Decline of Religious Influence

We are all in the same boat. For religious groups that want to have political influence, the tide is going out all over the world.

Egypt is an example. The majority of people in Egypt are Moslem, so naturally they want Islam to have an influence on their government and laws. Therefore, it was it is not surprising that when relatively-free democratic elections were held, and Islamic government was elected.

The problem is that Islam is strongest among the older generations and in the rural areas. The younger generations are now a huge part of the population (Egypt has 35 million people aged between 15 and 29. Many reside in the cities. Their outlook on life is shaped by the mass media, not traditional schools or religious leaders, so they are mostly secular and materialist. They do not want to have their lives controlled by the rules of religion. They see religion as outdated and want to be free to live as they choose.

So they went onto the streets in their millions to protest.

The religious leaders were divided.

The military leaders, who are the real power in Egypt responded by ousting the religion government.

Religion has lost out, but the military leaders have cemented their control of the nation.

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The situation is similar in America. The majority of people are Christian (or have a Christian memory). They want Christian principles to have an influence on the government and the laws of the nation.

Christianity is stronger in rural areas and the south. In the past, the culture was shaped by the pulpit and the strong Christian influence in public schools. That influence has now declined, everywhere but in rural areas and parts of the south.

The younger generations are concentrated in the cities. Their worldview is shaped by the media and public schools, so they are secular and materialist. They hate the idea of their lives being controlled by religious traditions. When George Bush became president, they got a sense of what it would be like if religious people gained control again and they were freaked out. They saw Christian political influence, and they hated it.

The secular generations stirred up the media and made sure that the political influence of religion was knocked back. Whenever a Christian like Sarah Palin or Michelle Bachmann seeking to bring back Christian political influence, the media turn of them with a vengeance, so that that they are thumped before they can become a threat. Christian leaders are divided politically, so they have been powerless against the onslaught.

In a secular and materialistic society, the only real power is military. So in America, the power of the military, and related security agencies, is increasing too.

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The pattern is the same in both countries, and in many others

• Large religious groups want their religion to have an influence on the government and the law.

• The power of the pulpit and the religious influence on education is declining.

• The younger generations are secular and materialistic. Their numbers are growing fast.

• These people refuse to have their lives controlled by what they see as old-fashioned religious ideas.

• They know how to manipulate the real powers that control their political system.

• Religion is squeezed out of the political sphere.

• The power of the military is increasing.

Religion and Democracy

Several days I posted this quote by an “Islamic Ideologue”.

Democracy is form of Polytheism.

Christians do not think about polytheism that much. Pluralism is probably a more common term.
America is a democracy, but how many gods does America have? Definitely more than one. That makes America polytheistic. The separation of church and state actually legitimises polytheism.

If democracy fosters polytheism, why are Christians not concerned?
One reason that many Moslems dislike democracy is that they see how it has undermined Christianity in America (with a large measure of immorality thrown in). They do not want the same to happen to their religion.

Looking at history, Moslems see that their religion did much better under the Caliphate. They also see that Christianity did better under the British empire. When Moslems see military force being used to establish democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan, they wonder what is the point of using force to advance democracy, if it will just undermine their religion. From their point of view, if you are going to use force, you might as well use it to re-establish the Caliphate, because at least that should protect their religion, rather than undermining it.

Most Americans believe that it is possible to have democracy and Christianity. However, the advocates of this view have to show that democracy does not destroy religion. There is plenty of evidence that Christianity can foster democracy. Unfortunately, looking at America, the evidence that democracy does not destroy religion is not very persuasive.

If democracy fosters polytheism and undermines religion, which one should people who value their religion choose? Many Americans seem to place a higher value on democracy. Moslems seem to be putting their religion.

See Political Polytheism.