Will Religions Survive in High Tech World?

[futuretalk]

Will religions survive as Earth goes high-tech and global?
By Futuretalk

At the center of our civilization lies culture – and the core of our culture has traditionally been religion. More than any other factor, religion provides a perception of reality by explaining the origins of the universe and giving meaning to history as well as humanity’s place in it. Religion defines the nature of good and evil and creates reward and punishment images of life after death.

The world’s major religions share their values but not philosophies, and conflicting ideologies have prevented peaceful coexistence in many of our societies for thousands of years. No single religion dominates Earth’s 6.5 billion people, as the following list shows: Christianity 2.1-billion, Islam 1.3-billion, Secular, Agnostic, Atheists, Freethinkers 1.1-billion, Hinduism 900-million, and Judaism, 14-million.

Most religious traditions include seeds of compassion and harmony, but some tend to promote conflict. While the world benefits from religious leaders like Pope Benedict XVI and the Dalai Lama who promote peace and benevolence, others like evangelical Christian James Dobson and Taliban leader Mullah Omar cause strife with their “I’m right and you’re wrong” mantra. This negative stance often inspires terrorists that try to weaken or supplant nations through fear, violence and intimidation.

Forward-thinking spiritual leaders understand that religions must change if they want to fill the needs of a civilization about to experience overwhelming science and technology breakthroughs at exponential speeds. Futurists predict that by mid-century or before, biotech, nanotech, infotech, and cognitive sciences could ‘morph’ the world into a global community enjoying the benefits of a high-tech future.

As the Internet grows and absorbs more of humanity’s knowledge, technology will soon enable two-way natural voice access making this communication system’s wealth of information available to everyone. This will equalize nations and the people in them, and curb tensions caused by today’s misinformation. By 2050, positive-thinkers believe that civilization could finally achieve lasting peace.

As life extension technologies mature, futurist Ray Kurzweil predicts that science may one day eliminate unwanted deaths. In Kurzweil’s scenario, humans would not die from sickness, old age, or even accidents. Should death rates begin to shrink, there would be less demand for religious counseling to overcome fear of death.

However, theologians believe religions will still have much to offer their parishioners. They can help people identify good and evil, which promotes a healthier moral life; preserve cultural and religious differences, which evoke feelings of individuality and pride; and instill a sense of belonging with congregational meetings.

Ethics Professor Thomas McFaul believes that distrust will give way to trust, and religions of the world will come together to bring greater peace and justice into the global village. “By mid-century”, McFaul says, “religious groups will treasure what is at the heart of their own beliefs and still respect, cooperate with, and appreciate the uniqueness of other traditions”.

Experts predict that future religious leaders will encourage their faithful to act as unified “world” citizens practicing justice, peace, compassion, and optimism. Obsessions over cultural differences will disappear.

So to answer the question: “Will religions survive as Earth goes high-tech and global”? Futurists believe that religions willing to adapt to our rapidly changing 21st century technologies will survive and prosper as we move towards an amazing “magical future”.

This article will appear in various print media and blogs; comments welcome. See other published work by Futuretalk at http://www.positivefuturist.com/archive.html

[Turtle]

The sooner we rid ourselves of religion, the better. Much like taking a vaccination rather than doing some dirt dance n' chant to rid ourselves of disease. Oh...in my humble opinion.

[futuretalk]

One day, religions may not exist at all; but in the near future – next couple hundred years or so – they could play an important role in development of superhuman race. This is just my opinion.

[InfiniteNow]

Originally Posted by Turtle

The sooner we rid ourselves of religion, the better. Much like taking a vaccination rather than doing some dirt dance n' chant to rid ourselves of disease. Oh...in my humble opinion.

I'm about to go buy a book (inspired by CraigD's post elsewhere actually) by Carl Sagan called " “The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark” for feelings very parellel to this.

http://hypography.com/forums/social-...tml#post137159

[futuretalk]

In Demon-Haunted World, Sagan voices skepticism on belief in God and the afterlife, but was not very critical of supernatural, paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs.

