Chapter 5 - Christianity's Contribution to the New Civilization

Summary

The emerging phenomenon of this new civilization represents a challenge to all religions and to Christianity in particular. Before proceeding it must be acknowledged that this new reality brings with it a new understanding of the Mystery of the world. This Mystery emerges with a feeling of awe about the universe's grandiosity and complexity. This feeling of awe is connected to a new experiencing of Being, of the Sacred and a new encounter with the Spirit of the world or Weltgeist.

There are some in this emerging civilization, especially those connected to the physical sciences (such as ecology, biology, astronautics, quantum physics, and so on) that show some new age or mystical inclinations (and this is linked to the word Mystery). I do not wish to take up this issue here since I have dealt with it in another book of mine.

I want to raise here two questions for Christianity. First, I want to enquire to what extent this new civilization forces Christianity to re-think itself, and in doing so, to go back to its original ideals. Secondly, I wish to investigate to what extent this self-criticized and revitalized Christianity helps the global civilization to express itself religiously and to revere the Sacred that is manifested in itself also.

Only a Christianity that is One of Liberation and Willing to Exchange Ideas can be Globalized

Despite the fact that the process of globalization has started in the West it cannot signify the supremacy of Western, White and Christian culture.