LightRider
Senior member
Throughout history, and even before history, the species of man was raising up to be the most dominant species on earth. We did not get this way through sheer numbers, as the lowly bacteria outnumbers us by the countless billions. Nor by superior building methods, as the ants, bees, and termites of the world have constructed more complex and efficient living spaces than we ever will. Nor is it by being proficient with tools, as even our genetic cousins in the jungles are capable of putting a twig to good use. Our strength lies in our communication, organization and fierce competition.
Without being able to communicate at such a high level, humanity would not be where it is today. The aforementioned bacteria have no way to communicate with each other, they simply react, and this makes organization a bit difficult. The insects of the world communicate, but on such an extremely simple level that they will try to mate with a q-tip if it gives off the right pheromones. This makes it difficult for them to see past their own short-lived survival and single-mindedness in doing work for the hive. The apes of the world can communicate on a level nearly human, but their consciousness deals not with the well being of others or the concepts of freedom, but the protection of their kin, and the intrusions of their land and resources.
If we look at the popular views as to the origination of man, then we see the following patterns emerge. Man was given a paradise to live in, where the entire world was ours to command, and all that we could want was in the trees and rivers of life. We were simple creatures that had no care of conflict or death; we did not even have a desire of life. We had but a responsibility to keep out world in order and maintained. Very much like the God that created us, we were incapable of being impure, as we did not know what impure was. However, when we were commanded not to eat of the tree of knowledge, we were given a concept foreign to us, control.
In evolutionary theory, the simple creatures were our genetic ancestors, unable to discern good from bad, just living in our paradise without a care, being in balance with the world around us and not knowing that we would one day die. We did nothing wrong because there was nothing to do that was wrong. We could only follow our nature, which was to take what we needed, and fend for what was ours. Survival wasn't work and toil, it was just being. When the urge to procreate took us, we did what was in our genes to perpetuate our species. We had little need for perversions and other distractions. But sooner or later, came the snake.
Who is to say what we, as a species, can and cannot do? An all-powerful God commanded us not to eat of the tree of knowledge. We do not understand, but we find no reason to not follow the command, there is other fruit to eat. There is another force though, a voice if you will. A curiosity in our minds. An idea that there is something better than what we have. The belief that we can achieve more than what we already do. The concept of power. To eat of the tree is to achieve the same power as the one who commands us not to. Little did we know it was advice for our own benefit, not God's unthreatened dominance.
We began to learn that, when threatened, we could deal with our threat more effectively with a group. We learned that fire could be useful. We learned that communicating the area of our food and organizing ourselves into hunting parties yielded bigger bounties. We learned that farming is more certain than foraging. We learned that more was mostly better than less. We learned that depending on each other gave us more life than by living alone. And throughout all this learning, we were becoming increasingly aware of one big glaring fact. We will all come to our own end in this world.
Elephants are seen to be mourning over their dead, and mother gazelles will trot away when a hungry lioness seizes their young. The lumbering herbivores of the Jurassic period would lie down and wait for the inevitable when their legs were broken after they slid down a hill. These creatures knew that death was a part of life. However, they cannot conceive of a world in which they do not exist. Their world dies with them. We realize however, that life will go on without us. The members of our tribe will go on after our time, and now only our world will not exist. We cannot effect change when we are dead. We cannot contribute, communicate or know anything after our end. We knew of our own mortality and the mortality of others.
Our curiosity gave way to our learning and our knowledge. We began to look out for each other, but at the same time remain aware that the others may not want us around for competition. We know that more is better, and our time is limited, so must make the most of what little we have. Our groups formed, and our bonds grew strong. To know others in our group is to know ourselves in a way. They understand that we are in this together, and we must defend our resources, and ourselves not just for us, but for our progeny as well, but mainly for us. We know the same things, and therefore believe the same things. We know that our beliefs are what keep us together and that the more together we are, the better chance we have of survival. We have no reason to fight with other groups though. There are plenty of resources around, but just make sure they don't get ours. There is more farming land down the river.
Our groups gave way to civilization when we found out that our land was limited. The bigger our group, the bigger our land needed to be. If they won't join our group, then they are a threat to our survival. This is the rational that modern man has, had and will always have. It was ingrained in us through our rise, and it will be with us to our fall, the end of all things. We took the place of God when we learned of our own mortality. We learned that we had to kill or be killed. The way life was before; we did not have these concepts. Some may say the law of the jungle is to kill or be killed, but in actuality, it is live and let live. Every life in the biosphere is producing and consuming, giving and taking, living and dying. Such was the balance before man. Now our laws are much more different. Join or die, pray or pay, put out or get out. We want Israel sundered or we want Israel safe. We want democracy or we want monarchy. Give me freedom or give me death.
Man decided long ago, not consciously, that war wasn't a necessity, but a certainty. Those of us in the group who are willing to make it bigger, stronger and better were willing to sacrifice ourselves for the good of others in our group. We do this because we believe in our group and we know that the others are not conducive to our survival. The biblical battles show that our beliefs in the spiritual world can dominate our needs in the physical world. The crusades show that as well. The revolutions, revolts and battles of independence and sovereignty show that even in groups, we are divided. We cannot escape the need for conflict. When one finds them self alone, they have little chance of mental well-being. Conflict has been so ingrained in us that we need to find someone to argue with, even if it turns out to be our self. Society as well, will not tolerate those who call for peace and non-aggression. Those who know better and believe that only conflict will resolve our conflicts have duly silenced all our great thinkers and peace-mongers. The acquisition of power, wealth and status seem to increase the need for this, strangely enough. While those with less are willing to defend themselves with all in their possession, be it rocks, sticks or even their physical selves. As long is there is man, there will be war. As long as there is death, there will be man.
