Will there be the creation of another religion?

[UnafraidOne]

I was wondering what peoples' thoughts were on the origin of religions as they might occur in the future?

As we work our way into the twenty first century and increase in our knowledge of ourselves and the place we inhabit what will be the fate of the major religions (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) - and what if anything will replace them?

If the replacement is another religion, what might it look like? And if religions are done away with altogether is there anything other than the vast reservoir of scientific knowledge that will serve as a substitute - that is, a cohesive coherent body of thought that will give humanity answers to questions such as 'where did we come from', 'where are we going?', 'what is the ultimate purpose to our lives?' - or maybe 'how can we find a sense of meaning?'.

 

[Zoness]

This is something I have wondered about too. I feel like the big world religions will divide into two factions:

*The minority fundamentalists who will progressively more extreme and isolated
*The majority who start to regard their faith in a more historical context and will attempt to stay relevant with modern culture, and may flourish doing so.

As for new religions I see a lot of Animism or Pantheism coming into the mix in the future. I also expect to see major mutations of current religions. I think of dialogue in shows like Doctor Who where David Tennant mentions religions like "New Christianity" and "New Judaism". I sure hope the names are more creative than that but you get the gist. As well I see more Neo-Pagans (yay!) taking on the scene and true reconstructionist religions of the centuries past.

I also predict "fantasy religions" based loosely on major pop-cultural works (think the Jedi, which are a registered religious group). I can see that trend continuing well into the future. As for specifics, I can't say. Maybe polytheism makes a rebound? Until then I am going to say that Pantheism or Animism will be the biggest players in spirituality because they possess something that a lot of people want to get away from: large, rigorous and aggressive hierarchies while still being able to attribute spiritual things to the happenings of the universe.

 

[Moriah Ruth 777]

Very good question. Has anyone hear of Crislam? What it is, is a mixture of Christianity mixed with Islam. It is already occuring in many churches.

Check out the links below.

EVENTS IN TIME (BIBLE PROPHECY LITERALLY FULFILLED)(BY GOD): CRISLAM-ANOTHER SPINOFF OF THE ONE WORLD RELIGION

Will Crislam Visit Your Church?

Standing For God – Will Crislam Visit Your Church?

Chrislam Homepage

Moriah Ruth

 

[Frenchfrye]

I was wondering what peoples' thoughts were on the origin of religions as they might occur in the future?

As we work our way into the twenty first century and increase in our knowledge of ourselves and the place we inhabit what will be the fate of the major religions (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) - and what if anything will replace them?

If the replacement is another religion, what might it look like? And if religions are done away with altogether is there anything other than the vast reservoir of scientific knowledge that will serve as a substitute - that is, a cohesive coherent body of thought that will give humanity answers to questions such as 'where did we come from', 'where are we going?', 'what is the ultimate purpose to our lives?' - or maybe 'how can we find a sense of meaning?'.

religions are always being created and dying because they are badly created religions with no real basis if another long lasting religion were to come it would have a solid basis, like the bible or another book like it. one religion with everybody in it wont be until heaven the world wont unite like that until jesus comes again thats stated in a few places such as daniel. beises there is no way the whole world could unite without giving up at least some of what they beleive which too many people are unwilling to do.

 

[Zoness]

religions are always being created and dying because they are badly created religions with no real basis if another long lasting religion were to come it would have a solid basis, like the bible or another book like it. one religion with everybody in it wont be until heaven the world wont unite like that until jesus comes again thats stated in a few places such as daniel. beises there is no way the whole world could unite without giving up at least some of what they beleive which too many people are unwilling to do.

After the first sentence I am pretty lost on what you are trying to say. Why does the whole world have to unite to form a new religion?

 

[Arthra]

An interesting thread..If you look back on earlier religions they have a period of ascendency and acceptance and have influenced civilizations. In the past some religions have been supplanted and yet they still continue on some scale in the world.

Being a Baha'i I see the Faith as comparatively young and vibrant. There are Baha'is spread around the world in the past hundred and fifty years or so.

I think the Baha'i Faith is more interested in focusing on areas of similarity with other religions rather than supplanting them. The focus is open, broad and inclusive rather than narrow, exclusive and hostile.

As for science... I don't see science as "...the vast reservoir of scientific knowledge that will serve as a substitute..." for say religion. The reason is that science in and of itself can have negative as well as positive applications... so there is still a need for ethical and moral guidance that can be offered by religion.

 

[Frenchfrye]

After the first sentence I am pretty lost on what you are trying to say. Why does the whole world have to unite to form a new religion?

sorry that was bad stating on my part i was saying that in order for a religion to last it hasto have a good basis to live on, christians have the bible muslims the koran. the question was asked if the world will ever abandon religion and use common knowledge to create a a world wide belief. thats where the world cant unite part came in. sorry i shouldve clarified that more

 

[seeking Christ]

And if religions are done away with altogether is there anything other than the vast reservoir of scientific knowledge that will serve as a substitute - that is, a cohesive coherent body of thought that will give humanity answers to questions such as 'where did we come from', 'where are we going?', 'what is the ultimate purpose to our lives?' - or maybe 'how can we find a sense of meaning?'.

