The Acceleration of Change: From Future Shock to Present Reality

In 1970, Alvin and Heidi Toffler introduced the concept of “future shock”—a psychological state affecting both individuals and societies, characterized by “too much change in too short a period of time.” Writing before the advent of the internet and mobile phones, their prophetic work anticipated the disorientation that would come to define our modern era. Their prediction that “the illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn” has proven remarkably prescient.

The Tofflers identified three fundamental shifts that would reshape society: the death of permanence, as institutions and relationships become increasingly temporary; the end of geography, as technology diminishes the importance of physical location; and the fragmentation of society into specialized subcultures. What they envisioned as future shock has become our present reality, marking a period of profound disruption in human history.

This disruption, however, was perhaps inevitable. Since Charles Darwin proposed his theory of evolution in 1859, change became the central paradigm of modern thought. Science embraced this new understanding, while religious institutions largely resisted it. Einstein’s theory of relativity further reinforced the primacy of change, demonstrating that even time itself is not absolute but relative to position in space. From the cosmic to the biological level, change is the fundamental constant of existence. Nature itself demonstrates an inherent creativity, constantly bringing forth new patterns of life under the right conditions.

Teilhard de Chardin, writing nearly a century ago, recognized the tension between rigid systems and the necessity of evolution. He argued that evolution represents “a general condition to which all theories, systems must conform.” Perceiving the growing rift between science and religion, he devoted himself to bridging this divide, seeking to create a unified field of knowledge that could guide humanity toward greater wholeness. His vision emphasized that “nothing holds together absolutely except through the Whole, and the Whole itself holds together only through its future fulfillment.” Like the Tofflers, he anticipated how computer technology could lead humanity toward greater convergence and complexity.

Today, we find ourselves at a critical juncture. The resistance of religious institutions to fully embrace scientific discovery, particularly evident in Christianity’s response to modern science, has created what Robert Geraci and David Noble identify as a paradox: while technology emerged from Judeo-Christian traditions that promise renewal and transformation, religious institutions have largely remained static, their doctrines essentially unchanged since medieval times.

This vacuum has been filled by technological advancement, particularly in artificial intelligence, which some argue could fulfill traditional religious promises of transformation and renewal. As Antje Jackelen quipped, the development of “techno sapiens” might be viewed as progress toward the religious vision of a transformed world, where “the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, and the dead are at least virtually alive.”

We now find ourselves in an unprecedented period of accelerating change, driven by exponential developments in computer technology and artificial intelligence. This acceleration is rapidly transforming the very nature of human existence, potentially marking the twilight of homo sapiens and the dawn of something entirely new. The question remains whether we can navigate this transformation with wisdom and intentionality, or whether we will continue to hurtle blindly into an uncertain future.

In an era of accelerating artificial intelligence, many find themselves gripped by existential uncertainty. Some have turned to traditional religious frameworks—particularly Catholic and Evangelical fundamentalist traditions—seeking stable ground in turbulent times. Yet paradoxically, these same religious systems, with their emphasis on human dominion and a supernatural God, may have helped create the conditions for our current technological disruption.

This raises a profound question: Can traditional religious frameworks adequately address the challenges of an evolving technological world? As Alfred North Whitehead suggested, perhaps we need to reconceptualize divinity itself—not as an exception to natural processes, but as deeply interwoven with evolution and change.

Currently, we face multiple convergent challenges: the technological disruption championed by figures like Elon Musk, the political upheaval associated with Trump’s rise to power, and the neo-reactionary philosophies of Curtis Yarvin, among others. Many feel that human agency is being subsumed by algorithmic systems and vast data networks. Apocalyptic ideas are in the air.

However, rather than surrendering to technological determinism, we might consider countering these disruptions with another kind of revolution—one centered on the transformative power of love. This isn’t mere sentimentality, but rather a radical reimagining of how human connections and collective action might create new forms of power and meaning. Love, Teilhard de Chardin posited, is the core energy of the universe, not subject to the forces of entropy or disruption. 

What might a revolution in love look like in practice? How do we imagine a new world of shared spiritual power that could heal our relationship with the earth and each other—one that could make our current obsession with information systems feel secondary? Technology has captured human imagination by promising unlimited possibilities. Could a renewed, dynamic spirituality offer an equally compelling vision of human potential and planetary flourishing? God is the name of unlimited possibilities and those who live in God rest on the future. God is the power of creativity and Godly power doesn’t fear the future but creates it. 

Our relationship with technology often feels like chasing an ever-receding horizon of possibilities. But what if we redirected that yearning toward a revolution in how we love—both each other and our planet? This revolution might begin by recognizing that our deepest innovations aren’t found in silicon and algorithms, but in the ways we open ourselves to connection. Imagine communities where spiritual practice is woven into how we grow food, build homes, make art, and care for each other. Where wisdom traditions don’t just survive alongside technology but help us use it more mindfully and ethically.

Consider a world where our metrics of progress shift from information processing speed to the depth of our relationships—with ourselves, our communities, and the natural world. Where we measure wealth not in data centers, but in restored ecosystems and healed social bonds. Where innovation means finding new ways to listen to the land and to each other.

Technology is amazing but it must be put in service of something greater: our capacity for love, wonder, and regenerative relationship with all life. The future isn’t just something that happens to us—it’s something we actively create through how we choose to live and love today.