A Pen Named Man: Our Destiny

Newton

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9781621897606
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

Important goals of mankind, such as eliminating injustice and attaining a higher quality of life, are achievable. To achieve them, however, requires a will and a way. God provides the will.The focus of A Pen Named Man: Our Destiny is to illustrate the way. The route to social fulfillment is through the establishment of universal institutions designed to enable man to serve as God's representative on Earth and automatically satisfy his purpose in life.Family is the most important institution of mankind. It forms the nucleus of social living and fosters a deep sense of love and commitment among biologically related people who live together in an emotionally secure environment. Religion ties human behavior to morality and serves as the pathway between an individual and his God. Government establishes a standardized code of equality and fairness. Where the goal of the institution of religion is a moral world, the role of government is a just world.Employment is the institution that opens the door to attaining one's purpose in life. A restructured universal institution of employment provides every individual with the opportunity to contribute his time and resources toward the betterment of mankind. By working in an occupation that makes a product or provides a service useful to society, a person is able to earn the necessities of life for himself, attain psychological fulfillment, and provide support to those who are physically or mentally unable to take care of themselves.

1

Purpose and Essence

In A Pen Named Man: Our Purpose we discuss EXISTENCE-LIFE-GOD. EXISTENCE is the domain, LIFE is the substance, and GOD is the quality of being. We describe the Animate Form of Life as one major ramification of EXISTENCE. We further describe a major component of the Animate Form of Life which is the universe with its multitude of galaxies, stars, planets, and satellites. We continue our discussion of the universe by examining the Milky Way galaxy plus one of its solar systems, specifically the one containing our sun and planet Earth. Spaceship Earth is our home and the abode of animate life within the solar system.

We examine the here of being. We describe EXISTENCE as the realm where everything takes place. In addition, we investigate LIFE as the fundamental substance behind all reality. We go on to describe the major components of the universe including the living and non-living worlds. We describe the inanimate objects like hills, rocks, and streams, as well as animate beings including the numerous species of plant and animal life. We further discuss GOD as the third member of the EXISTENCE-LIFE-GOD triumvirate. GOD represents the quality of being and the very spirit or essence of Life.

In A Pen Named Man: Our Essence we examine a representative species of life within the Animate Form of Life. The one we examine is the human species. We note the fundamental essence of Life, GOD, gives rise to all species including mankind. GOD, as the “universal soul”, gives rise to the human organism that contains both biological and non-biological components. We then describe the major body systems and discuss the life processes they carry on. We also discuss the psychological make-up of man. We describe the human mind and discuss how emotion and reason are used to control behavior.

We further investigate the driving forces behind these two major components. We note the physical and psychological realms have requirements of their own, and the requirements must be satisfied to ensure good physical and mental health. We describe how man’s biological and non-biological components interact with one another. Furthermore, we demonstrate the need to synthesize them into a compatible and workable union.

We find the human being to be a unique and highly complex organism. From our studies, we know that across the spectrum of the Animate Form of Life, mankind is a worthy representative of all organisms to have life.

In both books we talk about the role of scientific discovery in the world. Without question, the role of science is important, since the application of scientific technology can alter the life of man. For instance, mankind can improve the performance of his physical body. The control of the body and its parts are in the hands of the physicians. The placement of artificial tissues and organs within the human body allows man to improve his physical structure and prolong life. Similarly, mankind can advance his emotional well-being. The control of the mind and its moods are in the hands of the psychologists. The administration of behavioral influencing drugs permits man to regulate his drives, feelings, and needs. Furthermore, genetic engineering is a reality. Research in hereditary science can direct the development of the human organism in both its physical and mental realms.

Advances in the areas of physical and mental health can improve the human station in life. Nevertheless, science will not satisfy all of man’s needs. There are philosophical issues that arise and theological solutions that must be found. The human organism seeks a set of universal values to live by. Mankind wants a clear distinction between right and wrong. Man seeks a “complete” behavioral pattern based upon moral principles. He desires spiritual satisfaction in life and, for the most part, seeks it through involvement in the church.

