Does Religion Face a Challenge Now that is Unique in the history of the world?

[Dimmesdale]

Does religion (and I'm sure Christianity can be singled out quite prominently, but this isn't limited to one religion, I think) face an "unprecedented" challenge hitherto unknown in the history of the world? Such that the enterprise of religion cannot be maintained; that it sinks under the weight of too many challenges which deaden and vitiate it, to the point that religion is virtually impotent. And that this is something which cannot be compared to similar challenges that religion has faced.

I have heard it said that we do not live in such times. That we lack any frame of reference for saying that our situation is unique. Religion has always faced opposition. Human nature, such that it is, is very often averse to religiosity, can't handle it, or actively opposes it. Human nature is finite, fallen, etc, and this same fallenness simply manifests itself in different ways, at different times and places, but human nature itself is a constant. So why think, again, that our time is special in anyway?

Personally, I think this is a bit of a rose-tinted view. This is because this response blithely passes over the bulk of reality that we have witnessed already in the 20th century, to our time, and the whole confluence of factors which have accumulated and aggregated themselves over and beyond single issues, to the point that we are dealing with an entire worldview which runs counter to the selfless ethic espoused in religions, and perhaps Christianity particularly..... The phrase "God is dead", if it has content, must be applied to our time now, if it was applicable 150 years ago. Is God Dead? In some sectors, I would say, yes. But hardly anyone wishes to explore at length what this means, or say that it impacts their religion of choice. I am wondering what people think.

Is the Religious Crisis, over the past 10 to 15 years, unique?

[RugMatic]

Does religion (and I'm sure Christianity can be singled out quite prominently, but this isn't limited to one religion, I think) face an "unprecedented" challenge hitherto unknown in the history of the world? Such that the enterprise of religion cannot be maintained; that it sinks under the weight of too many challenges which deaden and vitiate it, to the point that religion is virtually impotent. And that this is something which cannot be compared to similar challenges that religion has faced.

As thou art in church or cell, that same frame of mind carry out into the world, into its turmoil and fitfulness___ Meister Eckhart.
As long as the world has turmoil and fitfulness religion will thrive. The only challenge that would "vitiate' religion is the riddance of suffering.

[Dimmesdale]

As thou art in church or cell, that same frame of mind carry out into the world, into its turmoil and fitfulness___ Meister Eckhart.
As long as the world has turmoil and fitfulness religion will thrive. The only challenge that would "vitiate' religion is the riddance of suffering.

Yes... I would agree that religion itself will survive, so long as human beings feel CHALLENGED by suffering.... I hope we never get to the point of Huxley's Brave New World. In fact, I am sure we never will. That is my personal view.

That said, I still think religion can be greatly eroded or reduced in vigor depending on the time and place.