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Several weeks ago, after the death of John Paul II we were witnesses to an eruption of religious feelings. Newspapers were wondering if people still need something like religion. In my opinion the need for religion cannot be easily rejected. 
In the beginning we must stress that it is the West where the religion is in crisis. Even that may not be truth if we consider the United States. Let us recall only politicians like George Bush who refer to the God on every occasion. 
 On the other hand, we cannot deny nearly empty churches in Western  Europe. Also in Poland there is a difference between cities and villages. It is true that only cause of the difference is a level of civilization  advance? People in cities are more educated (in average) then ones in villages. It plays a role in the different approach  to the religion. The graduates are less naive and need other arguments, which do not always meet with response  from priests. However that cannot be considered as a lack of the need for religion.
In addition it seems that the need for religion is rather changing than merely diminishing. For ages the religion was explaining the world. Now many phenomena can be explained in terms of the science, but it is understand only by few people in society. Many others believe that today science can do almost anything. In my opinion it is a kind of religion.
Moreover from time to time we hear about various cults. Believe in magic in various forms also is not very rare. All those horoscopes in newspapers and magazines express deep believe in unnatural forces. Sometimes I catch myself reading advertisements of "new miracle in medicine" that helps to lose weight in two weeks. I think it is a new religion. Maybe  deformed but religion. 
To sum up, I do not agree with opinion that the need for religion is diminishing. I think it still exists but the forms of expressing it are changing all the time. Its hard to say if the changes are good but that are the facts. 


