Knox Academy RMPS Learning Log

·The media becoming a dominant force – people are looking to media figures and celebrities for guidance, not religious leaders.
·The media has also portrayed certain religious traditions negatively, such as Islam post 9’11.
·People concerned with the physical (possessions/money) rather than the metaphysical (mysterious/unexplainable).
·Freedom of religious expression/choice has enabled people to leave a religious tradition if they so desire.
·People can express moral values without religion (humanism).
·Science has replaced religion as a source of truth (e.g. Big Bang vs. Creation myths).
·Religion, especially the Christian tradition has had a somewhat negative history and is seen as being judgemental (e.g. crusades, judgments on personal morality such as homosexuality/abortion/divorce).
·Modern life is too hectic, not allowing people to attend regular religious ceremonies.
·Career demands are leaving people with less time to practice private devotions.
·Religious traditions do not fit into a modern capitalist society: e.g. a Buddhist would find it difficult practicing the Noble Eightfold Path in Britain.
·Parents raising children to question the world around them, not accept traditional family beliefs.
·Society is pick n’ mix, allowing people to choose aspects of all religious traditions rather than solely one.
·People are trying out new forms of spirituality such as meditation, whirling etc.
·New technology, for example the internet does not allow human beings to ‘switch off’ and reflect on the deeper meaning of life.
·Society is becoming more educated, leading to a critical generation who question all aspects of the world we live in, including religion.
·Youth are questioning authority.
·Education in the developing world is more often than not rooted in religious belief. In the West, schools are non-denominational and often do not favour any one religious tradition.
·People are becoming religious by name, not by practise – e.g. 71% of Britons call themselves Christian yet only 6% attend a weekly church service.
·People are more aware of worldwide suffering now, due to the media – leading those with access to a TV/PC to question God’s existence even more.
·Religions are restrictive in a ‘work hard, party harder’ society.
·Religions are seen as exclusive in an inclusive/pluralistic society.
·Maybe religious practice is not declining, but rather becoming more diverse.