WEB 4 -  ARCHIVE

Commentary 27 - Page  2

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THE STATE OF THE PLANET

Robin Amis, Director of Praxis Research Institute, here describes key conclusions drawn after nearly twenty years of research into the ancient inner teachings of Christian spirituality - including those now sometimes known as the Fourth Way. In this Commentary he introduces some of the evidence that this declining spirituality was in fact one of the 'civilising factors' that shaped Western civilisation - and shows how misunderstandings, compounded by political accidents, have re-shaped Western thought in ways that have led to the present 'Decline of the West' - a decline that few people are aware of.  In other parts of this web-site, or in additions to be made to it in the coming year, he expands this evidence and approaches the question of the nature of the problem, as well as possible new solutions. 

Earth was once able to assimilate the results of human life without being damaged. But the planet is now dominated by humanity to the point where human effort is necessary if we are to prevent a catastrophic growth of pollution. The present situation for mankind is that human survival, or at least a survival as complete human beings undistorted by environment, depends on the ecological stability of the planet, and this in turn depends on the stability of the human species.

This then depends on the proper development of Christian stewardship, not by a ruling group within human society, but by humanity as a species learning to act as stewards over the whole planet, and this we can only do to the extent that we take command over ourselves.   This will be shown, as much as anything else, by the resolution of a problem described by Toynbee in relation to the present situation in the following terms: "The head can comprehend mankind's present situation and can also discern its new requirements. Can it persuade the heart to co-operate with it in making the requisite revolutionary social and cultural changes that the head is powerless to make by itself, without its temperamental partner's concurrence? This perennial question has become one of life and death in the Atomic Age, and we cannot predict the answer that man is going to give to it in this critical case. Today, as often in the past, a need for unity is having to contend with divisive habits and institutions."  (Arnold Toynbee - Change and Habit.)

When this occurs, says the ancient tradition, mankind will have become fully human. This might be described as an evolutionary step working itself out.

CRISIS

Spiritual crisis P1

Spiritual crisis P2

Spiritual crisis P3

Spiritual crisis P4

Spiritual crisis P5