A Religious World

To be irreligious is to live as a stranger in this world, says Dutch philosopher Evert-Jan Ouweneel.

It may feel like we’re living in an increasingly secular world, but the numbers tell a different story.

According to a recent study, by the year 2050, the number of people in the world without any religious affiliation will decline as a share of the global population. At the same time, Muslims and Christians are on track to make up nearly equal shares of the world’s population – around one-third each.

So, if you’re not religious or if you’re disinterested in religion, “you will be a stranger on this planet,” Dutch philosopher Evert-Jan Ouweneel says. “Just for the sake of feeling at home in the world, learn about other religions.”

In this episode, we discuss how to learn about other religions well, the ways we can bridge gaps between different religious groups, and what it means to reach out beyond borders to make a positive impact in the world.

This episode was first broadcast on 19 May 2016.