Source: World Future Society—Colorado Springs
http://www.childrencomefirst.com/springsfutures/ffaith.shtml

Does Faith Have a Future?
by staff writer, 02.27.03


Radical Islam, militant Christianity, territorial Judaism... Is religion at its best only when feeding off discontent? Or can faith cultivate foresight about a future increasingly defined by technology?

On February 27th, Jay Gary, a Springs-based writer spoke on the long-term future of humanity at Colorado College and the role of faith in building those civilizations.

Mr. Gary presented an overview of how to think about the future of religion, including science fiction futures, religious projections out to the year 2200, and present day trends in spirituality. Then using creative terms, Gary developed four scenarios or futures of religion over the next half century. The slide below lists these four responses to mainstream, modern religion in America or lame "Ducks." Those futures are: Sectarian Roosters, Theocratic Eagles, Concious Hens, or Renaisannce Owls. Small groups then worked on these scenarios to identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. 

Jay Gary presented four Alternative Futures to Modern Religion

Mr. Gary concluded the evening by sharing how faith communities can cultivate foresight by drawing upon the insights offered from the field of future studies and use that forward view as leaders in socially constructive ways to mitigate conflict and transform communities.


About Jay Gary: Throughout the '90s, Jay worked as a "millennial consultant" helping communities mark their passage into 21st century. In 1994, he penned The Star of 2000, the first inspirational book on how to mark the millennium in a meaningful way. In 1996, he developed the Journey of the Magi in the Middle East, an epic pilgrimage of peace, from Iraq to Bethlehem. More closer to home, from 1998 to 2001, he was the lead designer of the Pikes Peak Millennial Season, or Springs 2000, our own community's efforts to "honor the past, celebrate the present, and imagine the future." For more see http://www.jaygary.com/

© 2003-2008 by World Future Society—Colorado Springs. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.SpringsFutures.com


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