Observations From the Fast Lane

by Brian Blackmore

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Entrepreneurial guru, Dan Sullivan recently said, "It's my belief that the ‘interesting' [economic] times we find ourselves in are not an anomaly, but rather a part of a natural evolution [of capitalism]." Sullivan goes on to talk about "creative destruction," a term Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter identified as "the natural evolutionary dynamic of capitalism in which old forms are destroyed to make way for the new..."

We are most certainly in a period of "creative destruction" of a traditional order of religion and religious practice as our forefathers have known it. Futurist, Rex Miller illustrates a parallel evolutionary progression of dominant communications methods through time, from the oral, print, broadcast and now the digital age in his 2004 book "The Millenium Matrix". But is there a lockstep relationship between the "creative destruction" of religious expression and the cultural effects of an evolution of dominant communications methods?

Sullivan continues in an online newsletter to participants in his Strategic Coach workshops, in which I participate, by saying, "We're in an era where capitalism is no longer limited by national borders. The ordinary ‘creative destruction' that used to happen within countries is now happening on a global scale." Sullivan goes on to say that the media is dwelling on the negative aspects of the current economic downturn, but is failing to report on the "millions of entrepreneurs [who] are creating new tools, systems, and concepts in response to the opportunities that are being created in this shift."

While the media harangues about the economy, I'm thankful that our society, in general, seems to be supporting Christianity's creative destruction. The rise of the independent/non-denominational churches, and the emerging movement, seem to be viewed with openness and acceptance, and the tectonic shift away from mainline denominations is lamented by only a few.

Could this be a poignant moment in time where religion's evolution, with demonstrable improvement in effectiveness and relevance, projects an example to be lauded by economic and cultural historians, and regular everyday people alike, instead of religion playing catch-up with culture?

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