Source: VOA Press Conference

Speaking to Voice of America, Carnegie's Moises Naím discussed the fascinating trends overcoming religions in today's global society. Established religious institutions, which once had strong followings in countries across the world, are losing their market share, Naím explained. For instance, the 1970 census in Brazil showed 90 percent of the population identifying as Catholic. In 2010, this figure dropped to 65 percent. The same trend is occurring in Guatemala, the Philippines, and Nigeria. On the reverse end, Naím added, some religious sectors are growing. The Pentecostal church has seen a surge, as it has been competing effectively in attracting people that come from families with traditional roots in one of the more common institutionalized religions.

Islam, like Christianity, is also seeing a revolution; it is observing hyper-fragmentation, Naím argued.. Unlike the centralized hierarchy in Catholicism, there is no central power or order that established a homogenous doctrine and rules for the religious following,  Naím concluded.