Time of uncertainty – Why religion is no longer the fixed star in times of crisis – News

Be it the rising costs caused by inflation, the fear of war in Ukraine or the scarcity of energy: in such critical situations people traditionally often turned to religion. But this seems to be less and less the case. The Roman Catholic Church in Switzerland has never seen so many people leaving the church as it did last year: a good 35,000. Dorothea Lüddeckens is a professor of religious studies and dean of the theological faculty at the University of Zurich and explains why this is so.

Dorothea Lüddendens

Professor of Religious Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Zurich


Open the person box
Close the person box

Dorothea Lüddenkenks has been an associate professor of religious studies with a social science orientation at the University of Zurich since 2010. Her focus is on research into contemporary religious cultures, religion and medicine, as well as alternative spirituality at the end of life.

SRF News: Why is religion no longer the fixed star that people turn to in times of great uncertainty?

Dorothea Lüddeckens: Overall, the need and the willingness to integrate into permanent communities has decreased. Also, one no longer likes to be part of a church community. You can see it from both sides: you no longer have to be a church member, and no one looks at you if you don’t go to church. This means that on the one hand we have gained a great deal of freedom, wherever it was experienced as a burden. On the other hand, for many people something has been lost in society.

It is indeed a problem that affects traditional, organized religions in particular. Is the need for something bigger still present in human life?

Yes, but it is expected from other quarters than the Church. Of course, that doesn’t mean that people don’t have existential questions or that worries suddenly disappear. However, today many people are looking elsewhere for the answers to these worries.

And where?

The larger narratives of our society are no longer the traditional church ones, but can be political narratives or so-called conspiracy theories. But the problem is that hope is a bit lost.

It is a need to be validated by others. Just as I was confirmed earlier in the service that the people sitting next to me pray the same “Our Father”, so today this is also important for people who adhere to other theories.

This results in psychological stress, which we can increasingly observe in society. That’s not to say that religious answers always help. But if they convince me, they create a relieving framework. I have an answer to fall back on. And that’s no longer the case in our society for many people.

And can conspiracy theories provide answers to big questions?

I agree. And also answers that are shared not only by me. It is a need to be validated by others. Just as I was confirmed earlier in the service that the people sitting next to me pray the same “Our Father”, so today this is also important for people who adhere to other theories. I see, for example, that someone is walking along at the demonstration who shares my opinion.

So the traditional functions of religion, such as community and rituals, are now being taken over by political narratives or conspiracy theories?

Partly. On the other hand, I think there are actually empty spaces. It has become more non-binding, and therefore, of course, more free. I think we need to negotiate more in our society on ethical and moral issues. Is it acceptable that people want to die self-determined and get support for it? The Pope’s opinion on this has become less important for many. In this respect, society has to work harder with regard to communication processes.

The interview was conducted by Christina Scheidegger.

source site-72