Is Science The Top Reason People Abandon Spiritual Pursuits?

[Eli G]

No you are right science can't do everything but it is continually helping us live better lives, so less need for religion. ...

Living conditions on Earth are not getting better with time, as you think. At this point it is not just about the benefits that some human beings receive, but about the damage that is being done to our planet so that they can have those personal benefits.

The main problem of human societies is of a moral nature, and as that human aspect deteriorates, everything else is affected. Violence, criminality, theft, selfishness, lack of ethics, lack of empathy, lack of respect, addictions and vices, etc., cannot be eliminated with the intentions of good people.

On the other hand, atheism and dictatorial governments go together and those are are not the solution to human problems.

 

[Pogo]

Living conditions on Earth are not getting better with time, as you think. At this point it is not just about the benefits that some human beings receive, but about the damage that is being done to our planet so that they can have those personal benefits.

The main problem of human societies is of a moral nature, and as that human aspect deteriorates, everything else is affected. Violence, criminality, theft, selfishness, lack of ethics, lack of empathy, lack of respect, addictions and vices, etc., cannot be eliminated with the intentions of good people.

On the other hand, atheism and dictatorial governments go together and those are are not the solution to human problems.

I notice you have no data to back up your opinions.

But here is one for you to contemplate re evil liberal states full of atheists unlike god fearing Louisiana where they want to post the 10 commandments on the wall.

The above average states, I didn't realize atheism and rejection of morality were so popular here.

Oh that's where those evil cesspits, California, New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota and heck even that den of iniquity Nevada with Brothels and Gambling show up as practitioners of thou shall not kill.

And then there is the crime rate in radical places like Cambridge Mass, home of Harvard, MIT Boston College and even Radcliffe.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

But liberating to many who were brought up in controlling environments. Especially when religion was used as a method of control.

I'm so, so sorry about your experience. If that was the case, I completely understand why leaving religion in the dust felt like a breath of fresh air.

Some religious groups are just extremely toxic. I try to stay away from the word cult, because it seems like everyone has a different definition of the word. What I'm describing are religious groups that tear you down rather than build you up. And yes, extreme control is one of the major hallmarks of these toxic faiths. I don't want to do a big long post of all the signs of such a group, but isolating members from their families and friends, inability to tolerate questions, and use of fear are on top of the list. These groups cause tremendous psychological damage.

What is so sad, so incredibly sad, is that these perversions of religion taint the perception of religion in general, which is actually a really good thing. I don't think it's fair to give religion a bad rap simply because a minority are so destructive.

Religion serves a long list of purposes, all of which are very, very good. Participation in a religious community means that a person is more likely to be healthier, happier, longer lived, and have a buffer against anxiety and depression. Where a toxic faith creates fear and oppression, a healthy religion provides security and safety, acceptance, care in times of trouble, support for sticking to an ethical framework, the feeling of being loved, and the ability to see meaning in life.

If religion doesn't work for you, that's okay. But I hope that you can at least form an intellectual appreciation for religion in general, despite the exceptions to the rule.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Living conditions on Earth are not getting better with time, as you think.

So life expectancy hasn't tripled since the advent of modern science?
Infant mortality isn't at an all-time low?

At this point it is not just about the benefits that some human beings receive, but about the damage that is being done to our planet so that they can have those personal benefits.

Yes, environmental damage is a problem. Largely one that initially occurred due to ignorance and later on sustained by the powers that be because of economic reasons (read: greed).

Nevertheless, even with those problems, life today is still better then at any time in human history.
The way forward now is to find and implement solutions for those problems.

The main problem of human societies is of a moral nature, and as that human aspect deteriorates, everything else is affected. Violence, criminality, theft, selfishness, lack of ethics, lack of empathy, lack of respect, addictions and vices, etc., cannot be eliminated with the intentions of good people.

I'ld rather say that the intentions of good people is the only cure for it...
Having said that, even those aspects are better today then before.

Not in all countries perhaps. But in general, I think we see enormous moral progress as opposed to the past.
We no longer keep slaves, we no longer think racism is acceptable, women are considered more then just breeding vessels and cooks, etc.

On the other hand, atheism and dictatorial governments go together and those are are not the solution to human problems.

That's ridiculous.

Look around the world today. The higher the religiosity of a society, the more dictatorial it tends to be.
In fact, literally every theocracy is an authoritarian form of rule.

Meanwhile, secular democracies like we find in Europe, Japan, etc are amongst the nations with least religiosity and the highest standards of living.

