1

Maria Geselman
Writing 150 05
Professor Iadonisi
April 15th 2013
Is the Phenomenon of the Death of Religion a Reality?
The religious tendencies of people have changed significantly in the modern world.
Religion has lost its awe inspiring force as it adjusts to the contemporary world. The death of
religion refers to the ultimate end of religion as a force in the lives of people (Palmer 1). The
prediction that religion will lose its powerful grip in the affairs of the world is often accompanied
with evidence, citing decrease in faith amongst people in their religions (Hendrie 1). Scientific
advancements and various metamorphoses in social thinking around the globe are often credited
with discrediting religion (Odoyo 1). The advancement of science has led to the discovery of
many secrets which were once accepted merely on faith, thereby making the basis of religion
feebler, however religion is still an important entity in the modern world. Scientific
advancements are not necessarily contrary to religion, because the polarization in the world and
wars fought on the basis of religion, and most importantly the religious revivalism the world is
bearing witness to, all pay tribute to the importance of religion in the modern world.
Darwins theory of Evolution has devastated foundations of most religions. This is
because the majority of religions agree upon the superiority of human beings. Darwins theory
refutes this claim by considering humans as being evolved creatures who are products of survival
of the fittest genes of the fittest animals (Ayala 856). This theory has also shredded the

religious beliefs about destiny of human beings. According to this theory humans cease to exist
after death however we still see that such arguments are openly contested, and never reach a
conclusive end, therefore this does not necessarily devastate religion. In fact, even despite the
introduction of the theory in many syllabi of textbooks across the world, we have seen that
people generally do not let it interfere with their religious attitudes. Hence, despite the
successful prevalence of the theory of natural selection, still it has not actually brought about a
change in religious attitudes.
The sanctity of life has been distorted by advances in genetics and medical science.
Animals can be cloned, and genetic make-ups can be modified, allowing geneticists to create the
sort of life they want (Douglas 334-35). All advancements in genetic engineering such as test
tube babies, modification of immune systems etc. is synonymous with meddling with the powers
of god. However, genetics and medicine are still an inexact science (Anderson 21-23). Complex
organisms such as humans cannot as-of-yet be cloned (Noval 1), and this alone is basis enough
for religious followers to re-establish the sanctity of the divine powers.
Social philosophies such as those presented by Karl Marx and Engels have also played an
important part by having a detrimental effect on the religion of people. These philosophies, based
on materialism and power, ultimately described religion as nothing more than an opium for the
people (Raines 248). These philosophies seem to have left a deep impact on the collective
psyche of world. These theories have created tendencies in people to belittle the importance of
religion. However, the world now lives in the age of pragmatism and capitalism, and theistic
tendencies are still in place and going strong.

Liberalism and Capitalism are the dominant political philosophies of the world today.
According to many theorists, the capricious materialist tendencies that capitalism so values, have
caused a departure amongst humans from the spiritual values of religion (ONeil 1). Liberalism,
the basis of Capitalism, stresses greatly on Individualism (Heywood 29-31). Although this
strictly means that whatever works for an individual, as long it adheres to the ideals of positive
freedom (Heywood 29-31), is acceptable to this ideological framework, thereby implying a
neutrality that is neither for nor against religion; however it can be argued that due to the
materialism inherent in Capitalism, people have let these otherwise neutral ideologies tear them
away from religion. This becomes evident when we see a separation between religion and state
in many capitalist countries. Even so, this does by no means spell an irreversible trend against
religion, for the U.S. which is the largest Capitalist economy in the world, has one of the largest
Christian followings. Therefore, we can say that although Capitalism and Liberalism have
perhaps negatively affected the importance of religion, they have not spelled an irreversible end
to religion, for it is still a very strong driving force in societies which have accepted the ideals of
these philosophies. Furthermore political ideologies are not permanent as we can see that
Communism, Nazism and Fascism were dominant in the first half of the 20th century. However
after fulfilling their reign they were overwhelmed by Capitalism and Liberalism. The Cold war
was the last clash between Capitalism and Communism (Gilbert 20). While religion has been
around since the origins of human civilization, we can infer that political ideologies change but
still the enterprise of religion remains intact.
As the world became more modern, the laws have abandoned the morals that religion has
taught us throughout history. The philosopher Nietzsche argued, and convincingly so about the
Death of God; in this book he argued about how God is no longer recognized as a moral

setting authority (Winninger 6). This may seem convincing however it does not account for the
many countries where religion does play a large role in the laws such as in Pakistan, Saudi
Arabia, Afghanistan, and other Islamic countries where the words: no law will be passed that is
repugnant to the spirit of Islam are part of the functional constitution (The Judicature 1). The
United States is a very liberal country with freedom of religion but even so its government has
laws having to do with religion. Such as Article 1 section 7 of the constitution which states If
any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall
have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it (US
Constitution Article 1). We can conclude that even as the world has become more modern and
technological still religion plays a vital role in its legislature.
The extreme polarization of religion in the world is ironically one of the strongest points
of evidence for the noticeable influence religion still holds on Earth. Groups like Taliban are
constituted on the basis of religion (Marsden 1). Furthermore, the term coined by Pastor Terry
Jones Burning of the Quran day, caused an uprising in the whole Muslim world as well as in
the United States (Russell 1). Similarly glancing back at history we can see a lot of religious
killings. The holocaust the crusades and the inquisition are some of the most well-known tragic
events in which millions of people were massacred (Nicholson xv). We can conclude from this
that religion has not only played an important role throughout the archives of history but also in
the recent world, therefore nullifying the effects given by the advocates of the phenomenon of
death of religion.
Another major point that can be raised in the favor of religion is that the phenomenon of
the seeming death of religion is only applicable in societies which have witnessed
development in terms of both science and political philosophies. For example, in Asia and large

