Robin Hawdon's Blog, page 2

BLOG 7 #Progress

I think my dear husband has said enough for a while so I am going to send this message, albeit a brief one. I find myself extremely perturbed at the present state of the beautiful planet which I left over a century ago. As I look down from this lofty vantage point I see nothing but grim instances of extremist outrages, over population and consequent mass starvation, growing natural disasters, political abominations. I ventured to interrupt Charles, who was deep in discussion with his regular companions Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton (I can barely get his attention these days), to enquire whether he still believed in the evolutionary progress of mankind given these manifestations. He simply smiled benignly and said to me, ‘Dearest Emma, yes such instances are depressing. But if you concede that mankind has indeed progressed from its apelike form over all those thousands of generations, then at what point do you consider that progression halted?’ His companions nodded sagely at me and smiled also. I fled in embarrassment, feeling outfaced by male intellectual arrogance. But I shall marshal my forces and respond when I feel able. Meanwhile I continue to pray for the planet, and will convey my prayers directly to God when I am next granted audience.

Emma Darwin.

P.S. People are now communicating with me having discovered the modern story of the search for my private journal, which they can now apparently obtain through some miraculous means called a Kindle (does that mean it will burn easily? – I do hope so). I shudder at the thought that our private lives will now be open to the curious eyes of the whole world. Charley says we should be proud, but then it’s not his intimate thoughts which are being exposed!

http://sbpra.com/robinhawdon

BLOG 6, State of the planet

Continuing the discussion from my last message, I have to comment that, from this lofty perspective, planet earth does not appear to be in a very healthy state in the present timescale. There has always been conflict and tumult there of course, but one would think that this would gradually diminish as homo sapiens developed and became more sophisticated. However the current spate of terrible events – riots, assassinations, massacres, explosions in schools, hospitals, shopping centres – all this would appear to demonstrate the opposite. The appalling self-destructive instincts of religious fanatics has always been a source of wonder and bewilderment to civilised persons, and it would seem there is no diminishing of the trend, which is now intensified by the use of modern weapons and explosives. I can only add to what I have suggested in my earthly writings. The aggressive instincts in man have in pre-historic times been necessary for the self preservation and advancement of the species, and in later periods as a means of defending and expanding his own tribe, community, sub-species. These traits are deeply embedded in the psyche and cannot be eliminated easily. Particularly with virile young men, the instincts to fight, to overcome, to widely procreate, are so powerfully rooted in the mental and biological disposition that they have to find expression in some way. One only has to observe the behaviour of youths when inebriated, or at times of social turmoil, to find evidence of this. And if those impressionable youngsters are directed to perverse missions by misguided authority figures promising seductive rewards on earth and in heaven, then all too often these powerful inherent forces gain precedence over more rational instincts. Governments have a duty of course to contain and prevent such instances, but these are merely reactive measures and can never be a cure. The ultimate solution is to direct those innate energies and impulses towards more positive paths. If all young people had instruction in late adolescence in physically demanding and mentally challenging activities such as sports, self defence, community construction projects, adventure missions, etcetera, then I believe many would be diverted from destructive paths.

And, as I have so often stated, if it was taught that responsibility for man’s fate rested on his own shoulders, not on God’s (or Allah’s), then a major step would have been taken in man’s development.

C.D.

http://sbpra.com/robinhawdon

Blog 5 Concerning #evolution, #religion, #God, #Jesus, #science, #philosophy.

It is with great reluctance that I find myself obliged to intervene in my wife’s series of messages to the world. I have always been something of a retiring spirit, and sought to avoid controversy, but now the necessity of countering some of the wilder speculations and assertions circulating from these realms is becoming as great an obligation as when I was on earth. My darling Emma is convinced, as are so many devout souls here, that they have arrived from earth at the heaven they so hopefully believed in, and that she is even permitted on occasion to communicate with God himself. Ah, such sweet innocence! As if a divine authority would grant occasional audience like a doctor in his surgery. Imagination in this dimension can still produce the most fanciful results, just as it did on earth. And, as I now know, there will be many further instances beyond even here before true wisdom is established.

