Researchers pointed to four conditions that led societies to become less religious (“post-supernatural”):
Existential security: You’re not worried about war or global annihilation.
Formal education: When more people are trained in the sciences and humanities, they can better grapple with not having all the answers to the biggest questions in life.
Individual freedom: If there’s no real punishment for not being religious, people are more likely to embrace non-religiosity.
Religious options: If multiple religions are vying for your affection, it’s easier to say no to all of them.