About six months ago, I was scanning terrestrial radio stations – while driving my fossil fuel overeating car – and heard a priest, a minister, a rabbi and an imam discussing "religion and the internet."

Each listened politely as the others talked of the websites they operated or were affiliated with. Everyone got along, standing together on the thoroughly modern high ground of electronic outreach, searchable content and community building.

They all ecumenically agreed that the ‘net is a great way to encourage spirituality in our young people. And sure enough, their sites feature contemporary graphics, special interest groups and even streaming video on a variety of relevant topics.

Next, the talk show host moved things along with the obvious question: So how’s the traffic these days? Similar chants from the panelists: the site just recently went live … web stats are starting to show … fast growing … an interesting trend seems to be developing, etc.

Then, listeners were invited to call in. Would we find people out there "shopping" for a new religion, just waiting for the kind of interactive menu of spirituality offered by these new websites? Would the Wicca’s in the audience demand equal time?

Nope, very few questions. Instead, the callers spoke volumes about the future of the web – and of the future, period.

There was the Catholic woman trying to reconcile her love of the Church with its rigid stance on social issues; the young Jewish man grappling with the idea of interfaith marriage; the Islamic private school teacher questioning the traditional separation of girl students.

None of these call-in participants fit the "techno geek" profile, and they definitely weren’t kids. But each had the web-wherewithal to click, link and connect with others who share similar spiritual questions and experiences. Invariably, they found and benefited from what they were looking for.

I suspect that, after the show, the minister, rabbi, imam and complimented each other on the innovativeness of their respective brochure-like websites and their radio performances. Maybe they even agreed to keep in touch and share e-best practices.

I wonder if it dawned on any of them that there’s a revolution in the making, and it won’t have anything to do with their prophets or their prophecies. The battle for the hearts and minds of their flocks will be waged in a new theater that is already being created by those very hearts and minds.

It’s called the Web.

The web will transform notions of "gospel" truth by linking people and their ideas, by enabling participation, collaboration and self-expression. The "congregation" will no longer simply be preached to: they will question back, while having the ability to freely connect with others who will share and listen.

Websites will not empower the congregation … the congregation is already empowered!

Consumers are already empowered.

Your donors are already empowered.

Gary Kline, President, SCA Direct