A gender gap has long persisted in religious identity. Historically, data has widely, and with remarkable consistency, shown women being more religious than men. But that appears to be changing when it comes to Gen Z.
A gender gap has long persisted in religious identity. Historically, data has widely, and with remarkable consistency, shown women being more religious than men. But that appears to be changing when it comes to Gen Z.
No, community is a fundamental need. Being in an ingroup with people will suffice, and for many, a church is great for that. But you can fill that in many many ways like you said.
Religion is different from community. Community fills a social need for interaction and survival and is present in many intelligent animals. Religion fills an existential need to answer questions we can’t answer. Most humans are inherently uncomfortable with nihilism because it undermines our natural instincts. We think the world must have some inherent fundamental meaning and order to it that we can follow and which can rationalize calamity. That is where religion comes in, it provides answers and structure where nothing else can. That religion could be to a deity, to a great leader, or some philosophical framework, it doesn’t matter. It just needs to fill the role of a higher authority that a person can wrap themselves around for support.