Ever wondered why people with age tend to be more religious !

This thought came to my mind one day when I realized my dad and mom are getting more and more religious with age. Then I recalled dad was not so much into religion when I was much younger. This general fact (as people get old, they tend to be more religious) has become so general that we rarely ever look at it as something odd or peculiar.

When I tried to think out a reason for it, it came to be me as a utter surprise that there was no clear reason and yet all around us, people are doing the same - with age becoming more religious ! This peculiar behavior of our elders without no clear reason , intrigued me further. So I began thinking harder.

I came up with some reasons that I have jotted here -

1. Increasing insecurity with age - When I asked my mom she told me as one gets old, they become more insecure and they try to re-evaluate their life. I thought this has some truth in it as we remember God most when we are in trouble. But people with really old age and those who have retired or have no more liabilities are the one most into religion. What they got to be insecure ! Life evaluation may be but insecurity - Nahhh !!

2. Life evaluation - do people really care about it ? will I care ? how religion helps in it ...... may be shows some path. But the path preached by religion is for future not past , what to do or what not to do with goal of truth , attaining heaven , nirvana to count some. That path is no guide to life past deeds evaluation.

3. Redemption - Ya we all do things that are socially or morally wrong in our life. May be in later age idea of getting hell after life may promote one taking shelter in religion. But this again is a bit far fetched idea.

These reasons are all from an individual perspective. But as we youngsters always point out, our elder's religion following is more of a ritualism than truly understanding, following path shown by religion. Religion goals of love, peace, self realization, helping poor are replaced by rituals, prayers, social evils like untouchability. And yet they all know the actual goals that they are supposed to do and moreover the fact that they are neglecting it.

4. Coming to think it from a society perspective it makes more sense. As in our Indian society its the informal associations (religious and social) that influences one towards religion. As one get olds, his involvement in these association increases. It has an atmosphere where older influences the young, equal age interact, gurus preach. Moreover an informal social compulsion is witnessed which asks one to show his religious seriousness. A more ardent religious follower is looked upon or lets say strict religious following becomes a matter of show off and pride. This explains the ritualism of elders. A cycle is set where a newbie enters and slowly is turned to a so called ritualite who in turn converts some other newbie.

A conclusion of all this thinking is now a bit more clearer :) Social compulsion, tradition is the only reason that seems strong enough to influence all in society to become more religious with age.

Now if you have not realized the peculiarity of this finding let me make you realize this -

Without our knowledge we become a victim of our social surrounding and when someone makes us realize this we sharply react to it as nonsense. After all, such a strong belief of one in religion, if you tell him, is because of others influence becomes derogatory !