Secularism is good for the prosperity of religion. The absence of a state-sanctioned faith has afforded opportunities for religious beliefs, congregations, and dogma to compete for the affirmations of citizens. Secularism creates, in a sense, a free socioreligious market.

In Capitalism, it is up to businesses and enterprises to win the loyalty and business of individuals, by providing a service or product that is either innovative or somehow superior to their competitors. Profits rise and fall accordingly. In simple Darwinese: it is survival of the fittest.

Religious organizations and beliefs face a similar proposal. In order for belief systems to carry into the future, supporters must be gathered and maintained. Of practicing adherents to any religion, only the truly ecumenically minded individual abstains from at least desiring to see conversion to their “orthodox” religion.

Among Christian Fundamentalists, this is one of their principle aims: to accumulate as many converts as time permits before Christ’s supposed return. Undoubtedly, there is some genuine concern for the souls of these potential neophytes to the faith (whether such concerns are justified is a personal matter, and not of importance here), but it speaks to the point that within a socioreligious market, similarities between the essential premise of free-market capitalism is apparent, and Darwinese rears its familiar adage once again.

Individuals such as Christopher Hitchens and Professor Richard Dawkins will continue to fervently hope for the gradual adoption of atheistic beliefs. Undoubtedly, those that declare themselves to be atheist will continue to rise, but that rising percentage will not surmount the hardened theistic allegiance to which Americans will continue to cling.

True, America may not be the godless destination to which Europe seemingly hastens, but religion has certainly taken a beating over the years. Church attendance is not what it once was. It is also becoming increasingly difficult for Catholics to recruit priests in this sociocultural climate, perhaps a cogent indication of Catholicism’s waning relevance in contemporary society. May this prove to be an underscoring point in the eventual (although, not at all eminent) admittance of woman into the priesthood?  Time shall tell.

Gay marriage is also an increasing bellwether in the constantly evolving socioreligious market. Very often detractors to the aforementioned union argue that it is an affront to the “sanctity of marriage.” If this so-called sanctity is in eminent peril, why is there no abhorrent protestation to divorce? Why are there few ministers and religiously minded politicians broadening the argument to include this far more dangerous and rampant threat? The answer is simple: it would be terribly unpopular, as divorce rates are so profuse, churches would empty in drones. It’s just bad business. People do not want to be told that their lives do not pass a dogma test. The idea is unsalable, to put it in the terminology of business.

But this very debate and consideration, as well as every other one religiously framed, is a sparkle emanating off the brilliance of secularism: it affords choice. One of the most obvious examples of this phenomenon comes from the Bakker family. The famous Jimmy and Tammy Fay, once televisual archetypes among conservative Christianity, were never tolerant of gay marriage and abortion. However, their son, Jay Bakker, a copiously tattooed minister of Revolution Church in New York City now preaches to the contrary. Yes, he may have the market share of an independently run boutique shop compared to the competing Walmart mega churches, but it indicates a market niche with strong growth potential.

Beliefs and dogmas are at the whim of social acceptance, and when they begin to fall out of favor, there has to be a shift in their prevailing significances, or else these beliefs and dogmas will slowly fade until they flatline. It is secularism that makes this all possible. It ensures a free-market in the socioreligious world of ideological transaction. I doubt that religious expression and theistic adherence will conclude anytime in the future; religion has been a hallmark of the human experience, and the American experience, for too many years for it’s existence to conclude in a prolonged whimper. Religion will not die, but it’s orthodoxy shall evolve with the continuous evolution of cultural beliefs.

It is Secularism that ensures this.

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