with bullshit. Where's my chainsaw?
I think education will play the biggest role in confirming your conclusion. Numerous studies have shown a strong correlation between religious beliefs and the level of educational attainment; The more educated you are, the less likely you are to believe. The number of non-religious individuals is at an all time high right now, and really isn't surprising considering the high school graduation rate is at an all time high, as well as the percent attaining a college degree. I think it is just a waiting game, as the level of education continues to increase, religion will slowly disappear and atheism will eventually become the majority.
We seem fairly unanimous.
I will be happy when organized religion is marginalized; when clerics are taken as seriously as sooth sayers and witchdoctors. Already in my experience, even the most superstitious Christians seem to acknowledge that there is no such thing as the Holy Ghost and that the three for one offer sounds silly nowadays.
I hope Brits are only a generation away from a time when most people talk of making an affirmation rather than taking an oath. I think we may be witnessing the reactionaries' last stand here.
Maybe no Icelanders under 25 believe in god and nor do about two thirds of young people in the UK. Sources:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/poll-claims-that-no-icela...
The Tory-backing Telegraph, 2009...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/5603096/Two-thirds-of-teenagers...
Now the very concepts of "believing in" and "having [idle] faith" should be debatable. I 'believe in' nothing. Rather, I have reasons for what I believe and I might have reasons to disbelieve a posit.
Religionists seem keen on absolute faith in certain truths, but it is wrong to be personally over-invested in anything being true. It should ALWAYS be possible to change one's mind in light of new evidence, so beware of strong assertions. Belief should always be a matter of degree, never absolute. Religionists cannot have doubts without "losing faith". Such muddle-headedness is foolish - and easily avoided if one sticks to this principle: One should only believe anything to the extent to which the belief can be justified by reason and evidence.
I don't think religion will ever go away. The current ones may, just as thousands already have, but I think it's likely that there will always be people who cling to gods.
Which is fine, as long as those individuals are viewed by society, influence day-to-day life, and are taken as serious as those who assert Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, vampires, werewolves, or any other fictional being as real.
I don't disagree. I'm just not convinced our species will ever reach Roddenberry's utopic vision of human behavior. I hope so though, it's a lovely thing to imagine.
I agree.
As long as religion doesn't get to decide politics, education, healthcare, etc, people can go about and have their personal beliefs. Although, it won't be easy to get the mechanisms in place to stop people from making decisions based on their religious beliefs.
The original post may be wishful thinking but it is wishful thinking that I share.
Can I say Amen.... it feels like one of those times Amen should be used.....
Lets hope it comes sooner than later. We could all do without religion.