Just as an individual life has three stages with two transition periods, so does society. There will always be sheep, self centered leaders, and divine teachers.
The three stages are dependency, self identity and divine identity with the two transition stages being teenage and mid-life crisis.
Dependency: When a person is born they are dependent. Some never lose this. Their authority is surrendered to someone else.
Teenage transition: This is the transition period where dependency is decreased and the logical aspect of consciousness is formed which allows a “self identity.”
Self Identity: This is the “I’m in control” self worship.
Mid-life crisis: This is where the “Self” encounters difficulties and realizes that they are not in control. In Chrisitanity, this is the dieing daily process Paul spoke of. In Buddhism it’s the diminishing of the ego or non-attachment process. It bottoms out at the “Dark Night of the Soul.”
Divine Identity: This is the point where the authority that was collected during the transition from dependency to self contol is now surrendered to God. It is a profound experience which provides the “Born Again.” experience.
If you look at the 1950’s, society was in dependency. They surrendered their authority to the Gov’t, society and their parents. Look at the haircuts and demeaner.
The 1960’s and 1970’s were the teenage rebellion, or the “Hippie” era. The anti authority movement.
The Hippies became the “Yuppies” or self worshippers.
We are right now on the threshhold of a major mid-life crisis. The problem is that most people will allow fear to become so great that they will not make it through the dark night of the soul, but will allow the fear to cause them to revert back to surrendering their authority to one leader or dictator who promises to “Save” them. This is exactly what set the stage for Hitler in Germany between WW I and WW II. Sad thing, even the intellectuals lose their ability to use their logical discernment.
Holding on to the feeling of “Love” when going through the Dark Night is the beacon to lead one out of the continued mid-life crisis. Without that focal point,(the reason religion is so important) a person becomes like a ballerina doing periottes across the stage without a focal point. They get dizzy and feel the need to grab on to someone else for stability.
What is happening in this world is exactly what God has planned. It is the harvest Jesus spoke of in Matthew 13. He explains that mankind are the seeds put here to grow for the harvest.
Interesting note: When a person gets through the transition period and just gets on the threshhold of the new stage, there is a period of euphoria. This is why the 16 year old thinks he knows it all. The same thing is true for people who have gone through the dark night experience and are on the threshhold of Divine Identity. They will write books, preach and say follow me, I know the way. So beware.
All religions fit somewhere on this continuum of development. You even see it within congregations. Fundamentalism = legalism =dependency. Self worship = pride = separation. Divine Identity = Unconditional Love and altruism = Freedom.
I’ve been studying psychology, religion, cognitive neuroscience, and consciousness flow patterns for about 20 years. Science does support religion and vice versa.
Ps. there is a “false process that imitates the real process. It is where people “Think” they are surrendering to the Divine, but in actuality are surrendering to their spiritual teacher or leader. It’s a painful learning experience. It is stage hypnosis techniques being used in the name of religion. Beware of the “False” process.
The difference between communism and an altruistic loving society is that communism immitates the the altruistic society with legalism. It’s a false process. It does the soul no good to surrender the soul to helping others out of legalism.
Most people are screaming...Please Do Not Save Me! The Government types are going to save us even though we just want them to GO AWAY! They are Pests.