Many ancient faiths are growing in numbers and influence. Some call it the rise of fundamentalism-from Islam to animism and from Hinduism to orthodox Christianity. When it seems as if everything around a person is changing, some intuitively pull back to the roots of old-time ethnic culture and family faith. Political Changes World leaders are struggling to understand how to deal with new forces and new rules. Political lessons and procedures of the past often no longer apply.
Power is a confusing mix of armies and arsenals along with economics and ethnic traditions.
Nations are redrawing their boundaries and searching for their place in a new world order. The United States has yet to determine its own role in a post-Cold War context. In short, the forces flowing together are producing worldwide complexity, destabilization, and uncertainty. The Decline of the Church in the West Many large denominations are shrinking. Also the number of Western missionaries is decreasing and the average age of career missionaries is increasing.