Authoritarianism is where we find dogma from the top down. If you think that atheism is the main problem in a country like North Korea (where the Great Leader is to be worshipped as if he is some kind of god), then you should really inform yourself a bit.

 

[idea]

This is why Mormons leave:

False scripture (could be lumped with science?), racism in church, polygamy- sexism, lgbtq, evil leaders...

Those with higher educational levels tend to leave.

Personal Mormon Faith Crisis Report – Research Summary - wasmormon.org

This report studies a faith crisis in detail along with an actual research survey of members who have left the church due to faith crisis and these respondents' demographics such as age, gender, education level, household income, and church callings held as well as the primary reasons why the...

wasmormon.org

 

[Valjean]

People abandon pursuits when they cease delivering the benefits they once did. Religion thrives in insecurity. It reassures and binds people into mutually supportive groups.
Remove the physical, financial, or psychic threat, or replace religious succor with purposefully designed social programs addressing the problematic issues, and religion is rendered unnecessary and obsolete.

The OP mentions "spiritual pursuits." To my mind these can be quite different from religion, in both form and function. Religious and spiritual abandonment can often be separate issues.

 

[QuestioningMind]

What do you think is the top reason people leave religion and spiritual paths? I think it’s science. However, I don’t think science is intentionally trying to lead people away from these things. I think it’s just happening. The only other reason I can think of would be killing in the name of religion. Are there more you can think of?

My lack of belief in any religious claims or the concept of a spirit is that I've yet to see any verifiable evidence to warrant such belief.

 

[Jimmy]

My lack of belief in any religious claims or the concept of a spirit is that I've yet to see any verifiable evidence to warrant such belief.

If life itself, a miracle beyond words, isn’t enough evidence then I don’t know what to tell you.

 

[QuestioningMind]

If life itself, a miracle beyond words, isn’t enough evidence then I don’t know what to tell ya.

Life is really cool, so... GOD! Like I said, I've yet to be presented with any kind of verifiable evidence to warrant such a belief.

 

[Valjean]

If life itself, a miracle beyond words, isn’t enough evidence then I don’t know what to tell ya.

Why is "life itself" a miracle beyond words? How is it evidence of God or any intentional mechanism?

 

[Jimmy]

Life is really cool, so... GOD! Like I said, I've yet to be presented with any kind of verifiable evidence to warrant such a belief.

Like I said. I don’t know what to tell you.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

If life itself, a miracle beyond words, isn’t enough evidence then I don’t know what to tell you.

How is life evidence of such?

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Like I said. I don’t know what to tell you.

Perhaps that is so because you got nothing to say...

All you have with this "life" thing, seems to be no more then the usual arguments from ignorance, incredulity, awe, complexity,..
A cesspool of logical fallacies that you confuse with "evidence".

 

[Mock Turtle]

What do you think is the top reason people leave religion and spiritual paths? I think it’s science. However, I don’t think science is intentionally trying to lead people away from these things. I think it’s just happening. The only other reason I can think of would be killing in the name of religion. Are there more you can think of?

I'm not sure that there is any particular main reason - not having the data or knowledge of history to make such a choice - but at one time knowledge (what was accepted as such) was mainly in the hands of religions. It was not until the 15th century - the advent of printed books and these becoming common - and later when education, particularly literacy, began to be the norm that religions possibly began to lose their stranglehold over knowledge. With the advent of travel (living in other countries), communications by post, and latterly, radio, TV, and the internet, perhaps it is simply this spread of knowledge doing much to cause such disenchantment with religions or as to changing from one to another. I wouldn't put it down solely to science.

 

[PureX]

Very few are being drawn away from religion by atheist BS. They are being driven away by religious BS.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Very few are being drawn away from religion by atheist BS.

What kind of "BS" would that be?

Just wondering.

 

[Yerda]

I don't know that I've ever had a "spiritual pursuit" but I can tell you I left the Catholic church when it started to embarrass me that grown adults apparantly believed the stories in the bible. I was about 10 years old and I loved those stories, too.

I suppose you could say I collided with reality rather than discovered science or anything like that.

 

[Revoltingest]

The top reason people leave religion (IMO).....
The became adults, & realized that like
Santa Claus, sky fairy tales aren't real.

Science is a secondary reason, ie, discovering
that religious explanations are loopy (IMO)
compared to scientific ones.

 

[PureX]

What kind of "BS" would that be?

Just wondering.

Scientism, materialism, and misplaced religious resentment.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Scientism, materialism, and misplaced religious resentment.

Can you be more specific?