That's just the thing: science can address all sorts of things, but not a sense of meaning or purpose to life. It can never answer why.

 

[TG123]

Very good question. Has anyone hear of Crislam? What it is, is a mixture of Christianity mixed with Islam. It is already occuring in many churches.

Check out the links below.

EVENTS IN TIME (BIBLE PROPHECY LITERALLY FULFILLED)(BY GOD): CRISLAM-ANOTHER SPINOFF OF THE ONE WORLD RELIGION

Will Crislam Visit Your Church?

Standing For God – Will Crislam Visit Your Church?

Chrislam Homepage

Moriah Ruth

This is in my opinion Satanic, and an attempt to delude Christians from the truth. The funny part is I think most Muslims probably see this as foolish and as wrong as most Christians do, although for different reasons.

 

[mandelduke]

Yes will be many more religions before Jesus returns.

 

[awitch]

*The minority fundamentalists who will progressively more extreme and isolated

After heavy losses in the American culture wars, the religious right is doubling down on their lunacy and hatred. It's driven away so many regular Christians that already that, in time, I predict it will drive away all but the coldest of hearts.

*The majority who start to regard their faith in a more historical context and will attempt to stay relevant with modern culture, and may flourish doing so.

I'm pleased to see many Christians turning their backs on the religious right and even the Republic party realizes their toxicity. I'm not sure they're going to do anything about it yet, though. I don't expect Christianity will fade away in any foreseeable future, it does seem to be at a turning point. It wouldn't be hard to resurrect Christianity's public image if it dropped the politics and vitriol and went back to focusing on peace, humility, and helping humanity.

As for new religions I see a lot of Animism or Pantheism coming into the mix in the future. I also expect to see major mutations of current religions. I think of dialogue in shows like Doctor Who where David Tennant mentions religions like "New Christianity" and "New Judaism". I sure hope the names are more creative than that but you get the gist. As well I see more Neo-Pagans (yay!) taking on the scene and true reconstructionist religions of the centuries past.

I'm sure there will be many new religions, and reboots of old ones.

I also predict "fantasy religions" based loosely on major pop-cultural works (think the Jedi, which are a registered religious group). I can see that trend continuing well into the future.

I better double my efforts establishing "The Church of Daffy".

 

[ViaCrucis]

I'm of the opinion that the last several decades has been seeing the birth of a new religious tradition in the United States. The conflation of American Nationalism with Christianity has largely been birthing something new; it has largely interjected America in its religious narrative in the place of Israel and/or the Church as the People of God. God is chiefly viewed as the American God--the Deus Americanus--this is the divinity mentioned as the Providential Agent revered on American coinage, the Declaration of Independence, the American Pledge of Allegiance (etc).

Jesus functions far less as the Redeemer and Lord as understood in the Christian Creeds, but more as the Icon of American privilege, power, and exceptionalism. Jesus is transformed into the face of the Divine Providence that blesses the chosen nation (America) and judges it for betraying perceived cultural mores and traditions. No longer the Good Shepherd, He is the Standard Bearer of American Virtue.

This American Religion has a rich history, tradition, and mythology. A plethora of saintly patriarchs--the American founding fathers--who are the liberators, saviors, and founders of this shining city on a hill, from a sort of exodus from the tyranny of the British Crown. A tradition and mythology of divinely ordained purpose and destiny, which led to the justification of conquering the native people across the continent and seeing it as the Divine Right of the American People to rule and reign as freemen (so long as they were white of course).

I'd go on. But I generally see this American mythos forming a fundamental religious backbone to an emerging religious tradition that borrows heavily from the Christian Tradition's corpus, using themes, images, and motifs from Christianity but rearranging them and translating them in ways that are chiefly America-centric.

As such, it is the religion of the Deus Americanus, not necessarily the Holy Trinity of Traditional Christian theology.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Eudaimonist]

I was wondering what peoples' thoughts were on the origin of religions as they might occur in the future?

Only Shai-Hulud knows.

As we work our way into the twenty first century and increase in our knowledge of ourselves and the place we inhabit what will be the fate of the major religions (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism) - and what if anything will replace them?

Personally, I think that the major religions will either adapt and attract the educated, or remain stubbornly anachronistic and attract the anti-intellectual.

The trend lately has been towards the arising of a variety of small new religions, e.g., Wicca and Scientology. I don't know if any of these will replace (or displace) the major religions and become major religions in their own right.

If the replacement is another religion, what might it look like?

I suspect it will be more scientific-sounding, like Scientology, or perhaps Quantum-NewAgesomething-or-other, since science has cultural currency lately.

