Learning from History examines past shifts in worldviews and the societal changes they set in motion—
providing insight into how the transformation unfolding now might take shape.
Learning from History
Key to Seeing What Our Future May Become
Many of the beliefs we hold to be self-evident today were shaped in times far removed from our own. These “truths” however, are not timeless. They’re human interpretations—useful in their moment, yet often outdated in ours.
But history shows us again and again that civilizations, cultures, societies and beliefs can and do change—often dramatically. Examining these shifts reminds us that we’re not exempt from the same forces of inevitable change that marks the course of history.
What You’ll Find in This Section
This section sheds light on what history can teach us about who we are now, why we’re who we are, and how we might evolve. You’ll find topics related to:
- how our beliefs about God changed over time as cultures mingled and merged over time
- how science influenced our societies, traditions, and beliefs
- how our understanding of reality shifted as scientific insights revealed more about the fabric of our universe and the world
- how ancient wisdom traditions compare with today’s scienific views of reality
Featured Articles
How the Christian God Was Made
For most of human history, religions have evolved in response to the worlds people lived in. Christianity was no exception. The Christian God did not
How Our Gods Changed Over Time
Throughout time, humanity has reshaped its idea of God to match its understanding of the world. Across cultures and centuries, our view of the divine
Food for Thought
Study the past if you would define the future.
Small Things We Can Do
- Study one historical period in depth each year to see how cultures evolve, adapt, or collapse.
- Read historical accounts of how the bible and other religious texts were developed.
- Read one article a week about history, or find a book about a historical topic of interest to you.
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
Resources...
A sweeping account of human and cosmic evolution that argues history advances through expanding layers of consciousness.
A study of why societies fail or endure, showing how environmental choices and cultural rigidity shape their outcomes.
A historical survey of how empires rise, govern, and decline, revealing recurring patterns in power and human organization.
A fast moving history of how humans came to dominate the planet through shared stories, cooperation, and adaptive imagination.
More Articles
How the Christian God Was Made
For most of human history, religions have evolved in response to the worlds people lived in. Christianity was no exception. The Christian God did not arrive fully formed but emerged from a turbulent era shaped by political unrest, cultural blending, competing spiritual traditions, and the needs of an empire searching
How Our Gods Changed Over Time
Throughout time, humanity has reshaped its idea of God to match its understanding of the world. Across cultures and centuries, our view of the divine has shifted in accordance with our changing sense of reality.
Ancient Wisdom and Cutting-Edge Science Reveal a Similar View of Reality
Science is beginning to reveal a view of reality not unlike the perspectives long held in Hindu and Buddhist philosophy. This emerging understanding is helping to shape a new worldview as revolutionary as those that have come before.