Dialogue also means engagement with the modern world. In order for the new evangelization to succeed, there is a need for the Church to understand the ethos and ways of thinking of contemporary society. The Philippine bishops took the initiative to invite the noted sociologist Prof. Randy David to speak to them about postmodernism and its impact on faith. His insightful talk, published in this issue, can help us understand the mindset of an increasing number of people, especially the young people of the cyber age, who are unable to find a solid footing on any moral and religious foundation. “In their self-absorption, unable to look to something beyond them, and operating without a steady compass, many people, especially the young, sink into despair and self-destruction.” Nevertheless, David thinks that

“postmodernity probably creates far more room for the religious sensibility than was originally permitted by the conventional modernity that sought its exile to the private sphere. But perhaps the more interesting question to ask is ‘What kind of faith is taking shape within the context of postmodernity?'” – from the Editor’s Preface