Characteristics of the Next Religion
Once the shift to an ecological metaphor is made--and
with it a shift toward experience, polytheism, and diversity--many of the
artificial barriers between conflicting points of view melt away, and it
becomes clear what parts of our current religions will carry over into
the next religion.
1. The next religion will
include the practices and validate the experiences all of our current religions.
2. The next religion will
encourage and facilitate powerful religious experiences.
3. The next religion will
harmonize with science.
4. The next religion will
anticipate change.
5. The next religion will
value myth, and not confuse it with history.
6. The next religion will
empower groups and individuals to create new rituals.
7. The next religion will
connect the individual to a larger community.
8. The next religion will
provide a basis for moral decision-making and a motivation for moral action.