Historically, religion was the strongest element of a society. It provided ground for action and gave meaning to life. It also helped those who were missing faith. In the present, many African people still rely on this background. However, the “New Age” movement has impacted religion.
Although some classic definitions of religion are hard to distinguish from more modern conceptions of spirituality, they all have one thing in common: the desire to preserve the original teachings of a founder.
Some may say that the purpose of religion is to unite people. Others claim that it is the source of moral guidance. The question is whether or not people are willing to abandon their religions. Despite this, religion can still provide incentives to live a healthy lifestyle.
In the United States, more than 85% of evangelicals, practicing Christians, agree that religion is a good thing. But a small group disagree. These groups are called the “secular” and the “spiritual but not religious.” They are comprised of people who consider themselves to be religious, but who don’t follow a particular religion. They tend to be younger than older adults.
In Western Europe, there are mixed views on the impact of religion. In Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Ireland, most of the respondents are positive on the subject. In Portugal, more than half of the adults are positive on religion. But in Austria, only a quarter of the adults are positive on the topic.