At the height of the Victorian era, the poet Matthew Arnold captured the mood of the time using the metaphor of the waves on Dover Beach to refer to the long slow retreat of the sea of faith. Since then many have assumed reason and scientific advance would gradually overturn, and even eradicate, religion and mysticism. But although there has been a widespread European decline in church attendance, religious belief has not been eradicated and recent surveys show young Westerners are more drawn to mysticism and spirituality than their grandparents. Furthermore critics argue that belief in science and progress itself displays a mystical faith in the power of reason.
Should we conclude that we all have to worship somebody or something, whether it be gods, leaders or principles? Will the future be one where we see a return to an open acceptance of mysticism and spirituality? Or is there time yet for reason and science to put an end to religious belief?
