In my last year of divinity school, I focused on developing a theological method rooted in science fiction poetics and literary theory. It was a challenge and I talked to any and every person who would listen to what I was thinking.

My field education supervisor bore the brunt of it, as he was the first person I would usually share my most off-the-wall theories to help ground me. One day, he asked me a particularly interesting question:

“Taj, what do you think of the apocalypse— the end of the world and all of that?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, I said, “I think we’re already in it.” He was surprised and asked me why, which led to a long conversation about the previous five years and the signs of a falling empire.

That was 2016.

In the years leading up to that moment, the world was just beginning to wake up to the ways law enforcement and the state

With all of the turmoil of this last week’s leaked Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the continued attacks on the rights of transgender children, and ongoing pandemic grief, I’m willing to double down on that statement and say that Old World needs to end to make way for what’s coming.

What is coming?

Before we start speculating about the future, let’s think about the world we are in presently. Here are some things for you to think about:

• How does the present moment scare you?
• What are the most pressing social concerns in your community right now?
• What needs to change about this present moment for you and your communities to thrive in the future?