The End of Religion in Western and European Society
Now, as secularism casts a shadow over all aspects of Western life, including culture, traditions, governance, economics, science, society, morality, literature, and skills, an important and pressing question arises: What will be the role of religion in European and Western society? Does religion and its teachings still play a role in guiding the lives of Westerners, and is anyone paying attention to it?
The truth is that after the spread of secularism and its dominance over all aspects of Western life, there is little room left for religion and its teachings. Every part of their lives has adopted a new set of beliefs and rituals under the system of secularism—specifically, the “separation of religion from various aspects of life.”
European society has distanced itself from religion and its teachings to the extent that individuals feel free to express any opinion, criticize, propagate superstitions, make irrelevant statements, and insult others. In summary, they can discuss any topic except for one: religious obligations of halal and haram. For this reason, George Santayana describes the scientific perspective of modern Europe as follows: “Our life and thought have been completely saturated with the slow and uplifting mirage of the new spirituality, which is a democratic, international, free, and faithless spirituality.”
In a similar vein, many Western researchers—despite attending church on Sundays—have studied in ways that openly oppose religion within their specialized fields. For instance, a scientist working in “anthropological” sciences might view religion as a challenge that needs to be suppressed to prevent disturbance to an individual’s innate nature.
An economist may argue that the industrial economy requires a society free from the restrictions and burdensome laws characteristic of agrarian societies, believing that women must leave home to generate income and economic activity for societal progress.
A sociologist might ridicule the notion that religion is natural and divinely ordained, insisting that it was a construct created by humans during times of ignorance and simplicity. He might point to the deserts of Africa and Australia, where people live in backwardness, suggesting that religious beliefs are cultivated in an environment of simplicity, ignorance, superstition, and myth-making.
A scientist might likewise accuse religion of backwardness, reminding people of a time when ignorance led them to attribute worldly events to God. He may argue that humans were so uninformed that they did not understand nature or its laws, nor did they recognize their influence over the world.
Politicians discussing this topic may express regret for how humanity submitted to obscure and oppressive laws in earlier centuries, depriving them of their rights and freedoms in the name of “obeying” God.
In the realm of art, researchers might mock the past when discussing the opposite sex was considered taboo, lamenting, “Woe to you!” What beautiful and charming colors you have hidden from us! Today, we celebrate the independence and freedom of each gender, revealing their beauty and pleasures before the camera.
These sentiments reflect the research and intellectual landscape. In practical terms, secular society has pushed religion out of everyday life.
In practice, Eastern communists openly acknowledge that they have destroyed all forms of religion and do not believe in it or care for it. They leave no opportunity for investigation or research into their methods. In contrast, the West, adhering to the capitalist system, does not view secularization as opposing religion but rather as a separation from it.
Those promoting secularization in European society believe that implementing societal laws and life without religious interference will not harm religion; after all, churches will remain open—perhaps even increasing in number. Sundays will still be recognized as holidays, and all official and unofficial institutions will be closed.
There will be freedom of belief, allowing anyone with religious zeal to join monastic communities, charitable organizations, or missionary groups abroad, and to bequeath their property to the church upon their death.
Moreover, the church retains the right to conduct its ceremonies and rituals without government interference; sometimes, officials even grace these gatherings with their presence.
In terms of family formation, Western society values marriage and often favors holding ceremonies in churches.
From the perspective of Western society—those who grapple with secularism and the separation of religion—it is believed that religion can be preserved through these measures. However, the reality is that since the early 20th century, Western society has largely abandoned religion, which has lost its genuine significance in their eyes. It has been reduced to mere rituals and outdated actions that are followed habitually based on inherited traditions, or its practitioners are viewed as superstitious individuals who can only engage with religion in private out of embarrassment.
John Gunther, an American journalist, summarizes the state of belief in Europe and the extent of materialism’s rebellion by stating: “The people of England worship the Bank of England six days a week and go to church on the seventh.”
The situation is even more dire now, with very few individuals attending church on Sundays. Those who do rarely find answers to their spiritual questions and concerns there; instead, they might encounter corruption and pleasure-seeking motives that are absent in other venues.
In conclusion, religion and the church have largely been expelled from the fabric of Western life. Atheism and secularism, as manifestations of this disconnect, have penetrated all aspects of it. The general public no longer believes in religion and its teachings, viewing it merely as a collection of emotional, romantic notions tied to pleasure-seeking and entertainment.
By admin2