However I am thrilled to have discovered upon entering this multi-faceted realm of time and space that indeed the speculations of scientific minds on my old planet have been broadly correct in their assertions that the universe is a dominion of infinite variation and fluidity, where reality is governed no longer by the boundaries of time, space and velocity. Such conjectures during my own terrestrial period were of course highly theoretical, but I have been greatly encouraged here to encounter later scientific spirits who have, through mathematical research and experiment, developed these theories much further than ever my own generation were able to do. Chief amongst them has been of course that consummate genius Albert Einstein, with whom I have had many fascinating conversations, and in whom I have discovered a mind, perhaps more imaginative, yet in great sympathy with my own.

It is quite clear, viewed from this advanced and objective plane, that the planet earth, and the human species that inhabits it (in the current timescale relating to my wife’s messages) are both in an extremely primitive stage of development. Homo sapiens in the twentieth and twenty first centuries AD, whilst having made considerable steps in the technological field, is at that period vastly undeveloped as an emotional and rational species. And, as is clear from my present perspective, will continue to be so for many millennia to come. It exists as a relatively embryonic life form – two hundred and fifty thousand years being but the flash of a passing comet in the context of the evolution of the physical cosmos. The fact that a large proportion of the species still believes in an all-benign controlling authority, and that it observes the year of the birth of one of its ‘divine’ prophets a mere two thousand years ago as being some miraculous turning point in its progress, demonstrates how innocent it remains. Humanity at this time is as primordial in comparison with its future incarnation as an amoeba is to its current. It still clings to ancient dogmas and superstitions, it indulges in primitive acts of aggression and bestiality, it pays homage to ancient concepts of divinity and supernatural forces, it places its emphatic trust in old books compiled by its still more primitive ancestors, it even wages war with itself in the name of its own conceptions of ‘God’! As do all primitive species, it acts from impulses of the heart, not from deductions of the brain. I do not need to articulate further on this topic. My ideas on the subject were all laid out in the Addendum to my work ‘On The Origin Of Species’ which whilst I was on earth I kept secret for fear of the controversy it would provoke, but which I now hear is about to be revealed to anyone interested in such matters. My wife tells me that various agencies have been on the track of this commentary and are in the process of broadcasting its contents to all and sundry.

Ah well, such trivial issues are of no concern to me now. I am only glad to have been confirmed in my philosophical conjectures, and I hope that humanity may find a little enlightenment and wisdom from the contemplation of such thoughts. They stemmed, not from ancient creeds and inherited mythology as were the concepts they were designed to counter, but from reason and scientific research.

To anyone who might happen to read this despatch from beyond I would give this message – do not trust pure instincts and emotions – they stem from ancient evolutionary drives which may have had validity once, but are long since obsolete. The universe is an endless experiment in discovery. Only logical research, scientific deduction, and rationality will uncover its secrets.

Charles Darwin.

P.S. My darling wife tells me that the story of the apparently intense search for my hidden Addendum can be found on http://sbpra.com/robinhawdon

Blog 4, #Darwin #science

Intriguing news from planet earth! Charles is in a great state of excitement since he learnt that one of his most distinguished successors, a naturalist called Sir David Attenborough, has stated publicly that he believes the process of evolution amongst homo sapiens may have gradually slowed, and perhaps come to a stop in the modern era, due to the fact that man has become so skilful in the medical arts that he can intervene in, and even control the process of natural selection. Charley himself postulated this possibility having studied the way man had already interfered with the process in other species, such as with the breeding of domestic animals, garden plants, food crops, etcetera. In fact in his secret addendum to Origin of Species he even went so far as to suggest that, with the accelerating accumulation of scientific knowledge, man might eventually take complete control of his own progress and development. I of course found this idea very disturbing, and against all that the bible has taught us, and Charley did not dare to make such a prediction public before his death for fear of arousing yet further controversy. However it would seem that perhaps the proposition might after all have some truth. Others are arguing that natural change will still occur however much man interferes in his own destiny – and so the debate continues. Will it ever end, I ask myself? As I have mentioned in previous ‘blogs’ there has been a movement on earth to reveal my private journal, and with it C’s secret Addendum, which no doubt would provoke yet more dispute over his reputation. It would seem that, however much man may control his development, he will never free himself of dispute!

