What do you think of this essay "On Religion and Democracy"?

It is evident that over the past few half-centuries there has been a significant decline in the percentage of people who classify themselves as religious. Ever since the Ancient Egyptians few people have claimed that they do not believe in some sort of deity. Around the year 800 BC, an era harbored the formation and implementation of many ideas drawn from revolutionary thinking in the Middle East, India, Greece and China. This era extended until the second century BC and was later known as the Axial Age (the term was coined by the German philosopher Karl Jaspers). The worldwide state of religiousness progressed until about the 18th century, when the “Enlightenment” struck Europe. The Enlightenment bore the revolutionary concept of Democracy, which over the centuries established itself as a leading political system worldwide. With the sprouting of democracy came the decline of religion. Is there a hidden confounding variable not being considered, or is there a direct negative correlation between religion and democracy?

One of the first things a statistician learns is that “correlation does not necessarily imply causation.” In our case, this means that although there has been a significant growth of democracy and decline of religion, one might not have caused the other. To examine this issue, let us consider the ideals and processes of democracies. Most democracies believe that a secular, individualistic state is one that best supports true democracy and equality for all. In a democracy, people will be indulged to seek the leader who will grant them the most liberties. As the public accumulates its liberties, disorder arises. This state of disorder might not manifest itself originally at the political level; rather, it commences at the religious level.

A definition of religious disorder is the gradual withdrawal of a people from religion. It is difficult to deny that this trend – monarchies falling, democracies rising, religion declining – has been ongoing in Europe for the past few centuries. The United States of America is not an exception. The “outrageous” 20’s and liberal, hippie-influenced 60’s and 70’s are what many Americans believe to be the cause of America’s present religious crisis. In very few non-democratic countries has religion diminished at so abrupt a pace.

What follows a religious disorder is, as previously stated, a political disorder. Riots, upheavals and civil uprisings emanate due to the deterioration of bonds – of which religion was a main factor – which once held the nation cohesive.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is incomplete and unrevised, but what do you think of it?