Archives: Expert Predictions

If you look at the future of religion, clearly within the American context of traditional denominations are moving toward secularization … And you see this in surveys, which show a longtime decline in core Christian beliefs. But we’ve already begun to see the effect of the combination of technology and religion in the proliferation of televangelists. With organized religion on the Internet, I think that weÕll see a lot more discussion, but also a narrowing of interest. I think that youÕll see people reveal very personal sides of their beliefs.

The most important technological advances of the past century Ð most significantly the telephone and the computer Ð have contributed to an information revolution in which continuous data-streams encircle the globe in the service of world commerce. Cultures are hard-pressed to keep pace with such transactions Ð literally occurring at the speed of light – and ever more rapid technological change. The result is what some describe as societal dislocation … “The deeper significance of whatÕs happening to our culture – the sense of distemper and death – is that it depicts the end of a particular worldview. Throughout history whenever a worldview has come to a close, its culture usually expressed themes of anomie and crisis.” According to Wishard and others, America now relies upon the promise of science and technology to pave the way for a liberal utopian vision. But scientific advancement coupled with cultural dissolution has taken its toll. Even those most keen on the power of technology understand that without corresponding social development we will become a culture awash in information but without core values.