The Story of Everything and Beyond |
While mysteries and unsolved problems drive discovery and progress, greater advancement takes place when people have a common agreement about the fundamental foundation and design of life. Such an understanding provides context, meaning, and direction to human endeavors while also deepening people’s connection with each other. If we came to understand that we are all in the same lifeboat, no one would want to sink the boat before being rescued. That big picture consensus mitigates conflict and war and will certainly result in greater productivity and flourishing.
However, that has not happened for most of human history. People have simply not been able to agree on the big picture of life, because for many, events and developments seemed to evolve in random and unguided ways resulting in unpredictable outcomes.
Historically, there were, however, individuals who saw things differently. In 45 B.C. Cicero proclaimed that “the celestial order and the beauty of the universe compel me to confess that there is some excellent and eternal Being, who deserves the respect and homage of men.” There were also periods of purposeful life and cultural achievement, virtue, and efflorescence, such as in Periclean Athens, in the Florence of the Medicis, and in England under Elizabeth and Shakespeare.
Additionally, there were giants in the scientific revolution, like Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Boyle and Newton who contributed to the........