The third level is the animal level, consisting of matter, energy, life, and, in addition, consciousness. The fourth level is the human level, consisting of matter, energy, life, consciousness, and, in addition, self-consciousness. An arrow of complexity points upwards through these levels. Mankind has always felt that the arrow points to a supernatural level above the human level, which completes the hierarchy. The main religions are devoted to explaining this supernatural level and its relationship to the other levels .
Religion is in sharp decline in the West.
At the same time our knowledge of the natural world and our material standards of living are steadily increasing. But, in my opinion, human happiness is decreasing. In the past people accepted a different philosophy of life, which assigned to people a position in life with more clearly defined roles and responsibilities. The influence of religion has been eroded to a pale shadow of its former strength. Past ideas of connectedness between people and the importance of responsibility have been replaced by ideas of the freedom and rights of the individual.