The recognition that there is vast, roiling horror in the world has taught me to also see the spiritual hand of something great and good in many things around me - I feel sadness for those who cannot appreciate that there is something incredible happening in terms of an awakening in the world
I have a similar feeling, and I actually see the struggle to move from dark to light -- actually, from callous violence to empathy and love -- as a built-in tendency of the universe.
Life needs energy; animals must therefore eat; other animals are a good source of nutrients (and those nutrients need less processing than plant nutrients do, since the prey animals have already done that processing) -- thus, predation came into the world. One animal murders another and eats it.
Exactly what one would expect in a Darwinian ecology.
Later, also through natural Darwinian action, love came into the world.
Care for one's offspring led to more surviving offspring; bonding between male and female led to partnerships that helped both members survive; friendships and the bonding of larger groups also encouraged survival; -- and so on; entire books have been written about the details, although most of the details are actually speculation. Nonetheless, love -- love of others, connection TO others, empathy FOR others, the sense of brotherhood with all humans and to a large extent with all LIFE -- not only exists but is central to the meaning of existence.
Meaning, in human terms, is feeling. Without access to feeling, one lives a meaningless life. We are a social species and for us, the sense of connection to others is necessary; being kept for long in solitary confinement, for example, is recognized as a form of torture. Psychopaths are often insane (yet functional) because they are unable to feel connected to others; they live in virtual solitary confinement their entire lives. Other things -- money and power, particularly -- become ultra important to them because they lack a natural, healthy sense of meaning in their lives, and psychopaths are also typically toxic or worse because unlike those around them, they cannot experience empathy or love.
"Love is the answer", yes, because love brings with it everything necessary to civil society. Love includes protection of the young and protection of everyone, really; love motivates us to do what is needed to provide for our families and for those others who need aid.
Jesus and other teachers have known this forever. Jesus made it clear that children must be treated well; treating children well produces healthy, loving adults. Such adults are literally in heaven (Luke: 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.).
And of course, as all Christians know (although many forget), Jesus' own definition of discipleship is simply that "ye have love one to another (John: 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.)
A universe arranged such that cruelty and murder were built-in to the nature of life eventually created love, which grew to become the central joy and necessity of healthy life for humans (and for many other animals, including most or all mammals, at least some birds, and probably other animals as well).
The Great Awakening is a part of that trend, as you mentioned; I feel it too. Perhaps it will prove a false start; mankind may not yet be ready, but if we survive whatever comes next, and if we are able to overcome the many injuries we have inflicted on the world (chemical, radiological, micro-plastic, GMO, nano-machine, and other pollution, in particular), we could be on the verge of a world with a saner, healthier population. -- A world with more love and less emotional damage. Heaven on Earth, I'd call it.
Here's hoping.
The recognition that there is vast, roiling horror in the world has taught me to also see the spiritual hand of something great and good in many things around me - I feel sadness for those who cannot appreciate that there is something incredible happening in terms of an awakening in the world
I have a similar feeling, and I actually see the struggle to move from dark to light -- actually, from callous violence to empathy and love -- as a built-in tendency of the universe.
Life needs energy; animals must therefore eat; other animals are a good source of nutrients (and those nutrients need less processing than plant nutrients do, since the prey animals have already done that processing) -- thus, predation came into the world. One animal murders another and eats it.
Exactly what one would expect in a Darwinian ecology.
Later, also through natural Darwinian action, love came into the world.
Care for one's offspring led to more surviving offspring; bonding between male and female led to partnerships that helped both members survive; friendships and the bonding of larger groups also encouraged survival; -- and so on; entire books have been written about the details, although most of the details are actually speculation. Nonetheless, love -- love of others, connection TO others, empathy FOR others, the sense of brotherhood with all humans and to a large extent with all LIFE -- not only exists but is central to the meaning of existence.
Meaning, in human terms, is feeling. Without access to feeling, one lives a meaningless life. We are a social species and for us, the sense of connection to others is necessary; being kept for long in solitary confinement, for example, is recognized as a form of torture. Psychopaths are often insane (yet functional) because they are unable to feel connected to others; they live in virtual solitary confinement their entire lives. Other things -- money and power, particularly -- become ultra important to them because they lack a natural, healthy sense of meaning in their lives, and psychopaths are also typically toxic or worse because unlike those around them, they cannot experience empathy or love.
"Love is the answer", yes, because love brings with it everything necessary to civil society. Love includes protection of the young and protection of everyone, really; love motivates us to do what is needed to provide for our families and for those others who need aid.
Jesus and other teachers have known this forever. Jesus made it clear that children must be treated well; treating children well produces healthy, loving adults. Such adults are literally in heaven (Luke: 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.).
And of course, as all Christians know (although many forget), Jesus' own definition of discipleship is simply that "ye have love one to another (John: 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.)
A universe arranged such that cruelty and murder were built-in to the nature of life eventually created love, which grew to become the central joy and necessity of healthy life for humans (and for many other animals, including most or all mammals, at least some birds, and probably other animals as well).
The Great Awakening is a part of that trend, as you mentioned; I feel it too. Perhaps it will prove a false start; mankind may not yet be ready, but if we survive whatever comes next, and if we are able to overcome the many injuries we have inflicted on the world (chemical, radiological, micro-plastic, GMO, nano-chem, and other pollution, in particular), we could be on the verge of a world with a saner, healthier population. -- A world with more love and less emotional damage. Heaven on Earth, I'd call it.
Here's hoping.