parts of the Middle-East, where such developments are not so prominent, religion is still a vital
force in the lives of its people (Riaz 1-3). In these areas, where illiteracy, poverty, hunger and
other such sociological problems persist, religion is the only anchor of the people. In such areas,
religion is often the only thing that people have that allows them to bear the harsh realities of
their lives, and gives them hope of a better tomorrow (Schall 15-18).Therefore it can be
concluded that religion has a lot of life in it still because it is a very prominent part of the lives of
people in those areas of the world which constitute the majority of the worlds population.
The movement of religious revivalism significantly undermines the argument of the death
of religion. Religion has been growing in developing countries at an exponential rate during the
twentieth century; Africas Catholic population grew from 1.9 million to 130 million -- an
increase of 6,700 percent. (Jenkins 1). In the United States in the 1820s the Second Great
Awakening took place and gave way to a large increase of evangelicalism (Finseth 1). Europe
has experienced a significant religious awakening beginning after 1989. Believers who had been
disregarded by the church before this time were then accepted and became active in their
religions (Tomkin 8). Therefore, it can be argued that religion is far from being a dying entity;
rather it is an entity that has been restored due to the current revivalism.
The enterprise of religion has been through every thick and thin over millions of years
and it has never been lost in the mists of time. Even though the advancement in scientific
knowledge and technology has had some disastrous influence on the religion and the
development of some political ideologies have tried to take place of the religion but they are not
seasoned enough to do so as they have to withstand the test of time. These ideologies change
over the course of time and age but religion had stood through a course of millennia which gives

an ample proof of strength of religion. Therefore, we can conclude that religion is far from dying
and it still has enormous importance in the lives of the human beings

Works Cited
Anderson, W. F. "Genetics and Human Malleability." The Hastings Center Report 20.1 (1990):
21-23. Print.
"Article I." LII. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2013. http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articlei
Ayala, Francisco J. Introduction. Darwins Greatest Discovery: Design Without Designer. Vol.
104. Washington DC: National Academy Of Sciences, 2007. 856. Print.
Douglas, John H. "Genetics." Science News 104.21 (1973): 334-35. Print.
Finseth, Ian Frederick. "Rise of Evangelicalism." Rise of Evangelicalism. University of Virginia,
Aug. 1995. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma95/finseth/evangel.html
Gilbert, Paul. "Introduction."Introduction.Peoples, Cultures, and Nations in Political Philosophy.
Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, 2000. 2. Print.
Hendrie, Doug. "The Death of Religion?- The Drum Opinion (Australian Broadcasting
Corporation)."ABC.net.au. 1.Web. 11 May 2011.
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/29422.html
Heywood, Andrew. "Chapter 2: Liberalism." Political Ideologies. New York: Palgrave
Macmillan, 2004. 29-31. Print.
Jenkins, Philip. "RealClearReligion - The World's Fastest Growing Religion." RealClearReligion
- The World's Fastest Growing Religion. N.p., 13 Nov. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2013.
http://www.realclearreligion.org/articles/2012/11/13/the_worlds_fastest_growing_religio
n.html

Marsden, Peter. "Introduction."Introduction.The Taliban: War, Religion and the New Order in
Afghanistan. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 1999. 1. Print.
Nicholson, Helen J. "Foreword." Foreword.The Crusades. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 2004. xv.
Print.
Noval, Fabien. "Health & Medical News - Human Cloning Still Long Way Off: Experts 19/05/2003." ABC.net.au. ABC News.1. Web. 11 May 2011.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/health/HealthRepublish_858310.htm
Odoyo, Peter. "Kenya: The Death of Religion And Rise of Atheism in the West - Peter Odoyo,
AllAfrica.com - RichardDawkins.net." - RichardDawkins.net. 1. Web. 11 May 2011.
http://richarddawkins.net/articles/1421-kenya-the-death-of-religion-and-rise-of-atheismin-the-west
Riaz, Ali. "Introduction."Introduction.Religion and Politics in South Asia. London: Routledge,
2010. 1-3. Print.
Russell, Lauren. "Quran Burning Event Planned by Florida Church - CNN."Featured Articles
from CNN. 30 July 2010. 1. Web. 11 May 2011. http://articles.cnn.com/2010-0729/us/florida.burn.quran.day_1_quran-burning-florida-church-terry-jones-americanmuslims-religion?_s=PM:US
Raines, John. "Study Guide for Students."Marx on Religion. Templeton: Templeton UP, 2002.
248. Print.
Schall, James V. "Religion: From Poverty to Productivity." Religion, Wealth, and Poverty.
[Vancouver]: Fraser Institute, 1990. 15-18. Print.

"The Judicature."The Constitution of Pakistan.Constituent Assembly of Pakistan. 1. Web. 11

May 2011. http://www.pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part7.ch3a.html
Tomka, Mikls. "Expanding Religion." Google Books. Hubert & Co. GmbH &Co. KG,
Berlin/New York, 2011. Web. 19 Apr. 2013. http://books.google.com/books?
id=CsTCgrFPUnMC
Wininger, Kathleen J. "Introduction." Introduction.Nietzsche's Reclamation of Philosophy.
Amsterdam: Rodopi, 1997. 6. Print.