We note man’s universal quest to improve his station in life is through advances in social living. Some key elements to achieving this quest include the following. He must use reason to solve everyday problems. Likewise, he must pursue activities which will bring about community succcess as well as employ constructive work efforts in order to sustain economic prosperity. Further, he must be honest and remain dedicated to the values of fairness and justice. We also recognize mankind must continue to focus on maintaining a moral order in society. Additionally, he must strive to be outgoing and friendly; and finally, man must continue the pursuit of personal happiness.

Man desires a forward looking, more prosperous way of life as reflected in a standard of living that continues to rise. He desires a life style that’s more enjoyable and rewarding. Indeed, he desires a daily routine which is easier, safer, and more comfortable. To attain these ends, mankind has become specialized in his occupational and social roles.

Until present time, mankind has only been able to meet the basic needs of survival. However, now he has time to spare. Due to more effective medicines and better nutrition, people enjoy healthier lives. They live longer. Likewise, people don’t need to work twelve to sixteen hours a day just to provide food, clothing, and shelter for themselves. In addition, the level of education has advanced for every demographic group of society. Children are better educated. Adults receive better training on the job and are afforded a greater opportunity to succeed in the workplace. Overall, society has become considerably more efficient at producing basic goods and delivering needed services. This has left more time for people to pursue new interests in life.

Considering the extent of cultural evolution to date, there’s considerable diversity among the billions of people who inhabit planet Earth. As we know, the people of the world vary in national allegiance. Some people prefer to reside in the country of Canada while others desire to live in Great Britain. Other people choose to be citizens of China, Japan, India, etc. As far as topographical regions are concerned, people differ as to where they wish to make their home. Some people want to live on mountain sides while others prefer to live on the flatlands and plains. Still others are content to live in the desert areas. People also vary in the form of government they support. Some people desire to live within a democratic system of government, whereas others are satisfied under a monarchial regime. People also vary in the type of religious doctrine they ascribe to. Some people belong to the Islam faith. Others ascribe to the religions of Judaism, Christianity, and so forth. People further vary in the languages they speak. Some people speak the Russian language and others speak English. Still other people speak French, Spanish, or Italian. People even vary in the way they eat their meals. Some people use knives and forks to eat with, some use chopsticks, and still others use their fingers. Human culture is as varied as the interests of its many members, and unquestionably, the world’s population shows a wide variety of interests.

Mankind can progress. He can establish a culture with common goals. The people of the world can put in place the universal institutions of employment, educational, health care, and so forth. Hence, the continued advancement of the human race is the responsibility mankind has assumed; and the arena where he can implement this charge is through a redesigned social-economic system.

2

Societies and Institutions

Over seven billion human beings are now alive, which accounts for more than half the total number ever born. Altogether the world’s population comprises several races and sub-races, scores of nationalities, and hundreds of ethnic groups. There are nearly two hundred separate nations in the world and collectively these nations exhibit a wide assortment of economic structures, religious orders, and systems of government. The nations vary in language and custom. They display a multitude of beliefs, values, and social norms.

The societal diversity we refer to is not a result of man’s biological make-up. Physiologically, the human organism has remained the same for hundreds of thousands of years. The diversity is due to man’s cultural development; and over its long history, the human species has built highly elaborate social structures.

As human culture spread across the earth, a number of social systems developed. The differences are seen in many areas, one of which is population size. Some societies are very large with several hundred million members, whereas others remain small with just a few thousand people. Societies further vary in time of duration. Some societies last but a few hundred years while others remain intact for thousands of years.

Societies vary in geographical location. Some social communities are located on mountain sides and some are settled in the valleys. Some societies are located along the seashore, whereas others are planted on islands. Societies vary in geographical area as well. Some cover millions of square miles and others are concentrated on a few thousand acres of land.

Societies vary in the predominant means of personal mobility. In all societies people travel by foot. The members of some social systems travel by boat as did the ancient Norsemen of Northern Europe. Others traveled by horseback as exemplified by the Plains Indians of North America. In modern societal systems, like the United States of America, the vast majority of people commute from home to work by automobile.

Social structures vary in complexity. That is, the societal fabric varies from tribal to industrial. Some societies have people living in tents; others have people living in clay and wooden shelters; and still others have people residing in concrete and steel buildings, i.e., hotels and high-rise apartments. Societies vary in economic design as well. Some societies are rural in nature wherein most people support themselves by working in agriculture. Within such a socio-economic scheme, the majority of families live on farms and in small towns. Others societies are industrially based. For these, the people are employed in manufacturing with a majority working in shops and factories. Industrial based societies have members employed in communication, transportation, and commerce. A large proportion of the families within this design are concentrated in cities and urban areas.

