Lurking beneath the surface of our moral, ethical and political maxims is the DNA that drives the most sophisticated animal on the planet, us, we humans.
While we have come a short distance from the caves, our basic, instinctive need for the survival of our species still shapes our grandiose political and moral codes –and yes our major religious dogmas as well.
What is disturbing is we don’t seem to get it. It seems the whole point of consciousness is that we should be able to stand back and let our science and reason have some play.
Granted, we are dealing with deep-seated anthropological roots that shape our instincts for survival. Nonetheless, we had better get a grip if we choose to survive.
It is ironic the very instincts that are there to help us survive, create the vehicle for our destruction when we translate them into instinctive, tribal, moral, religious and political dogmas.
Soon we will have to decide if we are merely sophisticated animals who have codified our basic instincts into clannish dogmas, rituals and laws. Or, are we more?
Are we intelligent humans who can see that the very barriers we erect to keep us apart are basic instinctive codes playing themselves out?
When and if we do, we will need to rise to the occasion and let our intellect override our instinctive drives for survival.
Then, perhaps we can survive as a human family instead of competing, fractious, territorial tribes. It maybe our only chance and we need to act soon.
Brother Giovanni, Pizzaonian News Service
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