The world and society have changed significantly over the past few years. As Western countries were discovering their own identities, they developed various values, such as democracy, individualism, human rights, and religious faith. These ideas are likely to have an effect not only on the West but on the Church as well. The following essay will review the future of the West and the Church, explaining how some of the said values may affect it.
Throughout history, Western countries have prided themselves in individualism and challenging established beliefs. This has triggered various debates regarding religion, politics and social issues. However, the over-emphasis on individualism may also become a flaw in some cases, as some people’s views may be misguided or inaccurate. This, in turn, may lead to people unlearning the ability to converse or debate opposite opinions in a calm and neutral manner. Moreover, sometimes these arguments might be provoked by people who lack enough knowledge to discuss those topics, thus, leading to misconceptions. This can negatively affect conversations surrounding religion as well, as many people foul-mouthing it lack sufficient context and information to properly discuss Christianity.
It is important to mention that religion has experienced a number of changes as well. Unfortunately, in the past, some actions committed in the name of God were rather misguided, as they were done by humans, who are flawed by nature. These deeds resulted in misrepresenting the ideas of Christianity, thus, leading to a number of misconceptions about Jesus and His words. Fortunately, society has developed a more flexible understanding of some sensitive topics, such as divorce or familial piety. This may lead us closer to the main idea of Christianity in the future, which revolves around loving and accepting everyone and acknowledging the flaws of human nature. This specific value represents the core of our religion and is something worth accomplishing.