I do not envision religions disappearing right away, but many will undoubtedly change their format and adapt to new technologies that promise to reduce – eventually eliminate – deaths. Those that don’t change will quickly go out of business from lack of support.

Although I am a freethinker, not aligned with any religious or antireligious beliefs, I still believe religions fill a need in society; at least for now.

[Freddy]

Religion will survive and even grow as long as religious indoctrination continues. Less than half of Americans believe in evolution. Parents overwhelmingly allow their children to be indoctrinated into their religious persuasion. Of all the parents I know not a one has told their children to pick his or her religion or none if they choose. The creeping of religion into public schools through Intelligent design is dangerous. I do not see religion's demise anytime in the future.

[futuretalk]

Religions may not exist in future - Another view

Religion has played an important role in the past – historians believe our culture would never have advanced without it.

Savage cave man behavior included almost none of our valued “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” mantra.

Truly, humanity has benefited from religion, as it helped various ethnic groups face life in positive ways and allowed science and technology to advance and bring us into the high-tech world we enjoy today.

However, as civilization becomes more global, many countries feel threatened by change; some think it wrong that capitalist’ in their quest for profits, try to push western fashions and other products that tend to change their culture; others though, see it as positive, offering more lifestyle options.

Religions find strength in supporting local cultures, but some carry it too far with invasive war efforts (Bush and Iraq) and suicide terrorists (Al Qaeda). These acts impede humanity’s progress, which encourages technology to develop solutions (soon-to-come nano-dust and other neural enhancements).

As technology continues to march forward, most religions will change with the flow; those that do not will disappear from lack of support.

By the end of this century we could reach Type I Civilization status and our trillions-of-times more powerful minds may focus on simulated recreational experiences, enjoying the many amazing technologies at our disposal, and looking forward to a future that promises continued improvement in our lives.

Certainly, in the next century, our lives will be vastly different – beyond today’s imagination. I cannot envision anyone at this time believing that some imaginary “sky god” holds any influence in our lives. If religion still existed in this far future, it would have to become some kind of an integral part of our high-tech life. Could that happen? Who knows?

[TheBigDog]

Religion will never, ever, ever be removed from humanity. Religions will come and go, and ebb and flow. But religion cannot disappear as long as people are free to think for themselves. Some free thinking intelligent people will always choose religion. No matter how irrational non believers may see it, and no matter what science is used to remove it, religion will prevail in the hearts and minds of men.

The better question is "How do we ally ourselves, belivers and non believers to build the future?"

Bill

[futuretalk]

Very well put, BigDog. With 85 percent of Americans believing in God today, cooperation is the key to advancing our technology future.

However, as we trek into the 22nd century and beyond, who knows what changes civilization will experience?

[Chacmool]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

I'm about to go buy a book (inspired by CraigD's post elsewhere actually) by Carl Sagan called " “The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark” for feelings very parellel to this.

http://hypography.com/forums/social-...tml#post137159

It's a great book that everyone should read!

Originally Posted by futuretalk

In Demon-Haunted World, Sagan voices skepticism on belief in God and the afterlife, but was not very critical of supernatural, paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs.

I beg to differ. I might have misread Carl Sagan, but I found him to be particularly critical of pseudoscience. However, I'll have to refer to the book (which I don't have with me right now) for evidence from the text.

Originally Posted by futuretalk

Although I am a freethinker, not aligned with any religious or antireligious beliefs, I still believe religions fill a need in society; at least for now.

I agree - many people seem to have the need to believe in a higher power.

Originally Posted by TheBigDog

Religion will never, ever, ever be removed from humanity. Religions will come and go, and ebb and flow. But religion cannot disappear as long as people are free to think for themselves. Some free thinking intelligent people will always choose religion. No matter how irrational non believers may see it, and no matter what science is used to remove it, religion will prevail in the hearts and minds of men.

The better question is "How do we ally ourselves, belivers and non believers to build the future?"

Bill

Well said, BigDog. Whether or not religion survives is irrelevant. We have to find ways to get along in the meantime.