Most churches ant religious institutions are in decline. Denominations are dividing over LBGTG issues, abortion, ordination of women and even gun rights. Congregations are getting older and dwindling with church buildings closing heir doors and retiring their buildings. People are less interested in religious issues, less inclined to harbor and defend religious beliefs and less informed about the Bible and religious doctrines. Even the resurgence in mystic, holistic and exotic religions seems to be on the wane. And yet, the vast majority of Americans will tell you they believe in God. What they mean by saying that isn’t clear.
It does seem, however, that there is a common understanding that there is an ethical code that applies to everyone, even if we don’t abide by it all the time. Thomas Jefferson alluded to it when he wrote about “Truths to be self-evident” and that all men (meaning people) “ are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights”. There may be variations on the theme; not all cultures value life as highly as we do in our culture, but all people value the right to life to some extent, even it is limited to their own tribe or family. There is also a general recognition that stealing from others is a contemptible practice. Ethical systems, however varied, seem to be universal. Even many mammals appear to observe their own ethical constraints and values.
Different cultures embody these ethical principles into their religious practices, recognizing that these standards are more universally established rather than contrived. Around their ethical principles are built stories and rituals and cultural practices – and metaphysical belief systems, providing a norm for behavior within society. So, religion provides legitimacy for ethical principles – and promotes them, providing stability within society. That’s the case for religion. Without religion (and the law derived from it), society could drift into anarchy, without commonly agreed upon order and stability.