The Times, They Are a-Changin’

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Does anybody really know what time it is? (Photo credit: Me)

(This morning, I commented on grandfathersky’s post “The paradox of consciousness – part II“. My comment stands on its own here.)

I wonder if questioning is a cycle of humanity’s evolution. Surges of exploration, scientific discovery, extraordinary creativity in any of the arts all seem to coincide. Golden Ages like the Renaissance or the Age of Aquarius. Revolutions. Times when dissatisfaction saturates enough people’s lives that we reach a tipping point where the collective will is finally strong enough to question the rules, Authority, what we think we know, what we believe. And we search for new perspectives, trying this philosophy or that, new music, new art, new medicines, no medicines, new governments, anarchy, new views of the stars . . .

Till we reach a new plateau where we sit, complacent. Tired of questioning or simply believing there is no need to question. Willing to accept the lie in believe. A new Dark Age. We are comfortable.

Until we aren’t.

I suspect the world is showing us just how uncomfortable we have become, and dissatisfaction has reached the 98th monkey.

Author: Sue Ranscht

Having survived valve repair surgery and an experimental cardiac bypass at age 5, three years before it was an accepted medical procedure, Susan grew into the size of her overworked and enlarged heart. Maybe she thought she had enough to give it away -- twice. Both times, she had to retrieve the shattered pieces and puzzle them back together. She thanks her Dad for the only advice of his she ever followed to the letter: "Never get married. Learn to take care of yourself." So of course she is a writer. Susan has co-written a YA SciFi novel, and has three more novels in various stages of evolution. She's had several short stories published in other people's anthologies, some of which were contest-related. Let her tell you a story...

21 thoughts on “The Times, They Are a-Changin’”

    1. I think this dark age started in the ’80s, and has gotten progressively worse. But it seems people are getting closer to finally being upset enough to tip the scales, as they did in the late 60’s.

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  5. I think you’re right and I like the term “tipping point” because that’s what it feels like. My husband and I keep asking each other how bad does it need to get before human beings decide to step out of the lie and make a change? Apparently pretty bad, pretty painful – that tipping point when the bowl spills.

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    1. Thanks, I always appreciate your thoughts, Diana. It does feel like that! That’s one of the reasons I think that if everybody who has ideas about how to make it better shares them repeatedly, we’ll raise awareness and get there sooner.

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    1. I think it’s easy to become discouraged by any Dark Age, but each time through the cycle, humanity moves to another level. Right now, we’re in a Dark Age, brought on, I think by too much information most people haven’t bothered to apply critical thinking to. But I’m convinced that when the next Golden Age arrives, things will improve … for a time. And thus, evolution. The next Dark Age will be on a higher level, just as each progressive Dark Age has been. It’s always been that way.

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I'd love to hear what you think.

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