It is impossible to predict the future, but an analysis of what we know about religion-including the reasons for its very emergence and why some people come to faith and some leave it-can help us predict how people's attitudes toward religion will evolve in the decades and centuries ahead.
Ancient Iranian religion, the creation of which is attributed to the mythical prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster). Zoroastrianism was formed by the 7th century B.C.
Scholars are still trying to isolate the factors that push a person or people toward atheism, but some commonalities are emerging. Part of the appeal of religion is that it provides a sense of security in our unpredictable world. It is not surprising, therefore, that the greatest percentage of nonbelievers is found in countries where there is a high level of economic, political, and domestic stability.