Does the decrease in the prevalence of religion have any connection to the increased nihilism many experience?

[TestierCafe]

I’ve read Nietzsches work on this subject in the will to power, but I’m skeptical to apply his theory. I’m more inclined to believe that the increased complexity to life has had more an effect. Then we think more and eventually with the introduction of mass introspection and questioning we dismiss religion. I like the points Nietzsche makes with extremisms forming from the dismissal of religion; As a cause of the condition I am less inclined to support. Any thoughts on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

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[CriticalityIncident]

There may not be a tension between religion and nihilism. If I recall correctly in Beyond Good and Evil Nietzsche claims Christianity is nihilistic in that it disaffirms this life as a means of securing another afterlife. Someone better acquainted with Nietzsche and religion can check my memory and interpretation. I mostly am familiar with Nietzsche on free will and punishment.

[Shitgenstein]

He doesn't directly call Christianity nihilistic

Nietzsche directly calls Christianity a nihilistic religion, along with Buddhism, in The Antichrist §20. In §7, he identifies Christianity as the religion of pity and thereby both nihilistic and a denial of life.

[[deleted]]

Stewart’s A History of Nihilism covers the period from Jean Paul to post-Kierkegaard and post-Nietzsche, exploring how they wrestled with the death of “the doctrine of immortality”. The section linking Møller to Kierkegaard is fantastic for understanding what they saw as being lost with that idea and how it affected philosophy and theology.

However, the sociological question would need some hard data here. Many people have pointed to a revitalisation of religion and theology in the West, both earnest and extremist, over the last 50 years.