October 18, 2018
We are all familiar with the obvious top-priority problems such as terrorism, the economy/jobs, and the environment. Less or nothing is said about one of the background conditions that has caused these three symptoms to exist. Our collective view of the world has ceased to be driven by a sense of higher purpose. The average person remembers that in growing up, science had disabused us all of spiritual ideas and feelings. We have more or less given up a search for meaning. Life is then all about money, pleasure, power, and thankfully love is still part of the picture.
During Paleolithic animism and the heyday of old-time religion, there existed a shared mythos that made life itself important, thrilling, full of awe and wonder. Life was numinous.
The terrorists are given their (un)holy jihad as a way of finding meaning, belonging to a group with a sense of what is portrayed as higher purpose, as the alternative to a meaningless existence without opportunity. In that choice is the potential for the recruitment of another billion terrorists, and more.
For those of us who have jobs, we have created a sense of more modest purpose for ourselves that also pays the bills and allows us to support families we love. And yet there is a sense of worldwide depression not only in the economy but also frequently in our daily existence, as we fear losing our jobs, our income, our surrogate sense of purpose.
It is highly unlikely that without worldwide catastrophe, the world could ever go back to the days of old-time religion as the source of day to day inspiration and higher purpose.* There are too many disconnects between our technological scientific world and the doctrines of the established religions and their sources in ancient scriptures. The average person reading those scriptures does not tend to become inspired to a higher purpose.
How can we add back inspiration to life?
What If?
Numerous scientists have regained the sense of awe and inspiration from studying the findings of quantum physics and relativity, notably Bell’s Theorem, which implies that everything in the universe is connected at faster than light speed, along with Einstein’s placing the observer in the picture of what creates reality. Despite quantum physics having recognized consciousness as a key factor in the creation of reality, to the average person these ideas are arcane and do not resonate in the gut, so there is no effect on behavior and attitudes.
It is right in front of our faces, but we cannot see it: consciousness is spirit. This is how religion and science are tied together, except that physics has yet to deal directly with consciousness.
One thing we know from studying the past is that lifting up millions of people to an inspiring vision of reality requires three things:
- Drama
- Early Wins
- Credibility
If, for example, Jesus had lived out his life as a teacher, he might still today have many followers of his philosophy, perhaps as many as Buddha has, but instead Jesus has four times as many. Conceivably it was the crucifixion and then the resurrection that stuck in people’s minds and provided riveting drama, which forced them to pay attention for many centuries and to grow one of the largest movements in history.
If Jesus and Buddha had not improved the lot of the people they touched—early wins—their movements would not have spread. The terrorists supply early wins in a baser way, but they do check that box.
What if a few motion picture industry leaders were to take a chance and see to the production, distribution and marketing of an epic series of dramatic motion pictures and novels that artistically, authentically, and scientifically meet the three requirements above? Presenting a view of reality that combines physics with the underpinnings of religion if not its superficial trappings? Providing content designed to transform hearts and minds, by which people could change their spirit, attitudes, behavior, inspiration and enjoyment of life day to day?
This, then, is what we are aiming at in THE FIRST SON and in the other four episodes in the series we have written aimed at creating positive historic change. The series is called AGENTS OF COSMIC INTELLIGENCE.
Our proposal is founded on the hypothesis that drama and our most powerful media can touch millions to billions in a way that brings them inspiration at a higher level than media have yet to achieve. We must merely show a credible and vivid scenario of how God and science could actually be pointing to the same Truth — we are all connected – we are all the same One Self.
*To put these remarks in perspective, out of the 7.4 billion people living on Earth today, the lack of inspiration described above applies to the great majority. Yet millions or billions of us are inspired by something larger than ourselves, a religion, a path, a role model or teacher, a transcendent intuition, love, passion work, life itself…
Best to all,
Bill
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