I had somewhat of a religious epiphany this evening, or more like a epiphany about religion. With Atheism, Agnosticism, and deism on the rise, and the decline of organized religion. There is a very real possibility that Christianity itself may actually go extinct within some of our lifetimes. Well at least in our neck of the woods. Which as the title suggests is somewhat ironic given that so many organized Christians don't believe in extinction, because if contradicts their creationist view of the world. It would actually be quite humorous for a group of people to fall victim to something that they refuse to acknowledge exists as if it will actually save them.
Like a person that refuses to believe that there is a bear in the woods only to end up being eaten by the bear. I wonder if any Christians on this site have maybe spared a moment or two to dwell on the fact that at the end of their life they may well end up being the sole believer in their community. That there will not be any churches left to attend, and nobody to share their faith with. I suppose it is a situation that many Athiests can relate to, but many of us started out socially isolated to a degree. Some of these people will have never known any kind of isolation when it comes to their beliefs. That actually sounds kind of scarey to me.
I am honestly curious if the trend continues, and what I have suggested comes to pass. What do you think it will be like for those last believers who will most likely be the last of their kind. It isn't like it hasn't happened before. Western polytheistic faiths also collapsed pretty rapidly once the monotheistic religions came on the scene. In more modern times we can look to the Shakers as a example which now only has three members left.
I am interested in the perspective of both Christians and Non Christians alike. I would also like to hear any theories people might have about the religion even changing its colors and becoming a philosophy or it merging with other religions to become a non literal tradition. What I am not interested in is just plain outright dismissals. That would actually be off topic. I am not arguing for something happening, and thus there is no point in anyone arguing that something will not happen. If you don't want to entertain the notion, or that somebody floated the idea in the first place. The correct response would be to create a new thread all your own. Rather then derailing this thread.
Personally I find the endings of belief systems just as compelling as the beginnings of belief systems, and it is kind of strange that we rarely talk about how that impacts the people who build their lives around them. On one hand it is kind of tragic, but on the other hand it is also a new beginning and those are exciting.
Thoughts?