Societies vary in the approved system of law. Some societies are based upon a strong sense of law and order as typified by the Roman Empire of over 2000 years ago. At the other end of the spectrum are societies based upon barbarism. Those societies reflect an absence of law and order.

Societies vary in class structure and the roles that people assume. Some societies demand servitude from its various members. Such societies bind people physically as embodied by the caste systems of ancient Egypt and nineteenth century America. Such societies use slave labor to perform the most difficult of jobs. Other societies are structured on an unrestricted access to employment. They promote a system of free enterprise and utilize democratic principles as the basis for government. Twentieth century England, Canada, and France are examples of such countries that champion open markets and personal liberties. Still other social structures promise freedom and opportunity yet devise ways to bind people through “economic” chains.

Regardless of a society’s final structure, there is a historical pattern to the way most societies develop and grow. Typically the family is the beginning point from which a social structure develops. The family grows in size, acquires livestock, and takes control of the surrounding land. The family takes in new members through marriage and becomes self-sufficient. It develops as a mini, socio-economic unit in its own right. One family begins to cooperate and trade services with another family; and at some point, the families within a select territorial region join together. Through a commonality of economic needs and social objectives, key allegiances are formed. With time a number of families band together to form hamlets, villages, and towns. Eventually, cities are formed. The people within a city divide the workload and take on problems which were once solved by an extended family. And through a sharing of responsibilities, the urban dwellers meet their needs in a more efficient manner. As time goes on the unification process flourishes. One by one the neighboring villages, towns, and cities join together into larger and more durable alliances. The desire for the extended social structure persists and eventually principalities and regional states are established. Ultimately this leads to the creation of a nation.

There are several significant reasons why people decide to establish societies. No doubt choice plays a key role. Mankind establishes societies because he wants to. A human being is comfortable with and likes being among other human beings. Indeed, for the most part a human being isn’t a loner. He is born into a family and throughout his life he’s in close contact with others.

Another major reason why people establish societies is because human needs are better met inside a social environment. This concept was aptly expressed by the seventeenth century philosopher John Locke. According to Locke, people are motivated to live and work together. They recognize there are more advantages to being together than being alone. People yield their independent status when they form a social organization and give up certain private rights in order to gain public rights, rights designed to promote a successful social-economic environment. Thus, the presumption is: human needs are more easily met when people face life’s problems together. Therein lies the basis for Locke’s “original compact” theory of social living.

A third significant reason to form a society is centered on the desire for self-preservation. Jean Jacques Rousseau was an eighteenth century philosopher who believed the safety issue was a fundamental reason why societies are formed. According to Rousseau, people come together to form social structures to achieve protection of self and property. The people who join an alliance vow not to fight with other members of the alliance. Once united, the people are inherently stronger against outside enemies. Rousseau further stated that every person receives certain rights and privileges; and as a member of society, each person is obligated to respect the rights and privileges of other members. For the most part, Rousseau’s “social contract” theory states that the mutual support for one another’s needs promotes a peaceful social environment.

A fourth major reason why people become members of a social environment is because they’re forced to. Not everyone enters a new social structure on a voluntary basis. Rather, it’s a question of participate or die. At times of war, for example, a more powerful political state attacks a less powerful state and defeats its people militarily. As a result, the defeated people are forced into a new social structure.

Social structures then are established for the above reasons. People are gregarious and enjoy living with others. They discover they can accomplish more and provide greater services by working together. People recognize protection is better afforded if united. And finally, societies are established because people are conquered and forced to live among their conquerors.

Regardless of the reasons to establish them, once established, the social structures meet the needs of man. Societies provide services which must be provided and solve problems that occur on a daily basis. Societies afford certain benef...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Purpose and Essence
• Chapter 2: Societies and Institutions
• Chapter 3: Family
• Chapter 4: Religion
• Chapter 5: Government
• Chapter 6: Social-Economic: Employment
• Chapter 7: Health, Education, Recreation
• Chapter 8: Requisite Institutions
• Chatper 9: Evolution of Culture
• Chatper 10: Perspective
• Bibliography