Growing World Population Impact on Religion?

[TechTed]

As of May 31st, 2009, the world population was estimated to be around 6.7 billion.

It is estimated that by 2040, the world population will grow to over 9 billion.

How do the various religions reconcile with this fact?

How can all of these souls be "enlightened" and saved? Most of this population explosion will surely occur in the undeveloped / 3rd world areas. Are these poor souls who are born in the future with no opportunity to hear various religious teachings just condemned from birth?

What about those religions that believe in reincarnation? How do they explain the fact that our population is growing exponetionally? Where are the "new" souls coming from?

Is this a sign of the apocalypse?

Does it force a change in our perspective of "God" and religion overall?

Just curious to hear some others thoughts on this.

 

[Sunstone]

Is this a sign of the apocalypse?

Actually, everything is a sign of the apocalypse. Especially for those of us with schizophrenia. Apocalyptic thoughts are pretty common in schizophrenia and psychotic breaks.

 

[3.14]

9 billion phu, thats nothing ww3 won't fix

 

[ChristineES]

Let's just hope that we don't end up like that episode of Star Trek (The Mark of Gideon) where the planet was so crowded that it was totally filled up.

 

[Humanistheart]

As of May 31st, 2009, the world population was estimated to be around 6.7 billion.

It is estimated that by 2040, the world population will grow to over 9 billion.

How do the various religions reconcile with this fact?

How can all of these souls be "enlightened" and saved? Most of this population explosion will surely occur in the undeveloped / 3rd world areas. Are these poor souls who are born in the future with no opportunity to hear various religious teachings just condemned from birth?

What about those religions that believe in reincarnation? How do they explain the fact that our population is growing exponetionally? Where are the "new" souls coming from?

Is this a sign of the apocalypse?

Does it force a change in our perspective of "God" and religion overall?

Just curious to hear some others thoughts on this.

Overpoulation might bring a type of apocolypse. More people, more resources expended, more polution, leading to global warming and mass extinction of plants, animals and entire eco-systems.

Reincarnation is not instant. It's not like you die then boom your born again. Your essence usually enjoys the bliss of nirvana for many years before being forced to return. There have been far more people alive totalled up throughout history than 9 billion. New souls not really an issue. Not to mention there can in fact be new souls, so again, not an issue.

There's room for the explosion in the 3rd world countires because of the millions that have been slaughtered over the last 80 years there. As opposed to say china which is now forced to reduce population throuigh the government. A method all countries are heading toward if people don't curb the population growth themselves.
The issue of weather or not these idividuals were basically born to go to hell is not new. The same question has been asked long before over-population was an issue.

The real question is what are religions doing to help with over-population? In India, the people have finally started birth control methods. And the changes in their culture are slowly taking away the strong desire for male children. Bhuddism does not promote mass population growth like the traditional abrahamic religions, and has never been a problem. In Isreal, Jews there recognize it's unethical to bring more children into the world than it can handle, and abortions aren't against jewish law. Catholic christians on the other hand are still a problem, as the pope had declared birth control against god's will.