Religion in the "Modern" world
Praying Hands, a bronze statue at Oral Roberts University, Tulsa OK (Image: mulmatsherm, Creative Commons)
An exploration religious faith in America and other parts of the world in a time of increasing secularism.
The following is not a full transcript; for full story, listen to audio.Secularism is a defining characteristic of the "Modern" world -- so why is there such an increase in religious belief? With two major religions celebrating holidays, "To the Point" looks at faith in America and other parts of the world.
Ever since the Enlightenment, deep thinkers have claimed that modernity would drive out religion, probably by the end of the 20th Century. But since the 1970's, that trend has gone into reverse.
"Newsweek" magazine's current cover announces “The Decline and Fall of Christian America,” while a recent book is entitled God Is Back. The contrast illustrates the worldwide tension between secularism in modern political life and the growing prevalence of religious belief.
Free-market thinking has some people shopping between denominations. Some traditionalists threatened by the secular world go to extremes. Do religions compete for believers? Which one is likely to win? Why is Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda such a "Modern" phenomenon?
Guests:
- Adrian Wooldridge: co-author, "God Is Back"
- Luis Lugo: Director, Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
- Akbar Ahmed: Chair of Islamic Studies, American University
- Mark Juergensmeyer: Director, UCSB's Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies
Hosted by award-winning journalist Warren Olney, "To the Point" presents informative and thought-provoking discussion of major news stories — front-page issues that attract a savvy and serious news audience.
I have yet to see even an acknowledgment of this potentially potent concept by anyone, despite the probability of its value in world-wide cultures.
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