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The Future Church: How Ten Trends are Revolutionizing the Catholic Church by John L. Allen Jr.
One of the world’s foremost religion journalists offers an unexpected and provocative look at where the Catholic Church is headed—and what the changes will mean for all of us. What will the Catholic Church be like in 100 years?
480 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2009
About the author
John L. Allen Jr.
23 books34 followersJohn L. Allen, Jr. (born 1965) is an American journalist serving as associate editor of the website Crux: Covering all things Catholic, specializing in news about the Catholic Church in partnership with the Catholic fraternal organization the Knights of Columbus.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_L.....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_L.....
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 22, 2017
Allen is a respected journalist who has covered the Vatican for many years. It is as an experienced journalist that he identifies and explains ten trends that are having and will continue to have a significant impact on the institutional Catholic Church and its life on the grassroots level. These trends range from external forces such as developments in the biotech world or the growth of Islam to internal forces such as the proliferation of lay leadership to the shift in Catholic population to the hemisphere. Allen pulls in facts and quotations from every sector of society and every corner of the globe to paint a picture that avoids parochialism. From the outset, he makes it clear that this book is not predictive but descriptive. Although he suggests possible ways each trend may likely be evident in the future, these are large stroke statements and never argue for a particular response on the part of the institution or its members. Allen managed to communicate an amazing amount of information in a highly readable and thought provoking fashion.
December 4, 2013
A global perspective of the Catholic Church. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out 40-50 years from now. I think it is very difficult to predict that far out into the future, hopefully some of the Church hierarchy are paying attention to the issues Allen raises.
December 4, 2013
Excellent book written from a journalist's perspective, but by someone who is in the know about the Vatican because he has covered the Vatican as a correspondent for years! Easy to read and very thought provoking! I highly recommend this book!
July 9, 2010
I don't like church politic books, but I have to read it for a book club ...
January 12, 2024
John Allen identifies 10 trends within the Catholic Church and predicts how they will affect the Church in the 21st century. Each chapter follows the same structure: Present the trend, explain "What's Happening", and predict "What it Means". The "What it Means" sections provide four different categories of prediction: 1.) Near-Certain Consequences 2.) Probable Consequences 3.) Possible Consequences 4.) Long-Shot Consequences.
The 10 trends listed are:
1.) A World Church
2.) Evangelical Catholicism
3.) Islam
4.) The New Demography
5.) Expanding Lay Roles
6.) The Biotech Revolution
7.) Globalization
8.) Ecology
9.) Multipolarism
10.) Pentecostalism
Given that John Allen has been covering Vatican news for decades (you can find his work at Crux, where he is the current editor), it is no surprise that this is a well-researched sociology of the modern Catholic Church. Allen has crafted an easy read that, like any good work of sociology, is free of "bias" that might pollute this topic. One worry I had going into this book was that it would be outdated, given that it was published in 2009. However, because the Catholic Church tends to purposefully move at a snails-pace, all the trends mentioned can still be seen in motion today. The book's age does show up every once in a while but it doesn't necessarily detract from the book, and I found most of it to enhance the reading. For instance, he mentions the possibility of a Pope from the global south being elected and mentions Jorge Bergoglio (currently Pope Francis) by name a few times. The book is a little more interesting when you can see the predictions in the book come to life.
If you want to have some idea of where the Church is heading in the next few decades, this is a good book to read.
The 10 trends listed are:
1.) A World Church
2.) Evangelical Catholicism
3.) Islam
4.) The New Demography
5.) Expanding Lay Roles
6.) The Biotech Revolution
7.) Globalization
8.) Ecology
9.) Multipolarism
10.) Pentecostalism
Given that John Allen has been covering Vatican news for decades (you can find his work at Crux, where he is the current editor), it is no surprise that this is a well-researched sociology of the modern Catholic Church. Allen has crafted an easy read that, like any good work of sociology, is free of "bias" that might pollute this topic. One worry I had going into this book was that it would be outdated, given that it was published in 2009. However, because the Catholic Church tends to purposefully move at a snails-pace, all the trends mentioned can still be seen in motion today. The book's age does show up every once in a while but it doesn't necessarily detract from the book, and I found most of it to enhance the reading. For instance, he mentions the possibility of a Pope from the global south being elected and mentions Jorge Bergoglio (currently Pope Francis) by name a few times. The book is a little more interesting when you can see the predictions in the book come to life.
If you want to have some idea of where the Church is heading in the next few decades, this is a good book to read.
March 29, 2023
The fact that more than 10 years after this book was published the overall thrust of the argument still holds shows how apt Allen was in his analysis. He aims to show the reader where the Catholic Church might be at the end of the current century. More than the ideological battles that occupy most commentary in American/European Catholic circles, Allen shows the change that awaits once the growing Catholic populations in the global south start becoming represented in the hierarchy. He shows the different theological concerns of the Catholic south and the impact of the shift in the world’s Catholic demography. While he also pays attention to topics such as bioethics, ecology and multipolarity in global politics, it is in the changing face of global Catholicism that the book shines. Similarly, while the demographic chapters were quite well argued, the book as whole ends up feeling a bit repetitive and could certainly have benefited from some trimming. Nonetheless, for the reader curious as to what can be glimpsed of the future of the Catholic Church, this book was well worth the read.
December 17, 2021
While I read a small part of this (1-2 trends) when this was newly published (as part of doctoral research studies) going back and reading about all ten trends was always on my 'to do' list. Having finally done so, over twenty years (one-fifth) into the twenty-first century, it is quite surprising to see how prescient John Allen has been in some areas and how off-the-mark he is in others (at least so far this century).
