In the past, many countries across the world thought it was an act of lunacy to declare no religious affiliation. Everyone it seemed believed in some sort of God and also a place of absolute paradise when entering the afterlife. Many people these days still believe this is true, that a society would turn to chaos and become filled with immoral people. However, the percentage of Americans who declare themselves Christians is quickly decreasing, and the number of Americans claiming to be nonreligious has doubled in the passed twenty years. Jon Meacham believes that the religious foundations that our country was built on appear to be crumbling under our feet as we know it, and this has me wondering, why is religion now starting to disappear in today’s society? Is it even necessary for humanity to function?
William Donahue, who is President of the Catholic League, believes that individualism is a main reason why religion today appears to be fading. In America’s past, most people conformed to popular beliefs. Going against the norm of society would often lead to rejection of peers an even family members. Times are now changing in America, and people are starting to do what they want to do and believe in whatever they feel is right to believe in, regardless of other’s views of that belief.
Don’t get me wrong. Religion can be an extremely positive aspect in some societies. According to Phil Zuckerman, churches can strengthen bonds within the community, and families who attend church claim to have higher life satisfaction, better family life, and fewer cases of depression.
However, there is no correlation between believing in God and having a strong moral sense. Some of the most religious areas in the world are also the most violent and dangerous. In fact, some statistics prove that some nonreligious countries actually have happier, safer lives some religious communities. Zuckerman proved this by traveling to Denmark, a country known for its almost nonexistent belief in God. Surveys have shown that Scandinavia, the area that includes Denmark, is one of the most peaceful places on Earth, home to “one of the lowest crime and corruption rates in the world.”
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This was a well thought out paper, that I felt connected to because I have been asking these types of questions for a while. Also I'm glad that you found the book by Phil Zuckerman helpful, at least I got the impression that you found it helpful. The only thing that I would need to say is that at the end it felt as if you dropped the ball a bit. You were leading towards a great conclusion but I think it may need more.
ReplyDeleteA good strong stance so far. It seems a little unfinished though. Perhaps try to come up with a strong conclusion. Some more validation of your stance could help develop your point, as well as help lead to that conclusion. Perhaps, if you have them, share some personal experiences/observations/reflections on the goods and bads of relition in your life, and/or find examples of how it benifits and harms communities. Some of the sources are clear, but perhaps a little more information on them could be helpful. For example, who's Jon Meacham?
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