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In today's technologically run world, what is the new role of religion?
Since the past generation of the baby boomers took control of society, science and technology have risen. In this shift, society went from a religious centered society to a technology centered one. Now this shift was part of a much larger change in the way humans think which has been going on for many tens of hundreds of years. From the polytheist Greeks to the monotheistic Islamic people, the shift in religion has been something that took thousands of years to develop to what it is today. So the question I pose is "What, now, is religion's role?" and/or "Is that the role it is meant to play?" Now I am not saying that Science or Religion are correct, I am only asking what purpose it now serves society after falling as a community creator, and a spiritual binder. Where does it fall today and is it useful to us?
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Arkady Grudzinsky 50+
The world is not run by technology. The world is run by human passions and desires. Whatever is the object of our passions and desires is our god. Worshiping material things - money or technology is not a good idea.
Scott Knightly
Arkady Grudzinsky 50+
Well, there is interesting research in neuroscience and psychology. But, as always, it explains how things work, not why or for what purpose. These questions are subjective. There is no scientific answer to them. Any research needs a purpose. Where does that purpose come from? It does not come from science itself. Again, it comes from passions and desires.
Re: "I love religion of all denominations and also believe that is is an integral part of our society which is why I think the shift it is undergoing is detrimental."
Unfortunately, those who are against religion, have very good reasons. I think, religion is very powerful. Perhaps, it is the most powerful thing in human society. It's neither good nor bad - it's just extremely powerful. Take nuclear power - it can be a huge source of energy or it can kill millions of people. We need to learn how to use it.
Re: "More people today show up to get their hands on the new i-Phone than to a religious practice." No worries here yet :-) http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n0101/26ikonos/
As for the attitudes towards religion, why worry? I'm sure, religion is not the only way to answer the questions of purpose for our life. Religion fascinates me with the wealth of cultural traditions, the sense of rhythm and structure, community building, spiritual guidance. But worshiping religion itself with its rituals and rules instead of God is as bad as worshiping technology.
Scott Knightly
That quote may be misunderstood. To clarify, I meant that the fall of religion as a useful tool and more to a anti-knowledge being is detrimental to our understanding. I agree that religion is a huge and powerful piece of our world and it can be wielded in both good and evil. I also agree that those who stand to mark religion as a foe are in possession of rational and very intelligent arguments. I did not mean that religion should "win" only that the refusal to accept and understand the two is detrimental.
I am very pleased to see that I was very wrong in my statement and I thank-you for the link to an intriguing article! One of my favourite things is being disproved as it teaches much more than being right, :)
As above, I am definitely not a believer that religion is the only method of understanding the Big Questions, on the contrary. I am the same way, religion is a constant fascination of mine. And yes, very much so. To worship the rituals and not the God(s) is one of the worst things an individual could do themselves and it is just like technology worship, ie the worship of the technology itself and not the greater ideas and purposes behind it.