What We Think We Are

People have always believed in two types of beings - the Natural and the Supernatural. The first needs no explanation - it's just the way things are.

And people have always excelled at understanding how this worked. This allowed us to live comfortably anywhere on earth. Quite an accomplishment!

Back then, we could live with the Natural and the Supernatural easily. But this easy way of life did not last - we became Civilized. A huge change, that changed us completely.

But we insisted that the supernatural part of us remained unchanged. This belief (in the Soul) we inherited from the Hebrews. And was adopted by Christianity and Islam both.

We think we are Natural and Supernatural both! And the Supernatural part of us (our Souls) remain unchanged throughout time - and will return (with our bodies) at the end of time. And in some sects of Buddhism - this soul is reincarnated with each birth. We are born with the soul of someone else!

In the 21st Century, we tend to dismiss our belief in the Soul, as unimportant - a big mistake!

When we think of Human history, we can divide it easily into the Ancient World and the Modern World - in what we call Western Civilization. The Modern World was divided further by the Reformation - into two worlds, the Protestant (Industrial and Affluent) - and the Catholic (Ignorant and Poor).

Now I must return to what I started to write about - what we think we are.

And the we I am referring to are Americans. America began as an Enlightenment experiment - but changed into an Industrial (or Market) economy. A huge difference - but one Americans can overlook, because they think their souls remained unchanged - even as everything else changed.

No matter what changes - they will believe that nothing essential changes. Which means they can behave as badly as they please - without damaging anything.