Bruce Feiler - Where God Was Born, Abraham, Walking The Bible

Cityfolk Diggin' God
Thursday, July 12, 2007

The RNS:

Predictions that increased urbanization around the world would lead to a more secularized society are unfounded, and in fact the opposite may be true, according to a new report from the United Nations Population Fund.

"Rapid urbanization was expected to mean the triumph of rationality, secular values and the demystification of the world, as well as the relegation of religion to a secondary role," the report said. "Instead, there has been a renewal in religious interest in many countries."

George Martine, a demographer and the chief author of the report, said the renewed religious fervor has been spurred by the increasing waves of immigrants flooding major cities around the globe.

"It's a noticeable fact that people in cities nowadays tend to find in religion a new form of belonging," he said, pointing to the immigrant experience in European cities as an example.

"In Europe, urbanization was initially marked by a growing labor movement," he said. "The labor movement gave (new immigrants) solidarity and promise. But since the labor movement has basically been eroded by globalization ... religion is fulfilling much the same kind of role."

The report, issued Wednesday (June 27), found that 3.3 billion people - more than half the world's population - live in urban areas. That figure is expected to grow to 5 billion by 2030.

Posted by B Feiler at 7:01 AM
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