It is surprising how history goes round. I have heard people say that what is has been, will ever be. This has always reminded me of the Qoheleth’s verses which keep on repeating that there is nothing new under the sun. Historians tell us about the enlightenment era which began taking shape in the 17^th century, although cultural and religious upheavals in the preceding centuries paved the way for it – especially the protestant reformation and the renaissance. For starters, the enlightenment period combined the empiricism of John Locke with the rationalism of René Descartes, creating according to Immanuel Kant a principle of using individual critical reason without direction from any external authority, and without reference to tradition. Looking at reality today, I wonder who would doubt that we are re-living the enlightenment period. Born in a good Christian family, I grew up knowing and taking the church as a real authority in most society. I did not imagine that religious leaders’ directions could be ignored, doubted or even out rightly rejected. May be I was living in a kind of medieval period myself. This explains why the events of the last referendum about the new constitution in our country (Kenya) left me more baffled than ever. I still find it difficult to accept that the church asked the Christians to reject the document on some moral grounds, but the Christians chose to listen to the politicians who were drumming up support for the document. Does it mean that Christians chose to obey the politicians more than their religious leaders who had been seen for a long time as their spiritual guides?

Well, that is a bygone case now, but the reality lives on. What disturbs is that the given reality is a clear manifestation of what is happening in the world today. Many would not like to think of it, but I believe that the denial of the fact that religion is losing out is what should be feared. Why? Because it is evident that the connection between human existence and religion has always been necessary in giving meaning to life, guiding it and protecting it. If that is not the case why are situations which were once stable finding themselves estranged? Why, for example, is there an increase in divorce and separation in marriage? Why have we witnessed persons who once fought for and lived celibacy, leaving it (celibacy) and starting their own churches or joining funny religious outfits? Why has corruption increased in the country since 1963 if the number of churches has more than tripled? Does it surprise anybody that groups like same sex unions and sex commercial workers, are now voicing their cry for what they call their rights when a few years ago one would have been called crazy at the thought of it? Give reasons you may like, but for me it is a dangerous sign. Justify it if you want, call it progress, civilization or technological advancement, but then tell me where it is leading us. How can we continue following ideologies which fight our own existence in the name of progress? For how long are we going to be led by the nose by political crooks masquerading as heralds of modern era and change?

Today, as we appreciate the positive side of technological progress and its contribution to evangelization, let us not forget that social communication, which is itself a fruit of that development, is a crucial tool if the current trend has to be reversed. Through it we can propagate the destructive ideas of the enlightenment period (exaggerated trust on human reason, exaltation of individual freedom, assumption that scientific knowledge is the only true knowledge, etc) and through it we can not only propagate the kingdom of God, but also consolidate it here and now. Social communicators therefore have a duty of regulating economic, political and artistic values in a way that will not conflict with the social common good. This is the challenge to all communicators, bearing in mind that each of us is a communicator in his or her own way, to take the problem seriously, and to do whatever it takes to see that the sense of the divine, that once ruled the hearts of men, is restored.