Emma D.

http://sbpra.com/robinhawdon

Blog 3, natural science

Charles and I have been so thrilled recently to make contact with our old associate, Alfred Wallace, who has such an influence on C’s career. We have been exchanging celestial messages (see the separate comments) but I really felt that I wanted to communicate this development with all our other friends and associates. This medium of cyberspace is proving such a remarkable way of reconnecting with people who had a place in our lives, and indeed with people who we never knew on earth since they lived in different eras, but who nevertheless had so much in common with Charles and his work, and indeed who had an influence on his fame and reputation long after his death. Such a one of course was Albert #Einstein who, as I mentioned in my last ‘blog’, has been conversing with C on all matters scientific. Indeed I believe he has been explaining to my husband how it can be that we are all able to communicate via this extraordinary medium long after we have departed earthly realms. It is all something to do with Albert’s strange Theory of Relativity, which I cannot comprehend myself, but which I am assured explains how all things can exist within different time frames. Remarkable though it may seem, and despite the fact that on earth our lives were all dictated by the tyrannical ticking of clocks and watches, here in the outer dimensions of the universe no such limitations apply. Apparently the faster one moves through the ether the slower one’s own timescale unfolds, until one reaches the speed of light (whatever that may be – how can light have a speed, I ask myself?) when time ceases to exist altogether! Clarifying perhaps how we may actually attain eternal life after all. It is all way above my head, but C assures me that he believes there may be a considerable amount of truth in the theory, and it would explain many of the obscure mysteries of life which so preoccupied intelligent people during our time on earth.

Still, I am glad he is still finding things to occupy his extraordinary mind, and also when he is freed from the debilitating sickness which so burdened his terrestrial days. For myself I hear that the discovery of my private journal has indeed been broadcast to the world and its contents circulated to all and sundry, which I have to say causes me great disquiet. I am told the story of its hunting down and exposing in the early twenty first century makes quite a fascinating tale, recorded by various publications. Ah well, I am far beyond the effects of such concerns, and so must let the matter take its course. I will, though, be interested to know the outcome of such revelations within our old sphere of existence.

Emma Darwin.

http://sbpra.com/robinhawdon

Blog 2, Is There A #God?

I have to wonder what has happened to the world since Charles and I left it! I have to conjecture whether mankind has not sunk into yet more depravity than when we were alive. I have observed the appalling scale of slaughter and tyranny and starvation during the twentieth century and beyond, the increasing practices of torture, genocide and oppression, which lead me to think that man is regressing rather than progressing. Charles however begs to differ. Man, he says, has always been a primitive and violent being because of his inherited self-protective instincts. The difference now is that his acquired technological skills, so far exceeding those in our times, have enabled him to wreak havoc in a far more widespread and deadly manner, and furthermore to instantly broadcast the news of such torments far and wide, which was never the case in our day. The imbalance between man’s technical accomplishment and his emotional development is, says Charles, the greatest challenge he faces. It is survival of the fittest taken to ever more radical extremes. I ventured to suggest that if things continue in this vein it will be survival of the whole planet which is at stake, and he did not demur!

Well I mentioned in my last ‘blog’ that I would try and have word with the Lord about my concerns when I was next able to see Him (one only has limited access – His agenda is naturally extremely full). I did presume to mention my qualms about the future of mankind, and He humoured me to the extent of agreeing that He was a trifle worried on that account (He has of course innumerable other planets and life forms to worry about, so is not nearly so preoccupied with ourselves as we so arrogantly assume). He reiterated His point that He interferes as little as possible in our affairs, preferring to wait and see whether we can redeem ourselves from ourselves, if that makes sense – all as part of His grand experiment to see whether progress is ultimately an unstoppable force. And in that context He informed me that He fully applauded my Charley’s gigantic exploration of the means of development of life on earth, as being a valiant part of that experiment (although He did not comment on my husband’s disbelief in His existence – is this an unsolvable conundrum, I ask myself?).

I must say I left His presence in an even more confused state of mind than when I entered it! If even He refuses to cast more light on the great enigma, then where is one to turn? One always assumed that all would become clear upon entering this place, but it seems that the ultimate answer may ever be just out of reach, unless it is that there are yet more dimensions, or universes, of existence to attain, where the truth becomes little by little more evident (as the scientists of the modern world frequently conjecture). Intriguing possibility. But far beyond my simple brain to accommodate.

