To a certain extent, I think you can compare the major religions to national economies. Let me explain. Before the 20th century, economies of various nation-states were reliant, for the most part, on internal factors. They were (mostly) stand-alone influences, and people within those nation-states had no other options than to participate. Look at the beginning of the 21st century. National economies are rapidly becoming irrelevant as globalization breaks down barriers between states.

Religions are the same way. Prior to the last few centuries, there was only one church in whatever location you’d like to name. People generally had no choice in their religion — whatever belief system dominated their region determined their religion. Beginning with the Protestant Reformation, and expanding as international trade began to expose more and more people to foreign religious beliefs, average people began to realize they had more options than whatever religion happened to dominate their nation.

Now, this process is far from complete. It may take several more centuries to complete, but, IMHO, eventually religions will completely subvert to people’s individual belief systems. Inevitably, religion will begin to pass away completely, and reliance upon metaphysics will seem as ridiculous and out-of-date as feudalism would be in a modern society. We, of course, will not live to see that day. But I look forward to the day that religion and all the mistrust and hatred that it fosters disappears from the face of the earth forever.