DA,
Yes as a choice, religion shall exist as long freedom of choice exists. But could you elaborate on what were the alternatives to religion. And does the alternative still validate the need for religion ? Perhaps you can choose to answer here.
…
The practice of Religion will continue as long as freedom of expression is allowed.
Here’s a link to alternatives to religion: http://www.pluralism.org/resources/tradition/atheism.php
There are probably a good deal more including various examples provided by communist states. The net result is that where religion is publicly suppressed it reemerges in secret attic spaces. In terms of validation, there’s plenty evidence that children of atheists rebel against their parents’ (non)beliefs too, so again I have to conclude, and I think any reasonable person would, that there remains a spiritual niche in the human equation that religion responds to.
You raise a good question though, and I’m glad to see dream_weaver picked up on it. No doubt I’ll have something to contribute there later on, but I want to see his thread develop a bit first.
I must also mention that I agree with Nicky’s observations.