Secularists Must Remember that Religion is on Rise

As we tiptoe into 2025, there is something we need to start factoring into our thinking: religion. We may just have enjoyed a Christmas season with almost no mention of faith, but the world is set to become more religious, not less, in the coming decades. 

Western rationalists have always assumed that atheism is the logical end point of prosperity. But I’m no longer so sure. At the moment, four-fifths of the world’s population still identify with a religious group. You don’t have to “do God” to worry that the secular standpoint may therefore lack something when it comes to understanding global currents. There are many examples, but they might include the rise of Hindu nationalism in India, bloodshed in Nigeria, the recent change of heart by the Chinese Communist party in embracing folk traditions, and the uncertainty over what kind of Islam will prevail in Syria. Read Full Article »