Why Humanity Has Not Abandoned Religion : A Philosophical and Spiritual Reflection

Abstract

This article examines, from philosophical and spiritual perspectives, why religion continues to persist in the age of science, technology, and artificial intelligence despite the rise of secularism and rationalism. The study employs philosophical analysis and hermeneutic interpretation, engaging Plato’s theory of Forms, Aristotle’s virtue ethics, and Nietzsche’s revaluation of values in dialogue with Buddhist philosophy and contemporary research in psychology and sociology of religion.

The findings indicate that religion survives not merely as a system of belief or ritual, but as a “power of meaning” that addresses metaphysical, ethical, and existential questions beyond the evaluative scope of empirical science. Empirical studies further suggest that religion contributes to psychological well-being, moral formation, and social cohesion. Although religious forms adapt to modern contexts, its core function—seeking truth, goodness, and meaning—remains significant in contemporary human life.