The earth is constantly and consistently changing through the four seasons i.e., winter, summer, spring, and autumn/fall, (or two seasons in some parts of the earth: rainy/wet and dry/harmattan season) as it goes around the sun. However, the greatest change is not in the weather on the earth. Animals and trees have been doing what they currently do for eons (thousands of years). The greatest change on earth is in humans. Since time began, human culture, religion, traditions, and behavior have been almost constant and unchanging until the last 50 to 100 years. These changes in human culture, traditions, behaviour, and thinking are leading humanity towards an unprecedented civil war: a war of cultures, philosophy, thinking, behaviour, and self-destruction.
The sudden changes in thinking and philosophy in Europe during the 1700s to the 1800s led to series of revolutions and civil wars that culminated in the two world wars. These changes were influenced by philosophers who questioned the old way of doing things and used their reasoning and writing to call for an end to all religions, monarchies, governments, marriage, virginity, morality, etc. During this period of European history, called the Age of Enlightenment (or Age of Reason), the ideas and writings of Voltaire (1694-1778), Rousseau (1712-1778), Kant (1724-1804), and Thomas Paine (1737-1809) (in America), most monarchies in Europe were overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821). Notably, these ideas of “freedom”, equality, liberty, democracy, and reasoning, led to the American Revolution that established America as an independent nation governed by their own constitution: a country without a king, a church without a pope.
After the Napoleonic wars that defined Europe between 1804-1815, new philosophers got to work. Philosophers such as Charles Darwin (1809-1882) introduced evolution that moved people away from a believe in God and the Bible. Darwin’s Cousin, called Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911), introduced eugenics, which led the world deeper into racism and rationalized the partition and colonization of Africa and Asia. It also led to the holocaust in World War II (1939-1945). Georg Hegel (1770-1831), Karl Marx (1818-1883), and Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) further proposed ideas that have gone on to change the world and impact the lives of people all throughout the world. The works of Hegel has shaped politics until today, leading to the creation of two political parties in most countries. Karl Marx’s work on communism and socialism laid the foundation for the Russian revolution and the overthrow of the Russian monarchy and establishment of Communist Russia. It led to the spread of communism (socialism) and the abolition of religion (atheism) throughout the world: China, eastern Europe, Africa, and Central and South America. Adolf Hitler and the Nazis killed millions of people in Europe using the writings of Nietzsche as a basis to create a pure race: Nietzsche pushed for the end of religion.
It can be seen from these brief historical accounts, that the world began to change from the 1700s when more and more people became literate and educated. Using philosophy, these men have changed the world: causing bloody civil wars and revolutions, overthrow of governments in Africa, Asia, and South America by communists, suppression of life, freedom, and religious freedom in communist states, banning the Bible in communist states, etc. The number of lives that have been destroyed because of these teachings, cannot be counted.
Interestingly, these ideas came about the same time or period that several Christian movements such as the Adventist Movement (1830s), Latter-Day Saints (1830), Jehovah’s Witnesses (1870s), and a great religious revival and awakening were happening in America and Europe. Bible Societies and Missionary Movements were formed during these periods to spread Christianity and the Bible around the world. Spiritualism (1840s) (the contact with evil spirits and the “spirits” of the dead) and occultic societies were also formed within this era: Free Masonry (1717), Illuminati (1776) and theosophy (1870).
After World War II and the Cold War, these ideas of “freeing” humanity from old traditions and culture of marriage, morality, decency of women, virginity, modest dressing, faith in the Bible and in God, took another form and spread through entertainment, music, education and movies. Post World War II and the Cold War, the Rock and Roll Culture (1950s-90s) and the Hippy Movement (1960s) took over the youth of the world, destroying many young lives through alcoholism, drugs and high-sound music, breaking down morality and decency in dressing, increasing pre-marital sex, fornication, adultery, and abortions. The Hippy Movement and Rock and Roll Culture laid the foundation for the drug epidemic (cocaine, marijuana, opioids), tattoos, body piercings, and the LGBTQ+ Agenda, which is now taking over the world by storm.
Currently, these cultural wars, based on differences in ideology, believes, faith, teachings, philosophy, religion, tradition, and culture, is affecting politics and relationships. In America, Europe, and globally, issues such as abortion, LGBTQ+, women’s rights, climate change, migration, and faith in God, are dividing citizens and defining which parties win or lose elections. In some countries, they are still leading to civil wars and revolutions: this is especially felt in the USA, Argentina and Brazil.
Of all these cultural wars, the most dividing issue is the right for LGBTQ+ adherents and the rights of men and women in a marriage. Who is a woman and who is a man in these days of transgenderism? The world has changed, but what does the future hold and how shall it end?
Enjoy your weekend. Happy Sabbath!