Well, I look forward to writing my next report from whichever universe it is I have found myself.

ED

PS To learn more of my and Charles’s existence in your present universe go to http://sbpra.com/robinhawdon

#Darwin

BLOG 1, #Evolution theory

I am writing this from beyond the grave on behalf of my husband. He of course cannot respond himself since he has made it clear that he does not believe in an afterlife, and hence isn’t officially here. Even though he keeps asking me what I am writing, and whispers in my ear whenever he wishes to add something (just as he did when we were on earth – plus ça change, as I am told the French say). However if anyone is receiving these messages from me then it must be evident that there is a heaven whatever he may think. I have always been something of a scatterbrain when it comes to science (which is why I still find parts of his grand theory of evolution difficult to follow) and I have no idea how this modern method of communication works, but work it seems to do even from here. So evidently the Lord really does move in mysterious ways!

They tell me this is called a blog. Why I have no idea, and I have to say I find it an extremely ugly word. Why can’t they call it a letter, or a message, or even a celestial dispatch? Perhaps it is some form of acronym – standing for Broadcasting Love Of God, or some such. Charley will have none of such religious thinking of course. He simply says if the state of the world is an example of the Love of God then he cannot imagine what the Wrath of God might produce! I dare not say that perhaps the state of the world is due to man bringing the wrath of God down upon his head, because I know from experience that C will immediately tie me in knots with his rational arguments against such conjecture (as he did so often about the divinity of Jesus Christ). But there – how does one explain the concept of faith to a logical mind. I cannot depart from what I have been taught to believe since the cradle.

Now, why am I writing this? Well, the fact is that I found whilst alive that composing my journal every day was one of the most therapeutic of tasks, as well as providing a record of the doings of my extraordinary family. I have since found the habit hard to shake off, and in truth I also need some form of occupation in this place, which, although perfectly beautiful and inspirational, does lack a little of the – how shall I say it? – excitement of life on planet earth. Perfection is all very well, but sometimes one does pine for the variety, the uncertainty, the contrast of bodily existence. Of course I am relieved to be free from the evils of crime, tragedy and war (humanity is still very primitive – I agree with my husband on that at any rate), but as I described at length in the aforementioned journal, I appreciated the challenge of life on earth.

I gave strict instructions at the time that my journal was an intensely private and personal affair, and was not to be divulged to anyone. However I have since heard that after I departed that world one of my sons took it upon himself to print and distribute copies amongst the family, claiming that it was far too valuable a record of our eventful life to keep secret. Disobedient boy! (I still think of him as my boy, even though he has long since joined us here, like his siblings, all bearing their honours and knighthoods which makes me even more proud than it does them). His action was flattering to me no doubt, but the danger is that, now copies exist, one or more will eventually be discovered and, because of my husband’s fame and reputation, broadcast to the world. The thought of all our large family’s ups and downs, our triumphs and tragedies, our most intimate arguments and discussions becoming common knowledge, appals me. It appals Charles also. We have always been private people – it was one reason why C took so long to allow publication of his major works. He knew full well the storm of controversy his discoveries would invoke, and controversy was ever the last thing my mild mannered Charley sought. However the indications from earth are that the search is already on to find my precious journal. Apparently the story of the hunt can already by found through this same magical medium of ‘cyberspace’ that I am using to send this message. It seems modern progress means that all things will soon be available to all men. Is this a good thing, I ask myself? I have always been taught that a certain amount of privacy and discretion was desirable, but then I know that many of our so-called Victorian values have since been discarded, and the world is now a very different place.

Ah well, if the publication of my journal adds some excitement to the present lives of earthlings, and even better, some enlightenment as to what Charley’s discoveries really mean for the future and welfare of mankind, then I suppose it cannot be a bad thing. Perhaps indeed it is part of God’s plan for rehabilitation of the species. I will ask him when I next see him. (I will post his answer, if any, in my next ‘blog’.)

I will finish now. This has been quite an entertaining experience. I look forward to writing more about our existences here and on earth, and even to perhaps receiving some response from whoever out there might have unwittingly stumbled upon my message!

Emma Darwin.

P.S. For those interested in the tale of my journal, and I am hesitant to say, in Charles’s own secret and extremely controversial writings, more information can be found at http://sbpra.com/RobinHawdon