Not too long ago it was conventional wisdom to regard religion as a
thing of the past. During the 1940s, for example, the influential scientist
C. H. Waddington wrote that religion was irrelevant to modern life and
that only science “unadulterated by any contrary ideal” was able to provide
the milieu for the “harmonious conditions” of the rational life.1 He was
espousing a view that was to become prevalent for many years: religion had
nothing more to say; the only way forward was through science and technology.
Few people, however, would make this argument today. Not only
has it become very evident that science and technology cannot by themselves
deliver the “harmonious” and “rational” life, it has also become
apparent that religion is far from irrelevant. Three events in particular have
illustrated how significant religion is, not just in the lives of individuals, but
also in the lives of nations.