Religion's panorama in the 21st Century

According to Harari, billions of humans "still progress greater faith in the Quran and the Bible than in the theory of evolution". How relevant are these religions? "Can they help us solve the major problems we face?". Harari identifies three types of problems: technical problems, policy problems and identity problems. "Traditional religions are largely irrelevant to technical and policy problems" - they remain key to identity problems. But, as notes Harari, most times they "constitute a major part of the problem rather than a potential solution".

In pre-modern times religions could help with all three issues - but in "recent times the biologists and the surgeons have taken over from the priests and the miracle workers" and writes "If the child of a devout Hindu suffers from a severe case of the measles, the father would say a prayer to Dhanvantari and offer flowers and sweets at the local temple - but only after he has rushed the toddler to the nearest hospital."

Science has completely changed the "idea of religion" but how will technology affect religion? Humankind will likely be divided into 2 camps: "those in favour of giving AI significant authority, and those opposed to it". Overall - "problems such as nuclear war, ecological collapse and technological disruption can only be solved on the global level. On the other hand, nationalism and religion still divide our human civilisation into different and often hostile camps."