Why Religions Fail

During the time of the Roman Empire, nothing seemed more secure than Paganism. While Paganism is still practiced it is a tiny force in the world. Why did it fail? Christianity largely replaced Paganism but it has stopped growing and appears to be declining. Why is that?

I've always been fascinated with large institutions like huge corporations. Even the largest most successful ones eventually fall on their sword. General Electric has contracted, General Motors is struggling. Some day Apple and Microsoft will go belly up. Thousands of scholars and pundits try to understand why this happens.

One thing that often happens is that corporate leaders misunderstand why they are rich and successful. They think it is because they are geniuses, or, that they work harder than anyone else. It may be they were just lucky.

One scenario that often takes place is that a corporation expands and grows. Then it finds profits sagging so it announces lay offs of back-office people. "We will continue to deliver the same product on time as always" is the announcement. I wonder why they hired those people in the first place if they could operate the company without them.

The link author has a theory corporate leaders lose their enthusiasm and more narrow focus they once had. The product and management both get a little stale.

I wonder if that is Christianity's problem today. Maybe it needs sprucing up with a modified story. Yes, older people cling to the old stories. The future, however, is not about them. It is about younger people who find the old story of sin and the crucifixion not relevant and far fetched.

If history repeats itself, a revised Christianity, an entirely new religion or no religion is waiting in the wings.