"The major religions survive by appearing to be timeless, while actually adapting. In the last 100 years, they have had to respond to profound changes in social behaviour. One of the biggest challenges has been the demand that women be treated as equal with men. The religions have generally been less responsive to this than other institutions, with Islam and Catholicism refusing to give ground on issues concerning authority and clerical power. Indeed, most religions are bastions of patriarchal structures and are proving resistant to the rise of women's rights, although changes have begun, not least in Judaism and the Anglican Church.

"An area where the religions have embraced new ideas is that of ethical investment. Beginning with Islam, which built upon its ban on usury, all major religions are now considering moving their vast reserves into ethical investments. The centrally held funds of the key religions are estimated to total $7 trillion, which the religions now see as offering the potential for social good.

"Religions have also become active in the environment. Drawn in by groups such as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and its sister group the Alliance of Religions for Conservation (ARC), all major religions now have extensive environment programmes, ranging from eco-audits of their buildings, through ecological management of their forests and land holdings, to education and advocacy work.

"The threat of HIV/AIDS has cast a shadow on the religions. Initially, many saw it as divine punishment for the sexual activities of homosexuals. However, a sense of realism, helped by the campaigns of groups such as the WHO and UNICEF to win the religions over to the side of prevention and care, has led to a massive shift in religious opinion. Now, most religions are actively involved in such work at all levels.

"One of the encouraging developments in the last 20 years or so has been the growth of an active and socially engaged interfaith movement. Increasingly, religions are coming together to tackle social and religious issues of contention. This offers some hope for the future, which, although it threatens a continued rise in religious tension, is also likely to be increasingly pluralistic."