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.
