Well, sure there's a transformation into a New Age or a New World Order underway. Obviously. The key question is, will it be managed by progressive or regressive forces? That is, forces who believe in sharing power and resources or forces who believe in hoarding them for a select few? The former impulse is democratic, the latter is authoritarian.

In a progressive New Age you might see a much greater variety of spiritual approaches, and a withering away of traditional priestly authority structures as people stop using intermediaries and deal directly with whatever their understanding of "God" is.

You might see an economy that is based on satisfying actual needs or people rather than artificially manufactured appetites. In such an economy you might see an end to poverty as well as an end to ecological destruction.

You might also see far greater tolerance and acceptance of different approaches to religion (and culture), with people recognizing that anyone on a sincere spiritual deserves respect.

I do not in the least feel threatened by Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or anything else like that. I do feel nervous about people who think their way is the only way, which is generally the case with religious fundamentalists of all denominations. Such people are dangerous.

Christian values are fine. So are Buddhist values, Muslim values, Hindu values, Bahai values, Taoist values, and so on...and if you look even a little beneath the surface you will discover that they are essentially the same values.

Bring on the New Age, I say, but to hell with the autocrats, warmakers, and money junkies.

- LH