Religions have been an essential part of the development of human societies and have created concepts and institutions that have enabled us to live enhanced and reassured lives for more than 10,000 years. But in the past two centuries or so we have emerged from the Age of Religions and entered the Scientific Age and, as a result, our need for religion has dwindled rapidly. If current trends continue, within 50 years most religions will be mere cultural remnants of the powerful institutions they once were. Associated practices, festivals, buildings and monuments may still be part of our lives, but the central concept of a deity and related archaic teachings will have faded.