Religion is all about uncertainty. Religion exists to fill in those parts of your life that are beyond your control and understanding. It's been doing so for a long time.

They do start with a special revelation, which arguably ARE "Q&A sessions with God", at least from their own point of view. The revelations aren't complete, though. Since the beginning, they've had to interpret and interpolate. Honest people will say when they're unable to find a concrete answer, and it's not valid even within religious confines to simply assert that an interpolation is absolutely true.

Now, in the last few centuries those areas beyond control and understanding, that used to be the province of religion, have instead been given more concrete answers by science and education. That has pushed that ability to interpret and interpolate to the test. Many previously accepted ones have been demonstrated to be false. The revelation is no longer accepted as a valid argument in civil society.

But there a remain areas beyond our control and understanding, some scientific, some moral. Those who wish to accept what the revelation (suitably interpreted) says is "true" FOR THEMSELVES may do so; the burden of proof is on others to disprove it (religion always don’t want to carry any burden of proof for their claims). As long as there is some consistent interpretation, no matter how twisted and unlikely, you haven't disproven it.

Note the giant caveat in there. They can accept it for themselves. But if they wish to compel you to accept it, the burden of proof reverts back to them. Those interpretations don't count as proof. An interpretation under which the revelation is not wrong is not the same as proof that it is right.

Offline, I really avoid religious discussions because I know how sensitive that it is in less-advanced societies like Nigeria where logic, science and reason is abysmal. I studied in Poland and Poland is ranked one of the most religious countries in Europe, however you could still sense the overall irreligious nature compared to Nigeria. I have had opportunities to travel to the Netherlands, U.K and Germany, its clear that societal advancement especially the liberal kind of western civilization kills religion, you could see it in the fabrics of their societies that religion is dying and being relegated to second fiddle. I have this Jehovah witness member that I have always engaged here in Nigeria, I stopped engaging him when I realized it’s all a waste of time: he makes many things up and whenever I ask for evidence, it’s seems like he has problems understanding what qualifies as evidence or proof. I had to make him know that Belief is a wonderful thing, you can waste your entire life following whatever suits your brain to have faith in! Or live in the real world without the mystical influence of imaginary deities. I don’t need to believe in superstition, I believe in myself and what I can achieve in my life. I had to settle for the fact that, this society is backward, people are less educated and even the educated are poorly educated. The educated are ill-equipped with ability to reason logically, observe the world and make sane and rational deductions without filling the gaps with spirits. This lacuna in our educational system also marks the obvious setbacks we have had in developing science and technological innovations and economy.

In advanced societies, As people become better educated they realise that the gaps for Gods to fit in are getting smaller and smaller.

One of the reasons that the concept of deities arose is to give an answer to questions that ancient man hadn't the knowledge, yet, to explain. Things like “Why does the sun rise?” and “What is thunder?”.

As our understanding of the universe expands the need for propitiating an angry god with flattery and ritual in case he makes the rivers flood or to curry his/her favour with praise and sacrifices has gone.

Western countries are just a little further down that road than other nations. In the end humanity will grow up and no longer need its security blanket.

Good governance is the reason, they have everything at their disposal including sound education.


Religion thrives in poor countries where people battle poverty everyday, there's no leadership, so people turn to churches and mosques for help instead of government.

.

God1000:
Good governance is the reason, they have everything at their disposal including sound education.


Religion thrives in poor countries where people battle poverty everyday, there's no leadership, so people turn to churches and mosques for help instead of government.

i guess I posted this in the wrong section.

The mods can do the needful.

However, you care very correct

God1000:
Good governance is the reason, they have everything at their disposal including sound education.


Religion thrives in poor countries where people battle poverty everyday, there's no leadership, so people turn to churches and mosques for help instead of government.

Spot on..

This amazing write-up should hit front page. I doubt it will because ignorance thrives in this platform.

Workch:
i guess I posted this in the wrong section.

The mods can do the needful.

However, you care very correct

Mynd44
Lalasticlala

Please move this to front page

People fast and pray hard before attending job interviews in Nigeria and still end up not taken..

But over there even if you're the greatest sinner on Earth, job is almost always guaranteed after interview.

Religion is one of the problems of this nation

Religion cannot be questioned or doubted

Science can.

Religion without God will fail.

But relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ wil never fail....

Infact in times like these, people are receiving Jesus Christ and their lives are being transformed spiritually, physically, emotionally and otherwise.

obonujoker:
Religion without God will fail.

But relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ wil never fail....

