Call and Response Blog: Religious leaders, never underestimate your importance Michael Emerson
… A few days ago I led my class of college juniors and seniors through a discussion of secularization theory. I simply asked the students to imagine that we had become a completely secularized world, that John Lennon’s vision of no religion had come true.
“What would be different about our world if religion ended?” …
… The religious students were quite upset about the prospect of religion’s demise. What would provide them direction? How would they cope without their religious community for support? Who would they turn to when they needed guidance about big life questions? Who would they look up to?
Instructive, but perhaps not that surprising.
It was the responses of the non-religious students that surprised me. I suppose I expected these students to celebrate “the triumph of reason over illusion,” and “the victory of science over superstition.” But they didn’t. Not at all.
It started with one of the spiritual-but-not-religious students saying that she had never been involved in a religious community. “But to be honest, I have always envied those of you who are. You seem to have more and deeper friendships, more people to turn to. A richer life.”
Next, an agnostic student spoke. “It would be sad if religion disappeared. What would bring people together? What would give them ultimate purpose? I just don’t see how a world with no religion would be much of a world.”
An atheist student gave the last word. “I don’t believe there is a god of any sort. It just is not logical. But I wish I could believe in a god. I detest the religious bickering that goes on. But sitting here imagining a world without it, I don’t like what I see. Fact is, and I can hardly believe I am saying this, we need religion. It helps bring people together, give them hope, provide direction for people. We don’t need, and we should not wish for, a world without religion.” …
… My point is simple: The next time you are tempted to think your calling is in vain, your faith and efforts fruitless, remember my class of students. They need you.
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