Atheism has some properties that religion does not that may allow it to spread rapidly under certain cultural conditions that likely will exist in the future. For example, as technology continues to play a larger and larger role in our lives (and continues to spread to the poorest countries), that may well correlate with an increase in the respect for and interest in science that people have, as well as the number of people trained in scientific fields. As science tends to directly contradict many religious stories (such as the creation of the world in Genesis), and since levels of religious belief among scientists are generally much lower than among the population at large, that may increase the rate at which atheism spreads.
You know what Arthur C. Clark said about advanced technology. And indeed, it seems like most people treat it as nothing more than magic. Using technology doesn’t create respect for science, unfortunately. Let alone interest. (Except in people predisposed to either.)
I do see a possible way for technology to decrease faith, though. With technology, it’s quickly becoming much easier to form much more accurate impressions of the world, which lessens the need for and impact of weird superstitions and rationalizations that often lead to or reinforce religious or otherwise irrational beliefs. For instance, I imagine the advent of videocameras has led to a decline in the belief of ghosts and spirits. When personal video life recorders become a standard part of your wearable computer, belief in apparitions will probably be nearly eliminated.
Sure, many people treat technology like magic, but as it becomes an ever increasing part our our lives, it is hard to deny that the supply of jobs in science and engineering will increase, and subsequently that the number of scientists and engineers will grow to meet this demand. What is more, even if most people are not curious about the technology they grow up with, that does not preclude the possibility that increased technology correlates with increased interest in science. All it would take is one in 10 or even 1 in 20 people to be influenced by the technology they use.
My impression is that if anything recent technological progress in the developed world has gone along with a decrease in respect for and interest in science. While adherence to organized religion seems to have declined in much of the developed world it has often been replaced by equally non-scientific beliefs in new age mumbo jumbo and various kinds of ‘spirituality’.
Atheism has some properties that religion does not that may allow it to spread rapidly under certain cultural conditions that likely will exist in the future. For example, as technology continues to play a larger and larger role in our lives (and continues to spread to the poorest countries), that may well correlate with an increase in the respect for and interest in science that people have, as well as the number of people trained in scientific fields. As science tends to directly contradict many religious stories (such as the creation of the world in Genesis), and since levels of religious belief among scientists are generally much lower than among the population at large, that may increase the rate at which atheism spreads.
You know what Arthur C. Clark said about advanced technology. And indeed, it seems like most people treat it as nothing more than magic. Using technology doesn’t create respect for science, unfortunately. Let alone interest. (Except in people predisposed to either.)
I do see a possible way for technology to decrease faith, though. With technology, it’s quickly becoming much easier to form much more accurate impressions of the world, which lessens the need for and impact of weird superstitions and rationalizations that often lead to or reinforce religious or otherwise irrational beliefs. For instance, I imagine the advent of videocameras has led to a decline in the belief of ghosts and spirits. When personal video life recorders become a standard part of your wearable computer, belief in apparitions will probably be nearly eliminated.
Sure, many people treat technology like magic, but as it becomes an ever increasing part our our lives, it is hard to deny that the supply of jobs in science and engineering will increase, and subsequently that the number of scientists and engineers will grow to meet this demand. What is more, even if most people are not curious about the technology they grow up with, that does not preclude the possibility that increased technology correlates with increased interest in science. All it would take is one in 10 or even 1 in 20 people to be influenced by the technology they use.
My impression is that if anything recent technological progress in the developed world has gone along with a decrease in respect for and interest in science. While adherence to organized religion seems to have declined in much of the developed world it has often been replaced by equally non-scientific beliefs in new age mumbo jumbo and various kinds of ‘spirituality’.