No sermon

I was a troubled youth:

“Having seen beyond he dares not disturb the pond
He has a sermon that never will bear preaching” - Clark, (1968)

The sermon noted the evidence for evolution which has no purpose. The cosmos came into being with the big bang and will end when it self-destructs. In between there will have been three phases of evolution - cosmic, biological and cultural. On planet earth a curious and courageous few were experimenting with cultural evolution. The mealiemouthed majority avoided the existential challenge by clinging to the myths and magic of their stone age ancestors.

As an idealist (submissive introvert variety) I would have liked more people to get involved in the cultural revolution. But , even in the swinging sixties, there was resistance to change – even in Portsoy. People resisted the notion that the only constant thing is change. But, as a youth, it was my duty to respect and obey my elders and betters.

Hang on to what you’ve got
You ain’t got much but it’s all you got
Hang on to what you’ve got
Little things mean a lot.”- Clark (1970)

Forty years later I still feel uneasy about expressing the scientific view of reality in informal settings. Why should I go up against the conventional wisdom of the dominant group? (What Waddington called COWDUNG). It is perhaps best for most people to strongly and simply accept the myths and magic of their natal culture. ‘Better the devil you know’.

IF people find solace through believing in a transcendent and omniscient father figure who created everything and has a pleasing patriarchal plan for the chosen ones THEN why change their minds?

In my part of the world there are some god fearing, church going, unca guid characters. Some groups are evangelical and feel obliged to convert and save lost souls. They were once the moral majority but that mantle has passed to the Sunday, supermarket shoppers.

Aha –

‘I’ notice some stirrings of anger. It is less than ideal that most people view ‘reality’ through the lens of religious myths and magic that are up to 7000 years old.

‘I’ notice some stirrings of pity. It is less than ideal that most people should remain ignorant of mindfulness and other secular techniques for changing their minds so as to experience Non-egoic bliss.

It might be argued that, given (a) globalisation and the internet, and (b) the recent findings from neuroscience and, evolutionary and cognitive psychology, that the time is now right for a massive existential mindbrain turn around. (MEMTA?)

When I was a biology teacher I had no problem dealing with evolution. I felt it to be my duty to lead the students into an appreciation of the laws of nature as they have been adapted and applied since the big bang. (The ‘Big History Project’ offers a fine framework)

In more recent times I have been taking a cross disciplinary approach to the charting of human evolution. And this led to reviewing study skills (in Belize) and the possible structures and functions of leadership, management and administration (in Lesotho).

To cut a long sermon short, the world would be a better place if everybody (especially policy wonks and decision makers) developed a mindfulness practice.

PS – the Presbyterianism of John Knox (1513-72) is still alive, well and active in my unguarded moments

“There’s a voice inside you it’s the voice of other men
it’s the voice of people dead and gone
whose preaching makes the world go on -  or off. (Clark, 1970)

I am a reasonably untroubled geriatric.