From electricity to oil, the Second Industrial Revolution marks a decisive acceleration in the transformation of the modern world.
In this tenth episode of The Mosaic Chat, we examine how new technologies, expanding industries, and global communication networks reshape not only economies, but also the place of religion within rapidly changing societies.
As cities grow and progress becomes a dominant narrative, faith is no longer the central force organising collective life in the same way.
Across the Abrahamic traditions, this moment brings both adaptation and tension. In Europe and North America, scientific progress and industrial success begin to compete with religious authority, while new political ideologies promise justice, order, or emancipation without reference to God.
For Jewish communities, this period opens unprecedented opportunities for integration into modern society, alongside the rise of new forms of antisemitism. It is within this context that political Zionism emerges, using the tools of modernity to pursue a national project rooted in ancient memory.
In the Muslim world, modernisation often arrives through external pressure, creating a complex relationship with technology, knowledge, and political power. Reformers call for a renewed engagement with science and interpretation, while others resist what they perceive as a threat to religious and cultural identity.
At the same time, oil becomes a central resource, linking industrial progress to geopolitical influence. Its discovery and exploitation reshape the balance of power, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, where economic potential and political dependency become deeply intertwined.
The Second Industrial Revolution does not diminish religion, but transforms its role. Faith must now position itself within societies driven by innovation, global competition, and technological expansion. It becomes a space of interpretation, identity, and sometimes resistance.
Understanding this period helps us grasp how the Abrahamic traditions continue to navigate a world where material power and spiritual meaning coexist, and where the question of how to reconcile progress with justice remains more relevant than ever.
🎙 A conversation with Pauline Berthaud and Tomer Attias.
📖 Inspired by Abramundi: Manifesto for the Creation of an Abrahamic Alliance in the Middle East and North Africa