Infact in times like these, people are receiving Jesus Christ and their lives are being transformed spiritually, physically, emotionally and otherwise.

lol

mumumugu:
Religion cannot be questioned or doubted

Science can.

yeah, which is a very good thing for science. Creates room for improvement.

Immutability means that you cannot improve or advance beyond where you are, which is the reason for the obvious dying state of religion in the west and it is slowly creeping into Africa..
People leave religion when they can’t question them. Religion wants to solve new problems with old technics and answers that never work

Thoughtful

Workch:
Religion is all about uncertainty. Religion exists to fill in those parts of your life that are beyond your control and understanding. It's been doing so for a long time.

They do start with a special revelation, which arguably ARE "Q&A sessions with God", at least from their own point of view. The revelations aren't complete, though. Since the beginning, they've had to interpret and interpolate. Honest people will say when they're unable to find a concrete answer, and it's not valid even within religious confines to simply assert that an interpolation is absolutely true.

Now, in the last few centuries those areas beyond control and understanding, that used to be the province of religion, have instead been given more concrete answers by science and education. That has pushed that ability to interpret and interpolate to the test. Many previously accepted ones have been demonstrated to be false. The revelation is no longer accepted as a valid argument in civil society.

But there a remain areas beyond our control and understanding, some scientific, some moral. Those who wish to accept what the revelation (suitably interpreted) says is "true" FOR THEMSELVES may do so; the burden of proof is on others to disprove it (religion always don’t want to carry any burden of proof for their claims). As long as there is some consistent interpretation, no matter how twisted and unlikely, you haven't disproven it.

Note the giant caveat in there. They can accept it for themselves. But if they wish to compel you to accept it, the burden of proof reverts back to them. Those interpretations don't count as proof. An interpretation under which the revelation is not wrong is not the same as proof that it is right.

Offline, I really avoid religious discussions because I know how sensitive that it is in less-advanced societies like Nigeria where logic, science and reason is abysmal. I studied in Poland and Poland is ranked one of the most religious countries in Europe, however you could still sense the overall irreligious nature compared to Nigeria. I have had opportunities to travel to the Netherlands, U.K and Germany, its clear that societal advancement especially the liberal kind of western civilization kills religion, you could see it in the fabrics of their societies that religion is dying and being relegated to second fiddle. I have this Jehovah witness member that I have always engaged here in Nigeria, I stopped engaging him when I realized it’s all a waste of time: he makes many things up and whenever I ask for evidence, it’s seems like he has problems understanding what qualifies as evidence or proof. I had to make him know that Belief is a wonderful thing, you can waste your entire life following whatever suits your brain to have faith in! Or live in the real world without the mystical influence of imaginary deities. I don’t need to believe in superstition, I believe in myself and what I can achieve in my life. I had to settle for the fact that, this society is backward, people are less educated and even the educated are poorly educated. The educated are ill-equipped with ability to reason logically, observe the world and make sane and rational deductions without filling the gaps with spirits. This lacuna in our educational system also marks the obvious setbacks we have had in developing science and technological innovations and economy.

In advanced societies, As people become better educated they realise that the gaps for Gods to fit in are getting smaller and smaller.

One of the reasons that the concept of deities arose is to give an answer to questions that ancient man hadn't the knowledge, yet, to explain. Things like “Why does the sun rise?” and “What is thunder?”.

As our understanding of the universe expands the need for propitiating an angry god with flattery and ritual in case he makes the rivers flood or to curry his/her favour with praise and sacrifices has gone.

Western countries are just a little further down that road than other nations. In the end humanity will grow up and no longer need its security blanket.

I disagree with you. There is no data that shows that the more education you give a man, the less committed he would be to God.
There is no evidence to show that most of the nonreligious people were more religious before obtaining their PHDs.
Yes there is a cultural shift or a religious shift but non of the reasons you gave are correct.
Since the Egyptian civilization, we have had educated people, we have always had scientist. They shift is not caused by education rather it is cultural.

Who is deceiving you? Science is the deceiver that wants to claim the that belongs to GOD. In he hisory of the universe, it has always reoccur and later destroy itself. From the time of nimrod to alexandar the great. See how they rise and fall. The technology of this endtime will be used to destroy mankind but GOD will surely save His people. Im not ready to throw my precious pearl to swine but know for sure this present ruling scientific kingdom will destroy itself according to daniel's prophecy which quotes ^he shall speak against the most high and shall wear out the saints of the most high. He will think to put his tent between the sea and the glorious holy mountain, yet he shall come to his own end with none to help him^