[Originally Posted WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2010]
As we hurl towards the mythical doomsday of December 21, 2012, theologians, scholars, astronomers, historians, authors and even movie producers are all scrambling to make sense of what's an otherwise natural occurrence. At the very least the majority of that list is trying to profit from conjecture, theory, misinformation and zealots.
Yes, there's a planetary alignment. Yes, the Mayan long count calendar ends on that date. So what? Why should we as rational, thinking humans living on this planet make plans or work ourselves up into a frenzy over nothing? December 22, 2012 will come, just as December 23, 2012. And you know what? That in and of itself will usher in the age of enlightenment. Our eyes will finally be open to all the ridiculous fallacies and myths we've believed since the dawn of time. We will no longer be slaves to legends, half truths, superstition and hearsay. We will be able to move forward and fulfill our lives with meaningful thoughts, and actions. Humanity will finally be better served without the need to believe in the one thing that's divided us since the beginning. Religion.
Now, I know many of you might stop reading from that point, but I must confess that I too would have closed my mind at the thought of such an afront to all that I considered sacred and holy. I was raised Christian, and I'm well versed in all things relating to the faith. I should say faith(s) as I am also a student of all the worlds religions as of late. I still consider myself spiritual in nature, but not religious. And as I talk with more and more people about this, I find that everyone else thinks the same way. It's fairly obvious that when you look at religion from the outside how evil, corrupt and manipulative it's been over the course of the last 2000 or so years. It's no wonder that it's done nothing but held us back as a people. From the wars waged in God's name, to the conquering of natives' on their own lands, the acceptance of slavery as the norm, denying the advancement of science and medicine. To the intolerable treatment of any people who do not fit into their fundamental ideology or willing to play along. Race, Gender and Orientation are huge deals among the religious sect. Even to this day.
Then you have the outright denial of any other gods worshiped by any other race or group of people. Every religion teaches that theirs is the "One True God." But how can that be, without someone flat out lying to their flock? If every other religion is wrong, but the one that you are part of, don't you feel a little bit selfish? Knowing that you somehow were born into a time, and society and the right race that you will be saved and everyone else will burn and perish in hell. That seems a bit two-faced to me, and a little bit egotistical on your part that somehow only you and your fellow brethren are exempt from God's wrath when he returns.
Anyway, the list of hypocrisy goes on and on in this religious debate. I'm not going to go into that... because by now, if you've read this far you too have questioned the methods of the church from time to time. There are just too many myths, and fairly tales woven into the fabric of each and every religion that even little kids can spot them. We all know at some point we've been lied to, and just need to turn away from the things that hold us back as evolved, functional, free thinking and rational people. Now I'm not proposing that everyone turn their backs on what they have been taught or believe in... that would be asking way too much. People just can't change overnight. It would be devastating to our culture and perhaps our economy if everyone just one day woke up and decided to not believe in what they believe in anymore. Not saying that might not happen, but I'd imagine that it would be a gradual phase linked from one generation to the next.
However, I believe that with the upcoming "Age of Enlightenment" fast approaching, I definitely see an opportunity to have the bright minds of our time finally have a foothold on the direction and climate of our world in which we live in. This is where I see our future headed and it's my hope that every child born from this point on will never have to live in a world where wars, hate, intolerance and violence all reign supreme. Ironically, everyone alive doesn't seem to think that those things are good for humanity, yet we actively engage in those activities all for the sake of "something" that we can rationalize and justify at the time. It's almost always linked back to religious reasons, unfortunately.
But how can we change an entire planets race of people's mindsets overnight, you ask? Well, that's where I propose we set up a New Doctrine for a New Age, and a new people living in the Age of Enlightenment. Now, I'm not talking "New Age" as in crystal healing, chakra inducing mindset. I'm referring to the fact that we all are embarking on a transitional journey where there is more information available to anyone. Even in countries were there seem to be no forms of Civil Rights, word is slowly creeping in. Technology has changed the playing field. It's no longer a time where only the privileged few can read and have access to modern concepts and information. It's everywhere. The internet, the radio, publications, TV... it's all around us. People are tweeting, facebooking and generally keeping their friends and loved ones in the loop at every moment of every day. Yeah, that might be kind of annoying to some of us right now... but think about in 10 years, that's going to be the norm. We are already preparing the mindsets of our young to embrace new ideas, and concepts. We can access anything we want any time of the day, nearly anywhere on the planet. Don't know the answer to something, what do we do? We "Google It." Clearly we are in a "New Age" that is unlike anything even our parents grew up in.
