Heaven On Earth
Heaven is a place for the very best of humanity to learn from each other and to steer humanity towards peace and goodwill towards all humankind. When we think of Heaven on earth, we imagine angels on every corner clearly visible to adults and children. Perhaps, we also include angelic voices singing in the background, bringing tears to our eyes. Maybe one day we will exist in that space. Too often, our perspective on contemporary reality is shaped by negativity, such as moments of extreme bias, terrorism, economic inequality, and disease. Look more carefully at our growing global reality.
While we have a ways to go to achieve Heaven on earth, our world is better because we have reverse-engineered some of Jesus' miracles. The blind can read through braille; those that can afford an eye transplant can gain their sight. The deaf can communicate through sign language. Polio (which probably caused the lameness healed by Jesus in the New Testament) and leprosy have been almost eradicated. Milk, honey, fish, bread, and wine are available in many grocery stores. Psychotherapy and psychotropic medication are available to treat demons' caused by guilt, stress, or trauma.
Human beings in this day and age are supremely able to shape their destiny. What we need is immediately available or can be in a few days. What we want is becoming increasingly available, too. Relationships between physically and culturally separated groups are more common. Family units are safer. Transportation options exist to get anywhere almost anytime. More people are at peace than ever before. Women may work in larger numbers and in positions previously inaccessible to them. The oppressed are growing increasingly free and economically empowered. Bias and discrimination, once a big part of tribal life, are against the law.
Prosperity has never been more readily attainable for many though more efforts are needed to ensure a baseline opportunity to succeed economically. Capital to start and sustain businesses is available in a multiplicity of forms in 120 countries. We may manufacture our dreams, mass produce them, ship them anywhere, and retain whatever profits gained in forms that earn more money.
More knowledge is available to more people than ever before. Education is widely available - in many countries, on a non-preferential basis countrywide. The stories and sacred teachings of almost every religion are widely available all the time for little cost as are the great philosophers, scientific minds, and subject matter experts.
More countries feature peaceful transition of power though it could be more widespread. Governments extend to the most uninhabited areas within their borders, providing civil order, legal recourse, and stability to their constituents.
We can shape our individual destiny in ways not available to previous generations. We have the freedom, the relationships, the financial and labor resources, the tools and technology, the knowledge and skills, and we have easy contact with each other. We are a blessed generation in these regards. Note that blessings refer to what is available to us and not to everyone's lived reality. Violence, bigotry, famine, extreme poverty, terrorism, human trafficking, and self-hatred are parts of the daily reality of millions of people. Angels can only provide a blessing; it is up to the individual to take advantage of the opportunity and subject to saboteurs who ruin the chance of others to prosper.
While we have tremendous resources with which to improve our condition and shape our reality, we must do more to ensure people have clean water, clean air, homes, healthcare, education, electricity, internet access, and economic opportunity. We must eliminate the potential for hatred, ignorance, and fear to deter us from greater unity. Real courage, humane justice, and genuine wisdom are needed to bring Heaven on earth.
Do you agree? Share your theory of heaven on earth with scott@theorism.org.