As many commentators have pointed out, the widespread availability of printed text in 16th century Europe?first in the form of the Bible, and then in a flood of religious books?shifted the center of power and authority over the life of the soul. This power first slipped away from Rome and toward the nation state, and then away from the nation state, with its state religion, toward that newer form of religious life: the denomination. The 20th century in America was the period in which denominational religion came full flower, but it’s also when it began to age, wither and die. Today, people no longer define their faith by denominational affiliation but rather by personal preference. The center of power and authority has shifted from the group to the individual.

Increasing numbers of people are putting their spiritual life together in much the same way as they would furnish a home, choosing how to fill the available space based largely on personal preference. Do-it-yourself spirituality has largely replaced the denominational church, and the fastest-growing religious group in America is the church of the unaffiliated. Cyberspace is the place where you can see all this happening. Whether you celebrate the change as a victory for the human spirit or lament the loss of old and venerable traditions, you can’t ignore the significance of what is happening.

I am delighted by the realization that people can now gather online to share their spiritual quest with whomever they please, whenever they please. Chat rooms, bulletin boards, forums and instant messenger systems are open 24/7, unlike the traditional church that gathers the faithful at a set time and place. I am equally delighted that spirituality has become one of the hottest topics pursued by Web surfers. At About.com, my feature articles, forums and chat room on Christianity draw as much traffic as topics like sexuality. Further, depending on which search engine you use, you can find as many websites by looking for god as you can find searching for sex.

Having said that we are only halfway through the transition made possible by digital technology, I am tempted to venture a couple of predictions. First, as the spiritualities of the 21st century carve out new frontiers within cyberspace, so digital technologies will find wider uses within traditional religious communities. Expect to see more projected and moving images within the sanctuaries of the future, as sacred stories come to life in new ways. Digital art, music and 3-D virtual environments will be as common within churches and synagogues as were the stained glass windows, organ music, icons and statuary of medieval cathedrals. This movement has the potential of bringing new vitality to public worship, but the danger is that worship will be increasingly indistinguishable from other forms of entertainment.