God has returned

Two writers for the Economist magazine have penned a new book arguing that “God is back,” and the resurgence of faith around the world “represents the triumph of American-style religious pluralism” but also brings the risk of violent and cultural religious wars.

In their book, “God is Back: How the Global Revival of Faith is Changing the World,” John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge remind readers that scientific and technological progress was supposed to make God obsolete. But the late 20th century proved the elite consensus wrong, according to this article.

“The elite assumed that modernity was crushing religion,” Micklethwait said.

Explaining further, the authors note that the world’s top minds assumed the Enlightenment had relegated religion to the back seat. They note that political leaders are more often inclined to speak warmly of their faith, and that China, the world’s largest authoritarian government, is on track to be become the world’s largest Christian nation.

What is behind the growth in faith?

“People are going to religion because it is doing things for them,” Micklethwait said. He said the many directions of modern life push people to seek some solace. That is often found in a religion.

The authors also note: “Everywhere in the United States, people have more consumer choice in their exercise of religion than they do in almost any other sector of the economy. Individual parish churches, regardless of denominational affiliation, function as independent contractors of salvation in America’s religious free market.”

But the resurgence has potential downsides.

“Passionately held religious beliefs are a devil to deal with,” Wooldridge said.

They bring culture wars, he noted, and cited as examples debates about gay marriage, abortion, sharia law, and cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

But the authors think the American system — Constitutional order and the belief in a separation of church and state — is best capable to handle the increase in deeply held faith.

“America has created a regime that allows religion to coexist with modernity in a relatively safe and stable manner,” Wooldridge said. “It’s a solution, I think.”