Week 11: Religion

I do not believe that the world as a whole is secularizing.  If you look at the bigger picture most of the world still identifies with a religion even if they may not be active participants.  There are still governments that are greatly influenced by religious groups, mostly in the Middle East.  Even in countries like the United States where there is supposed to be a separation of church and state you see religion pop into society through things like the Pledge of Allegiance.  Prayers are still said at various meetings and events.  I do think that there are plenty of people who wish to not have any religious references in any part of daily life.  Those are the kind of people who fight the word 'God' in the Pledge of Allegiance or who do not want their children to have to be exposed to religion.  I do not see the harm in talking about God or saying a prayer.  When you look at someone's individual life people may think that the world is secularizing.  There tends to be a decline in church-going when one reaches their early twenties.  I admit I am a part of that group.  I am Catholic and attended church every week with my family when I was younger.  However, when I went away to college I found that I did not have my mother telling me to go and I was very busy with school work and activities and such.  Young people are still trying to find themselves and figure out their lives so I think that religion takes a backseat until they have their own children and then they return to church to instill the faith in their children.  Just because people may not actively participate in a faith does not mean that they do not believe or that the values of that faith are not practiced in their daily lives.  I do think that we should try and keep religion and government separate.  I feel that religious governments isolate people of other faiths too easily.  Religion is still a huge part of the world and I do not see it going anywhere anytime soon.