Future of Religion Overview

For centuries, Western thinkers assumed that religion would decline throughout the world as scientific ideas spread and replace "superstition" with modern, rational, secular ways of life. In recent decades, however, that assumption has faded. Across the globe, religion remains an influential force, one that impacts how we view ourselves, each other, and the world around us. As new forms of worship and belief continue to evolve in the 21st century, we have asked thought leaders from a variety of religious traditions to talk about the future of religion. What trends will influence how people across the spectrum of faiths worship and practice? What are the challenges and opportunities that will confront faith leaders? What are the controversial issues? Will cooperation or conflict between religions be dominant in the years ahead? What reform movements will shape the future of belief? Essays will tackle such subjects as race, interfaith relations, blogging, theological controversies, gender issues, proselytizing, music, emerging movements, politics, and film.
Contributing authors include: Reza Aslan, Diana Butler Bass, Michael Coogan, David Crumm, Grace Davie,Jennifer Michael Hecht, Brad Hirschfield, Jeffrey Kripal, Kwok Pui-lan, Martin Marty, Alister McGrath, Mark Noll, Mark Silk, Huston Smith, Joshua Stanton, and Rodney Stark.
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Hinduism

From the banks of the Ganges to the cities of North America and Europe, this ancient faith is on the move. The future of Hinduism -- in its intellectual, political, artistic, and cultural facets -- has an increasingly globalized manifestation. Patheos addresses these developments as a part of its Future of Religion series.
Contributing authors include: Loriliai Biernacki, Christopher Chapple, Gavin Flood, Thomas Forsthoefel, Pankaj Jain, Khyati Joshi, Vamsee Juluri, Padma Kuppa, Ramdas Lamb, Brian Pennington, Anantanand Rambachan, and Suhag Shukla.
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Buddhism

An increasingly popular tradition, Buddhism continues to penetrate western ideas of science, psychology, and spirituality. What might we expect from the sectarian facets of the Buddhist community? How will American Buddhism differ from its historic roots? Patheos engages these questions in its Future of Religion series.
Contributing authors include: Mushim Ikeda, Thubten Chodron, Rev. George Tanabe, Les Sponsel, Chade-Meng Tan, James Coleman, Natascha Bruckner, Venerable Jaguang, Stephen Levine, Alan Senauke, Chan Master Sheng Yen, Philip Ryan, Josh Bartok, Maia Duerr, Jeff Wilson, Paul Numrich, Christopher Queen, Bernie Glassman, Charles S. Prebish, and Susan Kaiser Greenland.
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Judaism

Judaism's role in human history remains both powerfully influential and thoroughly countercultural through its diverse expressions. In its Future of Religion series, Patheos explores these expressions and their trajectory for the 21st century.
Contributing authors include: Anita Diamant, Shalom Goldman, Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez, Patrick Aleph, Reb Bahir Davis, Matthue Roth, Jonathan Sarna, Mitchell Silver, Ezra Shanken, Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz and more to come.
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Catholicism

Headlined throughout the world, the Catholic Church's standing within society has been both challenged and fortified in recent decades. As a part of its Future of Religion series, Patheos considers Catholicism's future -- its internal vitality and its public position in society and the world.
Contributing authors include: Kevin Appleby, Fr. Robert Barron, Kathy Coffey, Kate Dugan and Jennifer Owens, Michele Dillon, Hugh Hewitt, James Hitchcock, Ted G. Jelen, Deacon Greg Kandra, Rev. James Martin, S.J., Tim Muldoon, Barbara R. Nicolosi, Thomas Peters, Shu-Fy H. Pongnon, Elizabeth Scalia, Paul Snatchko, John Kenneth White, and J. Matthew Wilson.
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Mainline Protestantism

Solidly established in American society, mainline Protestantism faces a threshold. How will it retool itself for a new century? How will it develop new avenues of ministry and new ways of doing community? How will the growing progressive and emergent movements affect Protestant thought and practice?How will denominational bodies respond to the well-documented "mainline decline?"How will pop culture reflect and be impacted by the changes in mainline Christianity? Patheos invites the visioning of Protestant thinkers in its Future of Religion series.
Contributing authors include: Sam Alexander, Jim Burklo, Jerry D. Campbell, Philip Clayton, Monica A. Coleman, Kenda Creasy Dean, James Calvin Davis, Bruce G. Epperly, Greg Garrett, Larry M. Goodpaster, Anne Howard, James J. Kang, David LaMotte, Lisa Larges, Alyce McKenzie, Brian McLaren,J. Ryan Parker, Anthony B. Pinn, Bruce Reyes-Chow, Robert John Russell, Josef Sorett, Adam Walker Cleaveland, Peter Wallace, and James K. Wellman Jr.
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Evangelicalism

A fluid, developing tradition with deep historical roots, Evangelicalism has a full plate of opportunities and obstacles ahead of it. Which avenues of influence will it pursue? What cultural trends will continue to shape it, and what impact will it have on society? How will Evangelicalism deal with the growing rift between conservatives, progressives, and emergent believers? What will be the future of the black church and the prosperity gospel? Patheos weighs these questions in its Future of Religion series.
Contributing authors include: Rodney Stark, Andy Crouch, Michael Lindsay, Marla Frederick, Kelly Monroe, Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren, Adam McHugh, and many others.
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Mormonism

One of the world's fastest growing religious traditions, Mormonism faces the new century with the confidence born of success and the reservations that come from the difficulties of expansion. How will the Mormon Church continue to grow while maintaining its central authority and its emphasis on strong communities? These questions and more will be addressed in Patheos' Future of Religion series.
Contributing authors include: Scott Gordon, Kristine Haglund, Brian Hales, Grant Hardy, Richard Livingston, Blake Ostler, Boyd Peterson, Aaron Reeves, Kathryn Soper, Stephen Taysom, Armand Mauss, and many others.
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Islam

Beyond the political rhetoric, Islam offers spiritual direction and insight to millions across the globe. As it moves into the new century, what do scholars and practitioners see as its political and cultural impact? How will the Muslim community address issues of gender and modernity? Unity and authority? Freedom and fidelity? Patheos examines these issues in its Future of Religion series.
Contributing authors include: Asma Afsaruddin, Wajahat Ali, Jonathan Brown, Arsalan Iftikhar, Gordon Newby, Eboo Patel, Abdulaziz Sachedina, Stephen Schwartz, Jane Smith, and Asma Uddin.
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Paganism

A reincarnation of ancient faiths, Paganism in the twenty-first century faces unique questions. In its diversity, is there unity? Which particular expressions of faith in the old gods will survive into the decades to come, and which might die out? How will Pagans becoming increasingly influential in modern American society? Patheos probes these questions and more in its Future of Religion series.
Contributing authors will include: T. Thorn Coyle, Galina Krasskova, Oberon Zell, Sarah Pike, Helen Berger, Kenaz Filan, M. Macha NightMare, Margot Adler, P. Sufenas Virius Lupus, Marcus Horatius of Nova Roma and many others.
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Humanism

From a past infused with religious belief into a future where secularism and nontheistic morality can thrive, western nations everywhere are exploring Humanist alternatives to faith. How will Humanism interact with rising religious fundamentalisms? Where might Humanism be able to introduce new ways of dealing with the moral questions of our generation? Patheos investigates the future of Humanism as a vital tradition in its Future of Religion series.
Contributing authors include: Ed Buckner, Michael De Dora, Taner Edis, Chris Highland, Ron Lindsay, Hemant Mehta, David Silverman, and Roy Speckhardt.