Kirjahaku

This book details many facets in the development of man, from humble animal beginnings to the sophisticated, citified man we see today. We explore the evolutionary changes of man in a world of creation. But if we're honest, we recognize man as an unfinished work and currently a "bad actor." So, we explore the "who," "what," "when," "where," "why" and "how" man got this far and what drives his behavior in this complex, complicated, and convoluted world. We'll take advantage of paleontologic and archaeologic evidence, but also explore extraterrestrial hocus pocus. We'll consider the soul as the essence of individual existence and ensoulment as the process of receiving that soul. And we'll look at what man does, might do, or has done (some that he might not be proud of - e.g., conspiracy, rebellion, and revolution) - all in the quest to know man, now and in the future.

Man's behaviors are driven by beliefs and truths. So, how do we believe? Why do we believe? And what do we believe (or not)? When beliefs are unfounded and truths are negotiated and no longer true, man's behavior becomes hostile, violent, chaotic, and cruel, not because man realizes he has been duped - he does not - but because man believes fervently in the altered reality that has been presented to him - that has given him power over others. You can see evidence of such behavior throughout man's history - imperial domination driven by cruelty, violence, greed, slavery, and various forms of "manifest destiny". We see it in the group identities permeating history; the chosen people, the "immortals" the one true church, the master race, and divine guarantees - "ethnocentric" all. Victor and vanquished co-exist in misery for no other reason than the perceived superiority of one or both parties. The blame and the cause lie with realities engineered to favor superiority - negotiated truths. So, what is truth? Is your truth my truth? Is there truth at all? But correction of our faulty truths is still within reach if we recoup our reality. "If you would change the world, you must change yourself." We can start with our beliefs. So, this volume explores the process of believing and beliefs, both sacred and secular. Other volumes will explore scriptures, religions and rituals - they are among the breeding grounds for negotiated truth.