Why does religion become first port of call during social and economic strife?
Within religion, why does a large chunk of the population not go deeper into orthodox religion but head instead towards these new age guys with their superficial cosmologies and simplistic solutions?
Well, is it really the first way of reacting? The question you are posing is really good, and provoking, but we also need to be cautious and critical with the way we pose questions, since they otherwise may display, or convey, prejudice and superficial ideas. It is not superficial at all to note that religion provides a language, or a way of expression, to other problems, but I think we may question if the first answer is religion (is it not violence, radicalization? - as Olivier Roy has suggested recently), and even more serious we have to take into account that 'religion' as such is not a concept agreed upon.
Given all these (perhaps: academic) presuppositions it is really interesting that religion can provide language and symbolic expressions to socio-political restriction and economic deprivation. To me, on a more personal note, it stress the fact that religious belief, and religious tradition as far as I know it, is closely knit with identity (existence and experience), belonging (fellowships and history) and horizon (projection/projects and hermeneutics (reading of 'my self')).
Thank you for a good question, Muhammad; it is so much more encouraging and engaging than most answers and statements.
Henrik Sonne P
To answer the former question: I think it is because when life becomes ripe with strife, then worry and anxiety begin to creep into the mind. At this point, the overwhelming questions of life become very important to people. Religion provides answers to these questions.
To answer the latter: that seems to have become very, very prevalent in the later half of the twentieth century (though not to say that this is when it started). People have an urge to follow spirituality, but they are looking for some specific things. These things can be as simple as eating pork to making free love and having orgies (there was actually a case of this in I believe the 60's where a man was actually bought a home and flown in from India to preach these ideals). Many people have begun to distrust the old religions as well. I think the greatest marvel and example of this phenomenon that you identity in the last sentence of your question is: Scientology. People pay to be re-programmed and purchase salvation-- or Operating Theta levels-- by trading their lives and money to the church.
Dear Muhammad,
During social upheavals, religious beliefs, sound or shallow, motivate some people who are irrational. On economic issues, they never do.
02. Orthodox beliefs have to go. It has nothing deep; if it has, they are personal views of the founders wth limited vision. Modern minds are not spurred by superficial knowledge of cosmology and simplistic solutions. The persons who display such thoughts are not really educated. Modern minds are more rational and modern education ignites students' sense of enquiry. As civilization will progress, orthodox religious beliefs will vanish while the spiritual values backed by reasoning will stay.
Best regards,
Sibaprasad
Love overcomes all fear, and prepares you for a wonderful life here and beyond.
Love overcomes all fear, and prepares you for a wonderful life here and beyond.
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