How an observer evaluates the place or prospects of religion in the modern world depends very much on their point of observation. Here we will examine the traditional “Western” perspective, then look at some major currents of religious activity today. Finally, we will explore the relation between religion and modernity, considering some of the practical implications which emerge if the assumptions of secularization can no longer be taken for granted. One Of these concerns the study of international relations; others relate more closely to the representative organizations of the Christian churches, not least the World Council of Churches itself.
