CNN, under the auspices of its wonderful GILGOFF, has put together “11 Faith-Based Predictions for 2011“. Here’s my own swing at such a prediction-list:

1. The interfaith movement, and especially the interfaith youth movement, will awesomely rock out more awesomely than ever, yo.

2. Inter and intra-religious violence and tension will continue, as it always has, but a stalwart inter and intra-religious response will also continue, and grow more strong and broad-based.

3. We’re going to see more efforts at public education, specifically about actual religious history and practices, and better-aimed efforts at that. Hopefully, this education will reach those who need it most. The greatest effect of the diffusion of such knowledge will be the slow but steady elimination of our ignorances.

4. We’re also going to see more efforts to simply bring people of different faiths together to talk, and perhaps act together. Friendships will be born. It is hard to hate a whole religion once you know a few nice people who adhere to it, eh?

5. Dialogue and possibly well-written books and articles concerning “hyphenated” religious identity, specifically among young people, will flower. Perhaps I shall author one of these…

6. I do not anticipate any Second Comings, First Comings, Glorious Returns, or Redemptive Apocalyptoi, either in 2011 OR 2012.

7. A broad coalition of faith-based groups (and secular helpers) aimed at maintaining the Creation will get better at pressuring those who have the power to enforce maintaining the Creation. Lobby, lobby, lobby.

8. I might actually perform the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. I might not.

9. We’ll see more “moderate Muslim” (read: most Muslim) voices in the media, because those voices have grown very, very tired of being ignored by said media, and will make themselves known.

10. The Holy See will remind itself that it is 2011, not 1311. 🙂

11. Atheists/non-religious people who have been hurt by their former houses of worship will continue to feel hurt. In 2011, more of their former co-religionists will come to understand their complicity in that hurt and will work to mend hearts, thought not with an eye to re-conversion. This will be good.

It would appear that my predictions are quite optimistic. Bingo. I think that we’ll all be OK. Love everybody.