Radical Restructuring Needed
by Lah-May
Stephen Hawking, the famous British theoretical physicist, believes
that the only hope for human survival is to relocate in settlements off
this planet.1 While I do agree that the human race is headed
towards catastrophe, I respectfully disagree with his proposal on how
to ensure the survival of our species. If we were to relocate to
another physical planet, settlement, or whatever, we'd be bringing our
dysfunctions and all our current and potential messes with us. It would
only be a matter of time before we trashed our new location as well.
No, I believe that if the human race is to survive, we must change,
radically change.
We need to wake up and realize the systems we have in place as they
are—governmental, educational, corporate, etc.—do not work for the
ecological health of the planet nor for the benefit of the vast
majority of people on it. The systems and the laws that currently
support them work only for the elite at the top and for the minority
who keep the systems oiled, ignorant of the many problems and
sufferings in the world. The current “rules” of the system are made up
by those who want to win the game—the game of having the most, making
the most, controlling the most, etc.
Radical change would mean that everyone within the human race, and
especially those in power, will need to stop thinking monopoly and
start thinking along the lines of interdependence, sustainability,
cooperation, and simplicity. The consequences of not moving in that
direction will result in the human race (actually, all life)
experiencing the ultimate consequences of selfishness, greed,
ignorance, and other evils: namely, the inability of the planet to
sustain life.
FOLLOW THE REAL LEADERS
Humankind
desperately needs leaders—real leaders—not the ones who are in power
now and who have contributed in a big way to the many and immense
problems on this planet. Every war, every famine, every environmental
disaster, every corporate maneuver to control the world's resources,
etc. demonstrates the ineptitude of the current world leaders. The
world needs strong, courageous, non-compromising leaders who can step
in and provide direction to turn things around. We need leaders who are
in tune with the laws of the universe and the will of God—the Creator
of all.
I know, I know, if you're
secular-minded, I've just lost you by using the word “God.” But, be
assured, not one of the leaders of any established religion would
qualify to lead this planet. They're often too busy defining to their
followers a God that supports their own agendas rather than seeking, in
humility, what this all-knowing, all-present, all-powerful being is
trying to lead them to do for the benefit of all of His
creation.
To consider the whole of creation is a radical concept. Applying this
concept will need to be done by those who are the most
spiritually-advanced people, true leaders. Those who are the most
spiritually advanced, don't concern themselves with religious
traditions, dogmas, political parties, or other separating belief
systems. They're concerned about people and their souls. They realize
as leaders they are responsible for the development and actualization
of those the Creator has entrusted them with.
But, let's be honest and realistic—effective leaders need to have
willing followers. If a radical, capable leader gives direction on how
to unite to achieve the necessary goals, will we as individuals be
willing to drop our own agendas for the common good of all? Would we be
willing to make personal adjustments at all levels of reality—the
physical, the mindal, and the spiritual—in order to help others meet
their God-given destinies, not to mention our own? Would we be willing
to forgo our getting what we want when we want it for lifestyles that
are more sustainable to our planet? For example, would we accept eating
mainly seasonal foods that are locally grown and produced? Would we be
willing to take public transportation and perhaps cut down personal
trips to once a week? Would we be willing to radically change our
concept of housing and no longer pursue the Great American Suburban
Dream, and instead see the wisdom of community-based housing, even
perhaps downsizing our living situation? Would we be willing to accept
that there can be more to God than what our circumscribed religion and
belief system currently defines, and then be open to expanded truths?
These are just a few of the questions, and challenges, that each
individual must face if we want to contribute to the survival of our
species.
MEETING NEEDS
Actualized
individuals are the foundation of a healthy civilization and the
destiny of the planet. No subculture, no matter how advanced and
cultured, can be viewed as the pinnacle of success on this planet while
there are others that struggle for basic needs. True leaders will
strive to ensure every human being has his or her physical needs
met—shelter, food, clothing, clean water. For if the physical
necessities are sorely lacking, it's next to impossible to cultivate
the mind and expand the spiritual consciousness.
There is a gross disproportion of resources being allocated to the
lifestyles of mainly those in Western civilization. Globally,
the 20% of the world's people in the highest-income countries account
for 86% of total private consumption expenditures—the poorest 20% a
minuscule 1.3%.2 And many of the currently developing
nations are modeling their economic base on that of Western
civilization. Even today on this planet, there are governments which
actually conspire to take resources that would benefit the citizens and
instead funnel them to the wealthy.