The New Doctrines, as I like to call them, will usher in a new mindset for the leaders and free thinkers of the world. To be able to base their decisions and actions in ways that seem nearly impossible under the current social structure. Nearly everyone in the world, as far as personality types go, are followers. That's just the way we are. So, we have leaders, who are supposed to make informed, logical and rational decisions for the betterment of human kind. Their decisions trickle down to the rest of us. Our daily lives, our business infrastructures, our education, even our health. Sometimes they get it right, sometimes not. The New Doctrines that I propose will be sort of a "Framework" in which the whole planet can get behind. It leaves out loaded language that can't be mis-construed or mis-interpreted and therefore frees up our leaders and teachers to make sound judgments that actually help us move forward and advance as a civilization.
Here they are as follows:
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THE NEW DOCTRINES
1: No decision or law will be made or enforced that has been born of a religious seed, spiritual influence, superstitious belief or faith not substantiated by hard facts or scientific evidence.
2: Any political leader or teacher found to be making public policy or decisions for anyone other than themselves based on the stipulations of the First Doctrine, will automatically be discredited and deemed intellectually inferior. And therefore, lose their clout as a policy maker, law maker or teacher. (or anyone who's job it is to enforce such laws and policies)
3: Science and Technology are to move humanity and civilization forward, for good. Not for power, control or destruction. DO NO HARM
4: Every human being on this planet is to be treated equally and fairly. Geography of their birth, the pigment of their skin, nor the decisions they make for themselves in private can be held against them or used in a way that takes away their rights to live freely and in harmony. Without transgression and fear of oppression.
5: Freedom as Individuals: No one's speech, movement, personal beliefs, lifestyles or personal health choices can be denied. The right to education, employment and advancement will be open to everyone if they so choose.
6: The rights to basic medical care, simple shelter and wholesome nutrition shall be available to anyone who has a need.
7: The people always have a say in their local, regional and national elections, policy and laws. Anyone over the age of consent has the right to vote. Special interest groups, private or publicly held corporations have no more than one vote per member of their body. Closed door deals that directly affects public policy is not allowed. Full disclosure keeps fairness and honesty at the forefront of all decisions.
8: Criminal behavior will not be tolerated. Anyone who intentionally harms another human, through their actions, using physical harm or through psychological means will be punished accordingly. Murder, Rape, Burglary Robbery, Larceny, Arson, and Sex Crimes as already defined by criminologists, will be swiftly and uniformly punished, and therefore not tolerated. Punishments will fit the crimes, keeping humanitarian ideals at the forefront sentencing where necessary.
9: Social Responsibility belongs to everyone. Civic duties should include volunteering, building, sharing, donating and enhancing the lives of those less fortunate. It's the goal of everyone concerned with the advancement and well being of society to eradicate poverty and hunger.
10: Adoption of The New Doctrines is compulsory by all nations for the betterment of mankind. Those not willing to participate or fully accept the terms will not benefit from the social, medical and technical advancements and improvements made by adopting The New Doctrines. Not participating in The New Doctrines only devalues human life.
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Now a lot of this might sound "Utopian" or "U.N. ish" even "Socialist" by some views. But the way I see it, these are basic new rights that don't need a label. They just need to be. Obviously, the status quo isn't working and we just need to walk away from it entirely. Start over, start fresh. But in order for this kind of reform to take hold world wide, we need to be witness to a universal event that is the basis for a new mindset. I'm thinking December 21, 2012 will be the perfect launching point for the Age of Enlightenment, and the start of The New Doctrines to be put into place. Throughout history, civilizations have risen and fallen. Societies have flourished and then vanished, morphed and adopted into the next new thing... what I'm proposing that we all recognize the need to change and we can unite behind these New Doctrines together. World Wide, not just within a tiny microcosm of a small region or country's geographical boundaries.
The New Doctrines that I posted above might be a little simplistic, or maybe even a little too complicated to adopt. I don't know. They should be open to debate by a small group of people who are the intellectuals and visionaries for the future. A think tank for the world, so to speak. Not a large body of people, not an elite class, not people looking to profit from change. But sound minded and rational people from all walks of life, and all different perspectives. Much in the same way the Constitution was written and ratified by a select few who had vision for the beginnings of America. However, this would be for the rest of the world based on the social models that have elements that actually work, and leaving out the parts that don't.
Maybe The New Doctrines don't need a party to review and edit them, and perhaps water down their meaning and intention. Maybe they just need to be adopted and agreed upon as a solid foundation for creating the world that we all want to live in and be a part of. Just like Martin Luther, when he nailed his ninety-five theses to the door of the Catholic Church during the sixteenth century. He changed the course of modern day religion. To his credit many things for the better. But we aren't talking about God or religion... we are talking about humanity, and things we can actually change. We can make history together, for the first time in all of humanity, we can actually drop what we are doing and pick up and start over.