Most explanations of the origin of atheism are simplistic – as is the notion that people turn to religion for comfort. Last week, in a lecture presented by the Non-religion and Secularity Research Network, Jon Lanman set out to explore the evolutionary origins of atheism. Lanman, who is originally from St Louis, Missouri, recently completed Read more
A study is claiming that longer life expectancy is causing people to put off turning to religion because when life expectancies are high “time isn’t running out as fast on people’s chances to secure a place in heaven.” The study claims many religions and societies think a certain fixed amount of effort is required to buy Read more
In an anonymous survey of Australian priests, of the 1550 active and 160 retired priests, 542 responded. These written responses together with 50 face-to-face interviews are basis for a book “Our Fathers.” Of those who responded: 90.2 per cent said their lives as priests had been fulfilling 47.4 per cent found the workload ”excessive” 54.3 Read more
Religion has always been one of those domains where people are inherently social. Just as people discuss the happenings of the day in their local bar or pub, worshippers socialize in their temple of choice, using religious philosophies as a framework for their views. Prior to the social network bug that recently plagued the entire Read more
Predicting the demise of religion is hardly a new phenomenon. Nero was the first one to have a go at stamping out Christianity in 64 A.D. He is dead. Christianity is still alive. The predictions often have more to do with the beliefs of those making them than with the facts “It is reported that the study, by academics Read more
A statistical study suggests the religion in New Zealand is heading for extinction. 2006 census figures show that the number and proportion of people indicating they had no religion continued to increase, with 1,297,104 people (34.7 per cent) stating that they had no religion, compared with 1,028,052 people (29.6 per cent) in the 2001 census. Just over two million Read more