Without being able to communicate at such a high level, humanity would not be where it is today. The aforementioned bacteria have no way to communicate with each other, they simply react, and this makes organization a bit difficult. The insects of the world communicate, but on such an extremely simple level that they will try to mate with a q-tip if it gives off the right pheromones. This makes it difficult for them to see past their own short-lived survival and single-mindedness in doing work for the hive. The apes of the world can communicate on a level nearly human, but their consciousness deals not with the well being of others or the concepts of freedom, but the protection of their kin, and the intrusions of their land and resources.
If we look at the popular views as to the origination of man, then we see the following patterns emerge. Man was given a paradise to live in, where the entire world was ours to command, and all that we could want was in the trees and rivers of life. We were simple creatures that had no care of conflict or death; we did not even have a desire of life. We had but a responsibility to keep out world in order and maintained. Very much like the God that created us, we were incapable of being impure, as we did not know what impure was. However, when we were commanded not to eat of the tree of knowledge, we were given a concept foreign to us, control.
In evolutionary theory, the simple creatures were our genetic ancestors, unable to discern good from bad, just living in our paradise without a care, being in balance with the world around us and not knowing that we would one day die. We did nothing wrong because there was nothing to do that was wrong. We could only follow our nature, which was to take what we needed, and fend for what was ours. Survival wasn't work and toil, it was just being. When the urge to procreate took us, we did what was in our genes to perpetuate our species. We had little need for perversions and other distractions. But sooner or later, came the snake.
Who is to say what we, as a species, can and cannot do? An all-powerful God commanded us not to eat of the tree of knowledge. We do not understand, but we find no reason to not follow the command, there is other fruit to eat. There is another force though, a voice if you will. A curiosity in our minds. An idea that there is something better than what we have. The belief that we can achieve more than what we already do. The concept of power. To eat of the tree is to achieve the same power as the one who commands us not to. Little did we know it was advice for our own benefit, not God's unthreatened dominance.
We began to learn that, when threatened, we could deal with our threat more effectively with a group. We learned that fire could be useful. We learned that communicating the area of our food and organizing ourselves into hunting parties yielded bigger bounties. We learned that farming is more certain than foraging. We learned that more was mostly better than less. We learned that depending on each other gave us more life than by living alone. And throughout all this learning, we were becoming increasingly aware of one big glaring fact. We will all come to our own end in this world.
Elephants are seen to be mourning over their dead, and mother gazelles will trot away when a hungry lioness seizes their young. The lumbering herbivores of the Jurassic period would lie down and wait for the inevitable when their legs were broken after they slid down a hill. These creatures knew that death was a part of life. However, they cannot conceive of a world in which they do not exist. Their world dies with them. We realize however, that life will go on without us. The members of our tribe will go on after our time, and now only our world will not exist. We cannot effect change when we are dead. We cannot contribute, communicate or know anything after our end. We knew of our own mortality and the mortality of others.
Our curiosity gave way to our learning and our knowledge. We began to look out for each other, but at the same time remain aware that the others may not want us around for competition. We know that more is better, and our time is limited, so must make the most of what little we have. Our groups formed, and our bonds grew strong. To know others in our group is to know ourselves in a way. They understand that we are in this together, and we must defend our resources, and ourselves not just for us, but for our progeny as well, but mainly for us. We know the same things, and therefore believe the same things. We know that our beliefs are what keep us together and that the more together we are, the better chance we have of survival. We have no reason to fight with other groups though. There are plenty of resources around, but just make sure they don't get ours. There is more farming land down the river.
Our groups gave way to civilization when we found out that our land was limited. The bigger our group, the bigger our land needed to be. If they won't join our group, then they are a threat to our survival. This is the rational that modern man has, had and will always have. It was ingrained in us through our rise, and it will be with us to our fall, the end of all things. We took the place of God when we learned of our own mortality. We learned that we had to kill or be killed. The way life was before; we did not have these concepts. Some may say the law of the jungle is to kill or be killed, but in actuality, it is live and let live. Every life in the biosphere is producing and consuming, giving and taking, living and dying. Such was the balance before man. Now our laws are much more different. Join or die, pray or pay, put out or get out. We want Israel sundered or we want Israel safe. We want democracy or we want monarchy. Give me freedom or give me death.
Man decided long ago, not consciously, that war wasn't a necessity, but a certainty. Those of us in the group who are willing to make it bigger, stronger and better were willing to sacrifice ourselves for the good of others in our group. We do this because we believe in our group and we know that the others are not conducive to our survival. The biblical battles show that our beliefs in the spiritual world can dominate our needs in the physical world. The crusades show that as well. The revolutions, revolts and battles of independence and sovereignty show that even in groups, we are divided. We cannot escape the need for conflict. When one finds them self alone, they have little chance of mental well-being. Conflict has been so ingrained in us that we need to find someone to argue with, even if it turns out to be our self. Society as well, will not tolerate those who call for peace and non-aggression. Those who know better and believe that only conflict will resolve our conflicts have duly silenced all our great thinkers and peace-mongers. The acquisition of power, wealth and status seem to increase the need for this, strangely enough. While those with less are willing to defend themselves with all in their possession, be it rocks, sticks or even their physical selves. As long is there is man, there will be war. As long as there is death, there will be man.
