A story of spiritual enlightenment in the West
Once upon a time, between 500 and 1000 years ago, Buddhism was a twinkle in the Western-mind’s eye. Christianity had a firm hold on the West, and the Church was using fear tactics to capture the hearts and minds of the masses. Religious leaders proclaimed that their all-powerful God would punish non-believers in hellfire forever unless they believed their doctrine. At this time, Christianity was elitist, and held a monopoly on so-called Truth.
As humanity grew up, the old skool interpretation of Christianity began to lose its grip. Advances in science and technology revealed that humanity’s previous model of the world was unrealistic and narrow. It taught that the universe was far bigger and older than humanity had previously assumed, and that life had evolved naturally from simple beginnings over a vast period of time.
Eventually, the internet and the media was born, and people became more aware of the vast range of religious faiths and world cultures. An increasing number of folk began to doubt Christianity’s old skool message, which had previously fit the facts of an unenlightened scope. Whilst some people subsequently concluded that the Christian message was false, others clung onto the old skool teachings, concluding that without them, Christianity meant nothing. Some people, however, believed that the Christian Good News had simply been misinterpreted, and that there was now room for growth and a more mature interpretation, more aligned with humanity's heightened awareness.
In the meantime, underneath the chaotic torrent of human doubt and confusion, (i.e. humanity's teenage growing pains), the seeds of Buddhism were blooming. Calmly and somewhat modestly, Buddhist wisdom began to flourish and take hold in the West. Whilst upholding a message that there is cosmic purpose to life, and that the ultimate dimension of reality is Spirit, Buddhism brought a peaceful and realistic message to humanity, which offered a pragmatic path to wisdom and personal development.
As humanity matured into adulthood, an increasing number of people became enlightened, and the planet’s global consciousness heightened to such an extent that it finally recognised that all religions perceive exactly the same Divine Spirit, only from a different perspective and cultural context. Humanity learned that when religious insights from East and West were integrated, the full picture of Ultimate Reality could finally be disclosed. Further, when religious doctrines are aligned with the human heart, as well as the head, one can determine which doctrines represent an accurate ‘map’, and which don't. We learn that love is the answer, the litmus of religion.
How old is humanity at this present time?