GlocalNet

Because I am with Buddhist, Atheist, Muslims, Hindu, Animist, and Christians, and a little of everything else - and because there are world leaders in all those religions - and because religion, much to the chagrin of global leaders, can no longer be ignored and there is the emergence of global faith conversations of all religions so we can understand one another and prevent conflict - and because people are far more connected today than ever before - and because the youth of today are inheriting that world and making it - and because of simultaneous conversations in religions, countries, domain leaders, and young people there is no doubt in my mind we are at the front end of a new explosion of global theology.  It isn’t going to be the same as the reformation 500 years ago.  Some of the conversations will be similar - but as Calvin moved beyond Augustine so will global theology move beyond Calvin - and as St. Francis took a more “hospitable” view of Muslims we will actually see a massive amount of collaboration among faiths.  Fear not, Ye conservatives, for the only thing that will make this possible is a multi-faith view of religion, not interfaith - to understand that more you can go back and read a blog I wrote sometime in May when meeting with my friend Eboo Patel.  Multi-faith will be critical for peace and survival and the healing of our world - this is how Jesus will shine through his followers.  That’s another blog . . . . but back to this one . . . What will theology look like?

1.  From my religion and my people to -  All Theology - All Religions.  In the past - it was enough that your own adherents understood your religion - not anymore, we are bumping up to each other and will do so only more.  Everyone will need a general understanding of religions of those people who are their neighbors and/or business partners, etc. Faith is a persons highest form of authority for life - what is that authority and how does it impact life? 

2.  From academics and theologians to everyday disciples and the masses.  Whereas theology was the domain of professors and academics in ivory towers, since each religion will have to explain itself, not just to its academics and its adherents - but to the world as well.  It means that theology will be rescued from a hand full of people and seen more in light of all people and the whole of society.  As the Bible in our protestant reformation, was rescued from the few - so will theology - and though it will lead to erroneous teaching at times, in the end, it will be better for us, because all people will be able to understand more.

3.  From spurious doctrines to core truth.  Like Tikia for Muslims, and Dispensational Premillennialism for some, Protestants are going to be scrutinized by the rest of the world for what they are.  Speculative theology will be out.  Regardless of your religion, the contradiction of your books, truth, and theology will not be something we will be able to ignore - we will have to answer the hard questions, which will have more people thinking about truth and even give more enlightenment on what something means.  This is not only going to help other religions understand one another better - I believe for Christians as well as other religions - their own adherents are going to understand their own faiths better. 

4.  From tribal faith to cross tribal truth.  The distinctions of various tribes within each religion will lose out.  Because the conversations of the masses will be driving it - the pettiness and narrowness of various tribes will be seen for what it is.  That which is ultimate truth will serve as the center for a religion.  Not saying Catholics and Protestants are going to hug and kiss nor Shia or Sunni - but saying those known for keeping the dividing line up in various religions will lose. 

5.  From complex to simple.  If people have to understand it - nuances of words and meaning will be seen as trivial and shallow.  The “so what” of various doctrines will be examined, and then the basis of their support in their Holy Books, and/or Supreme Leaders will fall under scrutiny.

6.  Holy Books and reason will trump supreme leaders and institutional responses.  People know full well that all men are flawed - thus, the response will be to go back to the core, go back to that which each religion says is its ultimate source so that everyone can see it. 

7.  Comprehensive beyond conversion.  Historically the driver of religion beyond a persons own heart and search is man’s inability to realize he is not big enough to solve all his problems and neither does he have control over life and death - so it is the eternity question.  These questions will not leave - but what will happen is people will look more out of a desire for truth, meaning, and purpose which will cause them to see the big picture and worldview of a religion.

8.  More comparative than competitive.  The ability to vilify a religion is only as good as people are ignorant of other religions - as theology becomes more global - there are definite irreconcilable differences in theology - but they will be seen for what they are and what truth is as opposed to trying to win a debate.

9.  More familiarity of other religions for everyone, as opposed to your native religion you were born with.  This will make comparison and evaluation grassroots driven.  More Muslims will read the Bible, and Christians the Koran, as well as the Bhagavad-Gita. 

This is feeling like a book!  As someone who believes in all the words of Jesus in the New Testament, all the above things excite me.  Why?  Because I believe the message of Jesus - God in the flesh is powerful - and the life that he emulated gives more hope for humanity than anyone who has ever walked the earth.  I predict - in all of this conversation - Jesus is on pretty solid ground and is going to do very, very, very well - even so - come Lord Jesus!