For Christians, these times of rapid change pose a particular challenge. This book is designed to help us to understand the processes at work over the last 40 years, from a global, national and local perspective and to live efficiently and purposefully in this context. An interpretation of these changing times in the light of historical and contemporary processes demonstrates how Christianity has, and therefore can, act as an effective partner in such change. In the words of Hans Kung, the author seeks "a viable outline of the future which takes historical experiences into account, comes to grips with present social reality and at the same time transcends it in search of a (relatively) better world order".