Tello 1

Guillermo Tello

Suzanne Jacobs

RELS 2300

December 1, 2018

Is Religion become less relevant and is

science and technology affecting it?

In our present time, technology is a necessity in are daily lives. Technology is constantly

advancing to help increase work productivity and to adapt to global issues. While mostly all

religions have been associated with conflicts, war, love, faith, forgiveness, morals, worship,

corruption, sins and volunteering; not saying that technology and science are perfect but most

religion don’t open up to changing or progression, while technology and science have been

rapidly trying to find ways to advance so we can progress. While technology has definitely has

had an effect on how religion is seen today. In history religion has been a source of what humans

desires like acceptance, status curiosity, power, guidance and answers. While humans views have

evolved and some find it less interested in what religion has to say and offer. Some might think

that religion is corrupted and looks more like a business than a religion and that the harm that

religion has contributed is more than the good. With the many controversy, violence and

scandals that religion has been faced in recent times , it has given the word religion a negative

look and causing some people to be less interested in it. There are many reasons why religion has

been slowly falling down mainly in most first world countries. Religion is slowly become less
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relevant globally each year, as the new generation will see technology and science more

meaningful and reliable.

I. How technology has affected religion

In these technology times when mostly everyone relies on technology and has some type

of access to the internet, newer generations will have new ways to view the world and find any

type of answers that comes to mind. The Internet allows anyone to learn just about anything with

all this information it can create a new perspective on what religion is about. While technology

has also helped religion spread the faith throughout social media and also created a stronger bond

between people around the world. Some people might say that the internet has made religion

stronger and more popular, some religions have adapted to new technology to help them be more

aware about their faith and practices like ”​However, for Tariq who resides in Lahore, an iPhone

notification does the job due to a smartphone application called ‘Ramadan Times’ which reminds

the user of fasting times depending on the location.” (​Zahran​) some religions have embrace

technology and seeing the benefits it can do. I think that because technology is new experience

compared to religion, that the new generations at schools are taught facts and scientific reasons

and are more interested in facts and logic that they can view from their phones. While

researchers notice that new generations in United States think differently about religion. “This

includes many respondents who mention “science” as the reason they do not believe in religious

teachings, including one who said “I’m a scientist now, and I don’t believe in miracles.” Others

reference “common sense,” “logic” or a “lack of evidence” – or simply say they do not believe in

God.”(​Lipka​) I wouldn’t say that religion and technology are enemies but scientists and
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researcher using technology to advance in the future and by creating a world with more facts and

knowledge about are exists, it could have an impact on religion.

II. Science, Education and Religion

Science and religion have a had some conflicts in recent times like scientist says that

some aspects of religion are false and lack evidence. Schools that teach Darwin’s theory of

evolution and how his theory has helped scientist understand more about how are origins could

have started “​that all life is related and has descended from a common ancestor: the birds and

the bananas, the fishes and the flowers -- all related​” (Darwin's Theory Of Evolution.) Religious

groups were concerned to what the schools were teaching the students and that theory

contradicted on their beliefs.

Scientist are always looking to advance knowledge and to spread their research to others

so they can be more educated, Some of the most religious countries in world are from third world

countries, where most live in poverty and don’t get enough education. People who are poor seem

to be more religious, without access to what first world countries have, many find guidance from

religion and gives them a reason to keep going. When I was in Peru I lived close by the poor side

of Cercado de Lima and every sunday at church, there would always be people praying for good

health and opportunities to provide for their families. There was a lot of corruption at those times

leaving people to have faith in god and to work instead of going to school, religion can have a

huge influence for those who are poor, since many religions tend to the poor by giving food and

sheltering creating an atmosphere hope and salvation.

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In conclusion ​.The rate in which non religious and atheists are increasing but really

slowly but not all religions are losing followers, Islam in the other hand is actually increasing

followers and is believed to surpass Christianity on followers in the future. With new technology

advancing at a rapid pace giving scientist more opportunities to discover the truth about the

mysteries that are world has given us; there are many reason why non religious people are

increasing and as of now there are increasing at a slow pace but with the world progressing and

living in a world with technology giving the new generations a new perspective on religion. I

don’t think it's possibly to have no religions in world because people crave for life purpose and

what it means to live in this world and will create someone or something superior to follow.
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Work Cited

● Zahran, Lisa. “The Impact of Technology on Islam.” ​Beliefnet,​ Beliefnet, Inc. and/or Its

Licensors,

www.beliefnet.com/faiths/islam/articles/the-impact-of-technology-on-islam.aspx​.

● Lipka, Michael. “Why Some Americans Left Religion Behind.” ​Pew Research Center​,

Pew Research Center, 24 Aug. 2016,

www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/08/24/why-americas-nones-left-religion-behind/​.

● “Darwin's Theory Of Evolution.” ​Darwin's Theory Of Evolution​,

www.darwins-theory-of-evolution.com/.