A new book, God is Back: How the Global Revival of Faith Is Changing the World by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge (respectively Editor in Chief and Washington Bureau Chief of The Economist) is causing a stir. The New York Times is derogatory, whilst the BBC's North America editor says it's "brilliant". Meanwhile the authors explain their premise in a Fox News blog and sum it up by saying:
- "The deeper reason why God is back is that the American religious model is spreading around the world: religious establishments are being weakened and upstart religious groups are using all the tools of modernity, from megachurches to radio and television, to spread the world" (sic)
Whether you subscribe to the authors' theory or not, the growth of new delivery means - and meccas - for old religious messages is a fascinating phenomenon of our time. Do these new ways water down the salvific strength of the ancient teachings? Or do they bring solace to thousands of disillusioned souls who might otherwise never set foot on sacred ground? Or both, or neither? Even Buddhists might have a thing or two to learn by studying such trends - with an open mind!
