In our increasingly secularized society, science is replacing religion. Economics is replacing religion. Reason, law, it seems everything is a plausible replacement for religion in today's society. Religion is being crowded out of public and private life, replaced with capitalism and the cult of consumerism.
A few thoughts on the changing role of religion in society:
One difficult intersection is between religion and economics. Christianity teaches we should care for the poor and that the rich will have a hard time making it to heaven. With the selling of indulgences in the Middle Ages, however, money and religion formed a relationship they hadn't previously participated in. The role of money in Christianity was further twisted when the Puritans preached material success was a sign of God's approval. Eventually, the God part was removed altogether, and becoming wealthy was associated simply with the desired state of existence.
The problem is, once we're no longer concerned with pleasing God, our pursuit of wealth is unchecked. We are free to pursue it at all costs.
When there's no longer a moral code based on a higher power or authority, we have to start legislating morality.
Religion is important precisely because it has the power to inspire people to act against what economists would call their own self-interest for the betterment of themselves and society. When people believe they are in the service of a higher power, they're willing to do all kinds of "irrational" things. Historically, this has made for some very serious mistakes, all the way from the crusades to the Spanish Inquisition. However, religion has succeeded in inspiring people to do extraordinary things. Just wander down the main street of any European town, and you'll see some impressive architecture and art dedicated to religious figures.
We need religion precisely because there are no economic incentives to fight climate change. It's going to be hard, it's going to reduce GDP, it's going to change the way people live and work. So who would voluntarily sign up for that, when the status quo is so much easier? What we need is something that can inspire people to make economically irrational decisions, to say "We care about nature enough that we don't want to damage it, even if that means I have to take a pay cut or pay a tax." We need religion because white men in power need to be inspired to relinquish the stranglehold the Western patriarchal system is causing society. We need religion because we need to convince nations' leaders to make decisions that are for the benefit of the whole world, not just their own citizens. Reason, logic - these are of little use when free market economics rules the day.
A few thoughts on the changing role of religion in society:
- Religion used to explain natural phenomena we couldn't explain. Now we have science.
- Religion used to explain our responsibility to care for others. Now we have the welfare state.
- Religion used to prescribe the social and governmental structures. In some cases, it still does. But for the West, now we have secularism and the separation of church and state.
- Religion used to provide the legal code. Now we have the rule of law, and typically, the law is secular.
- Religion used to provide a culture's guiding principles, morals, and ethics. In some cases, it still does. Today, logic and reason reign, and one's ability to fundraise often determines the fate and reach of one's ideas.
One difficult intersection is between religion and economics. Christianity teaches we should care for the poor and that the rich will have a hard time making it to heaven. With the selling of indulgences in the Middle Ages, however, money and religion formed a relationship they hadn't previously participated in. The role of money in Christianity was further twisted when the Puritans preached material success was a sign of God's approval. Eventually, the God part was removed altogether, and becoming wealthy was associated simply with the desired state of existence.
The problem is, once we're no longer concerned with pleasing God, our pursuit of wealth is unchecked. We are free to pursue it at all costs.
When there's no longer a moral code based on a higher power or authority, we have to start legislating morality.
Religion is important precisely because it has the power to inspire people to act against what economists would call their own self-interest for the betterment of themselves and society. When people believe they are in the service of a higher power, they're willing to do all kinds of "irrational" things. Historically, this has made for some very serious mistakes, all the way from the crusades to the Spanish Inquisition. However, religion has succeeded in inspiring people to do extraordinary things. Just wander down the main street of any European town, and you'll see some impressive architecture and art dedicated to religious figures.
We need religion precisely because there are no economic incentives to fight climate change. It's going to be hard, it's going to reduce GDP, it's going to change the way people live and work. So who would voluntarily sign up for that, when the status quo is so much easier? What we need is something that can inspire people to make economically irrational decisions, to say "We care about nature enough that we don't want to damage it, even if that means I have to take a pay cut or pay a tax." We need religion because white men in power need to be inspired to relinquish the stranglehold the Western patriarchal system is causing society. We need religion because we need to convince nations' leaders to make decisions that are for the benefit of the whole world, not just their own citizens. Reason, logic - these are of little use when free market economics rules the day.
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