None-the-less, this is a well-researched, quite nuanced discussion of significant trends in the global Catholic Church that are likely to play out and influence Catholicism in the coming decades and centuries. It is neither 'left' nor 'right', 'conservative' nor 'liberal' but is a balanced discussion of what is (at the time of writing) and what may come. It is certainly worth reading, wherever in the global Church you may be, though you need to bear in mind that he wrote for an American (i.e. United States) audience.
None-the-less, this is a well-researched, quite nuanced discussion of significant trends in the global Catholic Church that are likely to play out and influence Catholicism in the coming decades and centuries. It is neither 'left' nor 'right', 'conservative' nor 'liberal' but is a balanced discussion of what is (at the time of writing) and what may come. It is certainly worth reading, wherever in the global Church you may be, though you need to bear in mind that he wrote for an American (i.e. United States) audience.
January 27, 2022
Thoughtfully, objectively written, not just for Catholics but for anyone interested in the Church’s trends in the 21st century and beyond.
Of particular interest to me were Allen’s views on the future of eugenics (genetic engineering).
He also beautifully explains ‘solidarity’ as a moral commitment to concern for the welfare of others that goes beyond what strict justice requires. It’s not just about doing one’s duty, but making the common good the baseline of moral analysis.
Finally, he calls us to have the courage to be ‘globally Catholic’, which will lift your soul and break your heart in roughly equal measure. Faith in the Church has never meant believing it does everything right; it means never abandoning hope despite all the things it does wrong. Today, as always, there is a basis for hope.
Of particular interest to me were Allen’s views on the future of eugenics (genetic engineering).
He also beautifully explains ‘solidarity’ as a moral commitment to concern for the welfare of others that goes beyond what strict justice requires. It’s not just about doing one’s duty, but making the common good the baseline of moral analysis.
Finally, he calls us to have the courage to be ‘globally Catholic’, which will lift your soul and break your heart in roughly equal measure. Faith in the Church has never meant believing it does everything right; it means never abandoning hope despite all the things it does wrong. Today, as always, there is a basis for hope.
November 6, 2024
I got soooo stalled out on this one but finally finished it and it's got some fascinating insights! Definitely one to circle back to once a decade and see how the predictions are panning out.
February 5, 2024
The subject matter of the report is very simple and easy to read, but not without sharp insights.
September 21, 2014
"The Future Church" was extremely long that my attention kept straying. I underestimated my interest in this book. I'm not saying it was bad-not at all. But I did do some skipping around. I think of all kinds of possible outcomes for our future that I don't even know what to think anymore. I liked how the differences in culture and society are explained by giving examples on the group that would accept and another reject in references to the issues and the church. Too many factors are considered but with all things-you can't make everyone happy. Nothing can ever stay the same so who knows what beliefs and acceptance we will have in the future based on politics, gender, morality, and most importantly faith and and unity. This book pours out the image of the Pope as a symbol of hope: religion, education, sickness, poverty, culture, politics, and so much more. The information in this book is overwhelming with arguments and questions. No one will leave this book without learning something. While the Catholic Church is the main subject, it all underlines the common good- in everything- so our species can survive and prosper.
September 13, 2015
My opinion of this very useful book may surprise readers of my rather traditional website (here: http://corjesusacratissimum.org).
But I have to say it: although Allen is much more liberal than I am, he truly endeavours to be fair in his reportage, listening carefully to both conservative and liberals alike. Most journalism, by contrast, is horrendously biased.
Here, Allen brings his excellent, balanced reporting to many areas of the global church, taking in many issues which people in the so-called first world often forget. Essential reading for anyone trying to grasp where the Church is headed in the future from a liberal Catholic who - refreshingly - does not have an axe to grind.
For anyone who may be interested, I also have at my website a long, in-depth review of another truly great book by Allen which reveals the same constructive approach …
http://corjesusacratissimum.org/2009/...
But I have to say it: although Allen is much more liberal than I am, he truly endeavours to be fair in his reportage, listening carefully to both conservative and liberals alike. Most journalism, by contrast, is horrendously biased.
Here, Allen brings his excellent, balanced reporting to many areas of the global church, taking in many issues which people in the so-called first world often forget. Essential reading for anyone trying to grasp where the Church is headed in the future from a liberal Catholic who - refreshingly - does not have an axe to grind.
For anyone who may be interested, I also have at my website a long, in-depth review of another truly great book by Allen which reveals the same constructive approach …
http://corjesusacratissimum.org/2009/...
March 10, 2010
A insightful look into 21st Century trends affecting both the world at large and the Catholic Church in particular. John L. Allen Jr. carefully assesses the reality of each trend and breaks out an array of possible outcomes from each. While the focus is on the Catholic Church, it is arguably of value to anyone who is interested in how faiths may change in the next 90 years.
Definitely useful, but Allen occasionally goes for the cheap one-liner and, despite attempts make this a solely descriptive work, he, in a couple instances, allows his personal views to interfere with his analysis.
Still, the positives far outweight the negatives. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but those who are interested in the topic will definitely find it worth reading.
Definitely useful, but Allen occasionally goes for the cheap one-liner and, despite attempts make this a solely descriptive work, he, in a couple instances, allows his personal views to interfere with his analysis.
Still, the positives far outweight the negatives. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but those who are interested in the topic will definitely find it worth reading.
February 18, 2017
This book is currently (Feb 2017) discussed in the Catholic Thought group. All are welcome to join in the reading and discussion.
October 7, 2015
I was fascinated by this book. Written by a devout Roman Catholic for the Roman Catholic Church the book still delivered a lot of sociological data and insight that is helpful to anyone that works in Christian ministry outside of the Roman Catholic Church. I basically agreed with his analyses of trends and his assessment that the South will overtake the North in the realm of influence. Written before the ascension of the newest Pope this book has a prophetic tone to it that validates itself. A good read.
May 16, 2014
fascinating book
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews