Alas, the Fall of Faith

Okay, so I'm not a fan of religion. It's no secret, I'm not afraid to say it. However, I can tell you that religion, by the merit of its very existence, has resulted in some positive things. Anyone can go on and on about the awful things that have been committed in the name of faith, but really, no one mentions the positive things that have occurred. Although, the fact that many of these things happened because something awful was going on must be mentioned, as well. Still, one can't deny that, were the many varied churches of the Middle Ages (Christian, Muslin, Hindu, etc.) unable to convince the uneducated populace to commit their very lives to the cause of their church, our world would be a very different; and it is likely, more savage; place.

Ultimately, however, it seems that the great faiths are dying off. I feel that my generation has little need for religion as we have sought out other outlets for emotional reliance. Ask the average 35-year-old male on the street who the Patron Saint of Safe Travel or what John 3:16 actually says, and you wouldn't get much of an answer (unless, of course, they had their smart phone on them). However, ask this same male which members of the G.I. Joe team stayed behind in the alternate universe on the cartoon, and they would probably tell you "Steeler, Grunt, and Clutch" without thinking. I'm not even saying this is a bad thing, I just think it's interesting. For hundreds of generations, people have thought about their faith before anything else in their lives, with the possible exception of their families, and my generation has simply chosen not to in favor of pop culture, sports, and the camaraderie of their friends.

I feel that this means an end to the world of faith, in many ways. Certainly, there will be a maintained religious base for the world's most powerful faiths for many years to come, but the sheer puissance of these organizations will begin to wane with the passing of my parents' generation. Perhaps this is due to an increased importance of "spirituality" over sheer, unquestioning "faith" or perhaps it is due to a greater deal of knowledge at the push of a button. Perhaps it is evolution.

Regardless, I feel that the end of faith in this world will leave a hole that may never be filled by its like. For the ignorant, this will necessitate learning and growing and changing and accepting that change. For the educated, this will mean having no worthy, un-malleable foe on which to hone one's intellect. It is likely that it is for the best, but I can't help and look at a future where religions are powerless and think about the end of the Soviet Union.

It didn't feel like we won, it felt like we had nothing to fight, anymore.