“Religion is the everlasting dialogue

between humanity and God.”

–Franz Werfel (1890-1945).

Religion was once deemed as the central institution of human life. Its teachings were put into practice without questioning and those who denounced any part of it were declared as heretics and severely punished. Then came the era when science became the new religion. In the words of Max Weber, this was the era of ‘rationalisation’. Today, when science and technology have been attested time and again and after they have had their fair share of trifles and tribulations, men have once again reverted back to finding their origin. Human beings are complicated; they want what science has to offer but they also desire transcendental experiences which provide salvation to their soul. This phenomenon was evident with the coming of New Age Religions in 1970. Practitioners of these religions sought spirituality which their gruelling careers couldn’t give to them. Apart from there being an increase in the number of followers of new faiths, conventional religions are spreading at a rapid pace as well. According to Pew Research Centre, only 13% individuals will claim to be unaffiliated to religion by 2050 compared with 16% who said the same in 2010. The emergence of God in our lives signifies that all of us need something to believe in because a heart which doesn’t carry faith seems barren.