I find it difficult to believe that otherwise intelligent people fall into the eternal trap of thinking that human practice since time began is going to collapse in a few short years? Yet those who can’t learn the lessons of history, because their determined divorce from God blinds their vision, once again repeat that tired old idea.
An American Physical Society study noted a steady rise in the percentage of residents who claim no religious affiliation, and explained how social factors could help push religion toward the dustbin of history. But they it give a hundred years; time to die before their predictions can be challenged! Read their story at http://www.canada.com/life/Canadians+losing+faith+religion+faces+extinction/4485943/story.html
The world renowned Physicist Stephen Hawking, pictured, claims, “God no longer has any place in theories on the creation of the Universe due to a series of developments in physics,” hardening his previous position that “the Big Bang was merely the consequence of the law of gravity.” Read the account at http://www.canada.com/life/create+Universe+Hawking/3473347/story.html
These predictions also remind me of those who predict the end of the world or Christ’s return on specific dates. I recall Paul’s declaration that “the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25), or that “the One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs” at those who seek to throw off God’s “chains” Psalm 2:1–4).
In fact, Reginald Bibby’s careful analysis of statistics on religious belief in his book Restless Churches disputes the persistent old line of religion’s decline. It seems that academia, the legal system and media who promote the idea, believe most people share their secular philosophy and carelessly fit the numbers to their beliefs.
The claim of religious decline not only contradicts history, it also repeats the same discredited claims by eminent ones in the past. Bibby lists Comte, Durkheim, Marx and Freud. He also quotes Harvey Cox who deserted his secular followers with: “Today it is secularity, not spirituality, that may be headed for extinction.”
In a recent cross-country trip to Montreal, Ann and I noticed new large churches, often several, in most cities we visited. In hardened Montreal, an old church building is being revitalized by a flourishing church plant. Even this simple exercise makes it hard to believe in religion’s decline.
The protestations of those like the American Physical Society and Hawking seem like a mouse trying to rationalize away the elephant behind him, instead of taking action to preserve his life!