And if religions are done away with altogether is there anything other than the vast reservoir of scientific knowledge that will serve as a substitute - that is, a cohesive coherent body of thought that will give humanity answers to questions such as 'where did we come from', 'where are we going?', 'what is the ultimate purpose to our lives?' - or maybe 'how can we find a sense of meaning?'.

I doubt that religions will be done away with altogether in the next few hundred years, but I would like to see a nontheistic eudaimonistic alternative to religion. I'm already there, at least in its embryo stage.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Moriah Ruth 777]

TG123,

Yes, I agree with you that Crislam is Satanic even Islam itself. If one were to read the Qu'ran and their Hadiths they will see that something is not right. Considering that their Prophet Mohammed had seizures that were questionable and he himself even stated that some of the things did come from Satan. Others around him would state that he was possessed even from a young child.

Yes, Satan is using Crislam to get Christians away from their faith. Mixing evil with good.

Moriah Ruth

 

[UnafraidOne]

Thank you for the varied and all interesting responses.


I think that whatever religion survives, or whatever form it evolves into as a replacement, the issue of control will play a heavy hand in determining the outcome.

As people become more and more knowledgeable of the vast nature of the physical world - and the world of ideas, a dogmatic or controlling and stifling set of doctrines will carry with it the seeds of its own destruction.

I am going to finish this post shortly.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Thank you for the varied and all interesting responses.


I think that whatever religion survives, or whatever form it evolves into as a replacement, the issue of control will play a heavy hand in determining the outcome.

As people become more and more knowledgeable of the vast nature of the physical world - and the world of ideas, a dogmatic or controlling and stifling set of doctrines will carry with it the seeds of its own destruction.

I am going to finish this post shortly.

I think you'll find that most religious people aren't stifled by their faith and spiritual life; you'll also most likely find that most religious people don't use their religion as a go-to to avoid honest scientific inquiry. Those that do tend to be in the minority.

However the Science v. Religion Myth that arose in the Enlightment seems to be one that many still cling to in the 21st century, by many Atheists as well as Religious Fundamentalists.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[UnafraidOne]

Continuing from above:

Controlled, then, is not something people are naturally inclined to be. Although they love, love, love - love nothing more than to control.

Appealing to a deity with supernatural powers, who has bestowed on oneself the ability to direct those powers to hurt or help the audience in question, is an alternative approach to gaining power/control/influence by engaging in physical violence.

Although this tactic might play a somewhat lower role today in the adult sphere of everyday interactions than in past centuries (thanks to the scientific enlightenment), countless children are told what to believe, how to think, and the dire consequences of not doing so (along with the robbing of personal decision making that is so vital to healthy development as one reaches maturity).

This is no recipe for success. Any religion or alternative, I contend, which wishes to survive must pay homage to the following principle: Any coercive tactic used to gain adherants disqualifies said religion from a claim to a high-minded moral or spiritual truth. It is exactly when coercion, either physical or psychological, is used to influence people towards good actions or beliefs, that the pushback response - no matter how brutal - becomes the right response.

 

[UnafraidOne]

I think you'll find that most religious people aren't stifled by their faith and spiritual life; you'll also most likely find that most religious people don't use their religion as a go-to to avoid honest scientific inquiry. Those that do tend to be in the minority.

However the Science v. Religion Myth that arose in the Enlightment seems to be one that many still cling to in the 21st century, by many Atheists as well as Religious Fundamentalists.

-CryptoLutheran

But then, without the old coercive tactics and opportunities to indoctrinate, what do the old religions rely on to get people to accept their validity (truthfullness). Over one another say.

 

[ViaCrucis]

But then, without the old coercive tactics and opportunities to indoctrinate, what do the old religions rely on to get people to accept their validity (truthfullness). Over one another say.

I'd like to think it's because they become convinced based on the merits of the religion itself. I grew up a Christian, but I remain a Christian because of my conviction of Jesus. Nobody needs to coerce me, control me, or threaten me. I actively engage myself in a worshiping community out of my own desire to do this, my own desire to be part of it out of my own devotion and dedication to the teachings and way of Jesus.

If you were to ask me why someone should become a Christian, I would offerr the same statements. I wouldn't want someone to convert out of a need to conform, or a need to stand out; not for fear of hell and punishment, or desire for paradise and reward. But rather because of the standing merit of Jesus as encountered in the Gospel itself. If they don't believe then they don't believe, if they do believe then they do believe.

At least as far as my own religion is concerned. I would imagine that such sentiments exist elsewhere as well. Judaism, in fact, actively deters others from converting. A potential convert is turned away at least three times before being accepted and going through the conversion process.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[xDenax]

That's just the thing: science can address all sorts of things, but not a sense of meaning or purpose to life. It can never answer why.

Not everyone needs a sense of ultimate meaning or purpose. They live their life, making their own meaning. That's good enough.