I recently saw a film3
showing what has been happening in Sri Lanka after the December 2004
tsunami. While there was a genuine outpouring of aid and assistance
from around the planet, the country's government decided the land was
too valuable for the people to return to and resume their livelihoods
as fishermen; they instead passed laws to only allow resorts to be
built. With dollar signs practically popping out of their eyeballs, the
government officials explained how much money could be brought in from
tourism—approximately $155 dollars per tourist per day. In the
meantime, tsunami survivors live in tents. Even men from the U.S. Navy,
who were sent to assist in the rebuilding, expressed disgust that they
were instead directed to tear down what remained knowing that they were
clearing the way for corporate interests.
There are many good men and women in the armed forces; two were
featured in the film. What they're lacking though is true leadership
which would mobilize the current military forces to become
service-oriented forces that would help ensure the planet's resources
were managed fairly and sustainably.
WHAT'S MAKING UP YOUR MIND?
When
it comes to the subject of nourishment, we often first think of food.
But we need to realize that our minds take in concepts that can either
assist us in our ascension or wreak havoc on our ability to discern and
reason.
The media can be a powerful tool
for change, but, unfortunately, it's more often than not used for less
than noble purposes. While viewers can find educational information as
well as mind-expanding entertainment, they're also dragged through the
muds of self-indulgence, consumerism, and sleaze. The masses, for the
most part, are left uneducated about what really matters and are
instead fed broadcasts that offer no mindal nutrition.
Take, for example, global warming. For years the problem of global
warming has taken a back seat to the economy (what I refer to as
Western civilization's god). Now, except for the very hard-headed, it
is accepted as an obvious problem the world is facing. Scientists are
astounded at the rate the Greenland ice sheet is melting and glaciers
are breaking up. During recent years, at least three of
Greenland's largest glaciers have shrunk and lakes have doubled in size.4
[In fact,] should all of the ice sheet ever thaw, the melted water
could raise the sea level 21 feet and swamp the world's coastal cities,
home to a billion people. It would cause higher tides, generate more
powerful storm surges and, by altering ocean currents, drastically
disrupt the global climate.5
What if, a few decades ago, global warming was broadcast as the top
headlining story to alert people of the problem and instruct them on
ways to change their lifestyles to avert disaster? We would likely see
a very different world today—the Hummer probably wouldn't exist; cities
would be developing efficient public transportation options, and bike
paths and pedestrian lanes would abound. But what do the mainstream
media do with stories that warn of damage being done to the
environment? Usually nothing since the priority is to make sure their
profit margins or those of their advertisers aren't affected. The media
has mainly evolved as a tool used to distort values and reality in
order to create demand for us to buy things we don't really need.
To help us radically unify, are we willing to unplug the media that we
currently have and start anew—call programs trash when they are trash
and let them fall from the air waves? Are we willing to let go of
distractions like silly sitcoms, draining soap operas, and
sensationalized news, and instead envision how the media could be used
to inform and entertain in the highest way? Are we willing to be open
to higher art that challenges status quo mindsets while it expands
truthful values?
WHERE DOES THE
“SUDDENLY” START?
Throughout The URANTIA Book great leaps in evolution are described as happening suddenly,6 and although it does warn that no great social or economic change should be attempted suddenly, it does recognize that only moral and spiritual adjustments can be made on the spur of the moment…. So what is that moral and spiritual adjustment that we can (and need to) make right now? What can happen in the immediacy which can then profoundly impact the existing cultures, institutions, governments, etc.?
The quickest way to realize the brother-/sisterhood of humankind on Urantia is to effect the spiritual transformation of present-day humanity. The only technique for accelerating the natural trend of social evolution is that of applying spiritual pressure from above, thus augmenting moral insight while enhancing the soul capacity of every mortal to understand and love every other mortal. Mutual understanding and fraternal love are transcendent civilizers and mighty factors in the world-wide realization of the brother-/sisterhood of humankind.7
Perhaps the spiritual pressure from above is actually being applied
already— through those who are promoting organic farming, fair trade,
renewable energy, holistic/soulistic healing8, etc., as well as through
those who are protesting—protesting the wars, destruction of the
environment, genetic engineering, child labor, etc. And more
profoundly, perhaps through those who recognize that we are all God's
children who should be looking out for one another, no matter what
race, belief system, nationality, etc., and who practice the absolute
truth that “my child is your child, and your child is mine.”9
1 Associated Press, July 8, 2006
2 http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Consumption.asp
3 From Dust, by Dhruv Dhawan
4 The Nunatsiak News, June 30, 2006
5 “Greenland's Ice Sheet Is Slip-Sliding Away” by Robert Lee
Hotz, The Los Angeles Times, June 25, 2006
6 The URANTIA Book, p. 598
7 Ibid., p. 598
8
Soulistic healing addresses body, mind, and soul and is available
through the Soulistic Medical Institute in Sedona, Arizona, USA.
9 From the CosmoWorship song, “Interuniversal-Intraplanetary
Child” by Gabriel of Urantia