Religions like Buddhism could have a similar problem. The Buddha founded his philosophy/religion after observing the inevitability of suffering... observing the poor, the sick, the dying, and the dead. What happens if science is able to eliminate most of the forms of suffering, and the only suffering that is left is minimal, such as being worried about making a new friend or feeling uncomfortable with public speaking? What happens when people are genuinely happy with their present life and don't want it to change or end? How does Buddhism react and adapt to those changes, to survive and thrive?
Buddha would find that observation laughable. Someone with material wealth, health, family, security,and happiness just has more anchors keeping him from Nirvana, to a Buddhist. Those things are the
root of the suffering, not the alleviation of it.
