Will the Internet hasten decline of religion?

[Zzyzx]

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It seems as though most people (including religious leaders and organizations), other than die-hard religion promoters / defenders, recognize that religion is declining in educated / technological / advanced / western nations (including, belatedly, the US).

Some attribute the decline to increased education and access to information by the general public. During the past generation or two the Internet has tremendously increased public access to information (good, bad, indifferent).

Young people who might once have been somewhat restricted or isolated from 'evil influences' can now access whatever they wish using PCs, phones, devices -- whether their parents and preachers want them to or not. Some of those people might be among the 300 visitors viewing this website during the past 24 hours (about a typical day visitor count according to site statistics). And, this is just one of thousands of sites in which information is available that challenges religious dogma, literature, and/or indoctrination.

Is information available on the Internet likely to hasten / accelerate the decline of religion?

Is decline a 'good' thing or not?

[Youkilledkenny]

[Replying to post 3 by Zzyzx]

I've found less and less people who are informed and educated these days be it due to bad information, lack of good/correct info or laziness I'm not sure (though I have my opinions).
Maybe that will be a perfect breeding ground for religions?

[PghPanther]

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It seems as though most people (including religious leaders and organizations), other than die-hard religion promoters / defenders, recognize that religion is declining in educated / technological / advanced / western nations (including, belatedly, the US).

Some attribute the decline to increased education and access to information by the general public. During the past generation or two the Internet has tremendously increased public access to information (good, bad, indifferent).

Young people who might once have been somewhat restricted or isolated from 'evil influences' can now access whatever they wish using PCs, phones, devices -- whether their parents and preachers want them to or not. Some of those people might be among the 300 visitors viewing this website during the past 24 hours (about a typical day visitor count according to site statistics). And, this is just one of thousands of sites in which information is available that challenges religious dogma, literature, and/or indoctrination.

Is information available on the Internet likely to hasten / accelerate the decline of religion?

Is decline a 'good' thing or not?

It sure did for me...........I was a born again Christian of over 40 years when the Internet became a ubiquitous source of information in the household............both my age and maturity allowed me to separate the nonsense from truly objective sources of the credibility of Christian doctrinal/tradition claims and was I ever in for a eye opening experience that soon jettisoned everything I held in holy esteem as nothing more than a benevolent delusion.......

[Realworldjack]

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It seems as though most people (including religious leaders and organizations), other than die-hard religion promoters / defenders, recognize that religion is declining in educated / technological / advanced / western nations (including, belatedly, the US).

Some attribute the decline to increased education and access to information by the general public. During the past generation or two the Internet has tremendously increased public access to information (good, bad, indifferent).

Young people who might once have been somewhat restricted or isolated from 'evil influences' can now access whatever they wish using PCs, phones, devices -- whether their parents and preachers want them to or not. Some of those people might be among the 300 visitors viewing this website during the past 24 hours (about a typical day visitor count according to site statistics). And, this is just one of thousands of sites in which information is available that challenges religious dogma, literature, and/or indoctrination.

Is information available on the Internet likely to hasten / accelerate the decline of religion?

Is decline a 'good' thing or not?

I will only speak for Christianity. I understand, and absolutely agree, that Christianity is on the decline in the U.S. You throw out the internet as a possible reason, which could have an impact. I have my own reasons, and will be glad to discuss upon request. However, my question is, "what is the point?" Do we now decide what is true, by the number of those who believe it?

I am a Christian, and it has never crossed my mind, as to how many people agree with me, in attempting to determine, if it may be true!

[OnceConvinced]

I'm a firm believer that the Internet will and IS even now, hastening the decline of religion. In my country along, numbers of Christianity has dropped drastically since the Internet started.

The thing with the Internet is that you can't just preach anymore. On the internet people can respond and debunk anything you are preaching. They can argue. You are more likely to get an opposing viewpoint. No longer do Christians get it all their way (like they did with radio, tv and the pulpit), With the Internet they can't just preach and expect people to listen.

On this site we see how many theists attempting to preach and finding that it just doesn't work. They often don't hang around for long because without the power to preach, they have nothing. They are impotent.

I can speak as a Christian who when the Internet came along, was suddenly faced with many challenges and questions that I'd never come across before. I had been living in a safe little Christian bubble for so long, mainly associating with Christians or non-Christians who did not challenge and question.

The Internet is not a safe little bubble for Christians. It's a lion's den.

[Zzyzx]

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Is information available on the Internet likely to hasten / accelerate the decline of religion?

Is decline a 'good' thing or not?

I will only speak for Christianity. I understand, and absolutely agree, that Christianity is on the decline in the U.S. You throw out the internet as a possible reason, which could have an impact. I have my own reasons, and will be glad to discuss upon request.

Interesting. I have opened a thread to discuss reasons for decline. http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 821#845821

However, my question is, "what is the point?" Do we now decide what is true, by the number of those who believe it?

Has that been suggested? The OP only asks if the Internet contributes to the decline – not whether the religion (or anything else) is true or not.

I am a Christian, and it has never crossed my mind, as to how many people agree with me, in attempting to determine, if it may be true!

That may work for you personally, Jack, but religious organizations DO compete in popularity contests. As membership declines they lose influence and income. Religious leaders do express concern about their declining attendance figures.

[2Dbunk]

[Replying to post 9 by bjs]

It’s hard to say what the future will hold. I can’t speak for “religion� in general, but thus far every major advancement in communication and education has resulted in the further spread of Christianity.

What you say may be true. But spreading something (like butter or paint) over a large area tends to thin the product being applied. Take a lump of butter on toast -- it loses its effective cover toward the fringes while being spread, and the lump's center melts into the bread.

Since the product being spread is not renewed or added to, the main lump is corrupted by any of a number of things: melting, drying, debunking of superstition through education, etc.

So, you see that spreading the word to the far flung reaches of humanity may be beating education and the internet to these places, it is far from overall (TIME) victory.