Is There a Future for Organized Religion?
Details
- Across much of the modern world, traditional religious institutions are losing ground. Church pews sit empty, clergy numbers dwindle, and long-standing denominations confront crises of aging congregations, social relevance and disaffection. Church scandals continue to erode public trust. Systemic misogyny and institutionalized gender inequity persist.
At the same time, the spread of education, science, and digital information has fueled a culture of skepticism. Empirical thinking and scientific literacy challenge literal interpretations of scripture, while moral authority increasingly shifts from sacred texts to human reason and shared ethics.
People are seeking meaning, connection, or transcendence without the dogma or hierarchy of institutions. In the US, the rise of the “religiously unaffiliated” (sometimes called “nones”) has seen a 97% increase since the last decade. As of 2025, 24.2**%** of the world’s population identified as having no religious affiliation.
Is there a future for organized religion? Can it accommodate and modernize in a way that addresses the demands and needs of contemporary diversity of thought and practice? Is there any place for a 1st century theology in a 21st century world?
“Religion is nothing but mind control. Religion convinces people that there’s an invisible man… who loves you but needs money.” George Carlin
Let’s talk about it!