By the Way: Why are people choosing to live without religion?

By Medicine Hat News on March 30, 2019.

Religion has been with us for most of our human journey. We humans have searched for faith since long before we could read or write. Our souls have always sensed powers greater than ourselves and mysteries deeper than we could explain.

Our human imagination has created rituals to mark our accomplishments and our sorrows. Our minds have given us the insights of both science and myth. Most of us have come to realize that we need science and faith.

Before we had science, we counted on religion. In former days religion offered explanations for natural disasters, for crop failure, famine or disease. But humans have inquiring minds. And gradually we have come to terms with realizing the planet is older than was realized by the authors of Genesis. And we have learned to appreciate that a long process of evolution brought forth the many species of animals and plants that live alongside us here on earth. Evolution is still changing the life of the planet in more ways than we can keep track of.

Religion has changed as well. We still look for religion to comfort us in times of sorrow, and to call forth the best from us in times of challenge. We realize that powers greater than ourselves may sometimes bring out the best or the worst in us.

Religion does not explain floods in Madagascar or plane crashes in Ethiopia. Religion cannot explain the aguish or the tragedy of school killings in America or Mosque shootings in New Zealand. But we know that the people closest to such events find that prayer is one of their first and almost automatic responses.

Religion is at its worst when it becomes a source of division and conflict between us. Religion is at its best when it helps us realize the things we have in common and how much we need each other. Religion is at its best when it helps us to take care better care of each other and the planet. And religion is at its best when it helps us find the words that enable us to comfort each other when life hurts more than we can bear.

Today we are closing old churches much more often than we are building new ones. Folks who regularly attend religious services are an aging population and neighbourhood churches are being converted to other uses.

Perhaps humans can get along okay without reference to God. Perhaps communities can thrive even if there are fewer places to pray. Those of who are leaders in faith communities might want to ask ourselves, Why have so many given up on us? Is this just a reality of the times in which we live? In which case our task is to love and care for the faithful who still seek ministry from us. Or do we need to search for the deeper reasons why an increasing portion of the population chooses to live without religion?

Reverend Jim Hillson is Minister Emeritus at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church in Medicine Hat.