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July 7, 2007 at 07:15:30
Transforming Civilization: Gods, God, Emergence, and Transcendence. by Dr. Michael P Byron Page 1 of 4 page(s) |
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The course of human history from the dawning of agriculture in the Near East about ten thousand years ago, to the present, can be understood as embodying the progressive development of ever more complex political economies. Developing this complexity has required coordinating the actions of ever larger groups of humans together for collective purposes. After 10,000 years of this process of political and economic complexification, civilization now finds itself confronting fundamental crises of survival due to peak oil, global climate change, and political and economic failures to deal with these crises. Given this reality, an understanding of the dynamics of this process, using systems theory offers considerable insight into our history. Furthermore, it offers insights into what we must do in the here and now to ensure that civilization can transform itself to survive and thrive in the face of these ever intensifying challenges. Most accounts of ancient societies present them as being centered upon their unique pantheon of gods and goddesses. Across the planet, the rise of civilization is centered upon the rise of that civilization’s gods. The center of each civilization is the place where its gods were worshipped. The unification of a cultural region into a unified political body required the unification of the pantheon of gods for that civilization. The story of civilization is the story of civilization’s gods. For example, at the dawn of history, by about 3200 BCE, ancient Sumeria possessed a common language and culture shared between diverse, often warring, city-states. In conjunction with a common pantheon of major gods, each city state had its own unique patron deity. The massive ziggurat near the center of each of these city-states was dedicated to this patron god. For example, in Lagash the patron deity was Ningirsu. In nearby Uruk it was Inanna. Not only were these cities physically built around the temple of their patron god, so also was their political economy organized around the cult of this god as well. The cult of the chief god, in conjunction with those of the lesser gods, unified the city’s population.
Following the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt in about 3,000 BCE, a composite pantheon of gods and goddesses for all Egypt was established which provided the basis for Egypt’s unity and cohesion for 3,000 years.
The different agricultural regions of China developed a variety of gods. These came to be merged into a unified pantheon during the Shang Dynasty beginning about 1750 BCE. This pantheon of gods included Le Kun god of thunder, Kuan Ti, god of war, Kwan Yin, goddess of mercy and compassion, and many others. With this religious unification came the political unification of China over the next millennium.
I could go on and on and on.
Looking at this relationship from the perspective of systems theory offers considerable explanatory utility. A system is any group of elements which interact with one another in such a manner as to give the group on interacting elements a group identity. Systems possess three fundamental characteristics:
1) interconnectedness
2) boundedness
3) emergence
Every element in a system is connected to, and so is affected by, every other element in that system. Every system possesses a boundary, which distinguishes the area that is inside of a system and the area which lies outside of it. The system’s boundary can be either open or closed to this surrounding environment, either allowing movement through it or closing the system off from outside influence. Systems can be either simple, in that they follow invariant, deterministic behaviors, or they can be complex in that their behavior at any future moment is not knowable.
Finally, systems possess group properties which cannot be attributed to the composite influences of their elements. Emergence is a true scientific miracle of nature. Consider the simple system formed by two hydrogen atoms combined with one of oxygen into a molecule of water. This molecule possesses the group property of, call it, “wetness”. Wetness cannot be reduced to the individual properties of its constituent hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Consider also a single neuron. It is not aware of anything. Yet billions of these neurons combined together into your brain—a complex system—possesses consciousness and self-identity. These cannot be attributed to its constituent neurons. Rather, consciousness is an emergent property of complexly interconnected neurons. As these neurons are made of ordinary atoms, consciousness is an emergent property of matter, complexly arranged.
With emergence, the whole is greater than the sum of the system’s constituent parts. Understanding this critical concept is the key to understanding the central role of gods in the emergence and subsequent development of human civilization towards increasing complexity. It is also key to understanding what we must do now to preserve civilization at this moment of supreme crisis.
Organizing early agrarian societies required regulating and coordinating the behaviors of large groups of people who were not directly related. Family hierarchies were not adequate for this purpose. However, if everyone in a geographic community would not only speak the same language, but also worship the same gods, organizational problems could be resolved. If the gods represented sacred Authority, and all members of a community acknowledged this sacred Authority, then earthly Representatives of these gods—Priests and or Kings, could command everyone in Their name. A unified political economy could then emerge.
What seems to have escaped attention is WHY this basic organizational method was universally adopted planet-wide from Mexico to Mesopotamia. This is because the universal worship of a common religious pantheon enhanced organization and cooperation, and integrated these communities into much more closely coupled, more intricately arranged political-economic systems. This integration had the effect of allowing these communities to manifest emergent properties. The net capabilities and production of the whole was significantly greater than the sum of its constituent parts.
