The study of nature has taught us that every ecological system is based upon an economic solution that interacts. For example, a cheetah must make a successful kill within 3 attempts or it will not have the energy for a 4th attempt.
When a species becomes extinct another species evolves to fill the role left by the extinct species. Australia is a prime example. Marsupials fill the roles of animals that are not on that continent. Some kangaroos are grazers, some forgers, etc.
Thus it is with everything in life in every aspect. So since this is the case what would "fill the vacuum" if religion would die out?
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The Flat Earth Society
Unfortunately, although superstition is connected to religion, if religion dies out, superstition will live on in the imaginations of many. Additional to these societal problems, ignorance is also in play. I mentioned the Flat Earth Society because, just like religion, they have "beliefs" contrary to observation, science, and critical thinking.
People like to latch on to favorite things. I am a huge fan of motor racing, I marinate in things that make noise and competition. Others immerse themselves in things like Star Wars, Game of Thrones, football, you name it, some people are absolutely obsessed. And for some of those people, their grip on reality is tenuous at best.
The gullible, the ignorant, or even those who have so low confidence they desire others to make their decisions for them, will accept anything when Elmer Gantry comes knocking at their door.
In summation, religion will never die out. Our only hope is that more and more people begin to understand how destructive and foolish it is.
@David K.
Sad, but true.
I agree David
I have to concur. However at least we can unload a lot of pernicious hokum in the process of unloading archaic religions, and if we come up with new hokum then at least people will have to justify their own nonsense themselves, and not use the tired old nonsensical cliche that "god wants...." "and he's told me to tell you ...."
Fuck off, if there's a god and he wants something tell him to stop fucking around giving the message to retards who don't know what a logical fallacy is or what it means for an argument, and who don't know the difference between objective evidence and subjective faith based claims, and FUCKING TELL ME ITSELF what it wants.
I didn't know that about cheetahs. Cool
I'm going to have to give this some thought. I agree ecologies are founded on economics, but I'm not sure religion came out of that. For starters, new research shows the god belief came AFTER complex cultures emerged in Austronesia. Sure, they were superstitious, but that could just have been a byproduct of the ignorance of the time and good old pareidolia and apophenia.
https://www.richarddawkins.net/2015/03/complex-societies-evolved-without...
Ancient Chinese religions were atheistic, too. Taoism and Confucianism are founded on human wisdom. I agree religion grew out of superstition, yet not all religions are superstitious, apparently. Perhaps we know and are learning enough now that new harmful superstitions won't arise? One's that do ( I'm looking at you, antivaxxers ) will have to be reasoned out off the herd as much as possible so they're not a danger to the herd. So long as we never have new 'god says' crazy shit to deal with, we might have a shot.
I feel the internet / media would. Actually I think that process in many ways is already occurring. Way more folks at a young age are far more interested in social media then they are in any religion. Even major religious organizations are internally panicking that facebook is far more important to most of the next generation then any "god."
What would replace religions? In a word? KARDASHIANS. Mindless reality tv. Almost as bad as organized religion! Compare and contrast!
@Jax Re: Mindless reality tv.
Oh, man, you have no idea how much that idea disturbs the shit out of me. I very rarely watch any television, but when I do happen to be surfing channels and stop briefly on one of the countless "reality" shows, it simply makes my skin crawl. And, yeah, it seems way too many people thrive on those shows to provide the example of how they are suppose to behave socially. Gives me the heebie-jeebies. *shudder*