Why Religion Endures
The following is the Conclusion (chapter) of my new book : The Simplest Guide to Religion . At the beginning of this book, we asked a question that has fascinated philosophers, scientists, theologians, and sceptics alike: Why does religion persist? For more than three centuries, many thinkers believed that religion would gradually disappear. Scientific discoveries explained phenomena once attributed to divine intervention. Political institutions became increasingly secular. Rational inquiry challenged ancient authorities. Modern societies grew more technologically sophisticated and culturally diverse. The expectation seemed reasonable: as knowledge expanded, faith would retreat. Yet religion did not vanish. The story we have traced throughout this book is not one of extinction but of transformation. Religion has repeatedly changed its forms while preserving many of its essential functions. The gods of ancient polytheism gave way in many places to the single God of monot...