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
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| 4 comments |
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Here and Now
Dr. Mike is all over it, both in his historic perspective and suggestions of the nature of a solution. The 'extreme makeover' our culture requires is fundamental and far-reaching, beginning with ourselves and expanding to include our 7 billion brethren. At the core of this new paradigm must be an appreciation of the power of The Present. This eternal, present moment is the fulcrum we use to awaken to our God-nature, and from this springs the Integrity, Justice and Balance required for our new world operating system. And we need wait for no one to teach ourselves this new modality. The time is now, the answer is love. by Jim Prues (15 articles, 33 quicklinks, 10 diaries, 81 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Saturday, Jul 7, 2007 at 10:12:42 AM  (0+)
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The Propaganda of History
Greetings: I read your piece,and like most authors in our education system, you have over-looked most of the world's true history, to sight the transparent truth (company version) as taught by the dominant culture. I use the word transparent, because this kind of truth, serves those who study to keep a job,and to make the point, that supports Western ideas of God,True,Reason,etc. It is clear to me that, the western idea of balance, religion,life,death,etc.has been learned and synthesized to reflect and agree with the western ideas of light,darkness and faith, and has brought the world and its people to where we are today. This form of culture imperialism has proved affective,and misleading to most. The desired affect. And at this point in time, it matters little if one happens to be of any race or religion, the children have been turned into consumers,with a universally transparent idea of the market place and its idea of truth. Admonitions of Maat .cira: 2900B.C. at Saqquara, which are still visible in it original state, clearly communicate ideas of Law Reason and Compassion long before Hebrews, Christians, Islams, or Budas' plagiaisms. The B.B.C's Sci-Tech. Aug 26,1999 sites evidence that Black-Australian, not Africans, were in America/Brazil 40,000 years ago. Later to be wipe out by Asians from the North America via the Bearing Straight..The calendar as we know it, formulas to measure the velocity of running water etc..were all used to promote a high standard of living which included soap, before many of the ideas/events you have stated in your piece were uttered or acted by other than African people. Were these people our first conceptual moralist? If not who were? A true revolution can not be based on propaganda..Truth is the only foundation for peace and sympathetic harmony. Not on a history that has been taught for centuries by racist and opportunist in America and the West in general. The problem, in my opinion ,is the American World View, and the educational system the produces our so-called instructors/masters/leaders..It seems that our teachers cannot free themselves of from their desires for personal gain via our schools..Curriculum is being developed for employment and corporate reality, instead of the general well being of our social good. I believe that we as teachers should consider the type of people we want to look after us when we become too old to look after ourselves, and teach our children/teachers/community the act thru loving care. Social conflict can be dismissed as easily as the origin of truth has been dismissed.. But with a completely different result..It would seem that White people generally, believe that they existed before the rational of their existence, and the logical conclusion of themselves and those resolutions between the environment and the creative universal force. Consider nature of knowing the truth. I give you the"Propaganda of History"by W.E.B. Du Bois, this piece can be found as chapter xvii in Du Bois's Black Reconstruction in America 1860-1880...Old News sincerely.. .Arzinia Richardson by arzinia (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Saturday, Jul 7, 2007 at 2:46:07 PM (0+)
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Transforming Civilization
Interesting essay, but you could have saved a whole lot of words. History, in essence, is "Spread Gospel, Collect Gold." From the days of Abraham (the first documented sociopath), men who never knew when enough was enough, tirelessly sought more and more land, gold and silver from their fellow men (and women) by lying, stealing and murder. Many have pointed this out. The most famous being Jesus. But he was murdered, and then Paul corrupted his teachings. The churches continues to demand land, gold and silver. Who could have imagined back then that three major religions would be based on a liar. Not my words, it's also documented in the holy books. It doesn't have to be this way, but the minds of most have been brainwashed for centuries. Why should it be any different now? by Edward Ulysses Cate (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 232 comments [9 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Saturday, Jul 7, 2007 at 3:28:07 PM (0+)
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Boomerang
I think i read an excerpt from his book before, because this content in this article is so familiar... The conclusion section also reinforces my worldview that events cycle around again...because as i read it, the Mother Nature, Earth Mother, Gaia principal is the paradigm which is cycling around again... as a replacement for the monotheism model, which led to a heirarchy of corporations & governments in our social-political-economic cultures. Ah, an evolved Paganism under another name by victoras (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 21 comments) on Sunday, Jul 8, 2007 at 6:55:13 AM (0+)
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