We have witnessed impressive leaps in scientific discovery and technological innovation in our society. Compare the processing power of computers in the 1950s with small hand-held devices we use today. Consider advancements in the field of health care over the past century. Think about improvements in communication that allow us to learn about events, share ideas, and hold conversations with people all over the world.
If society is evolving and advancing forward, why should we look in the past? In other words, if our generation knows more now about the universe today and possesses greater technological abilities than the generations before us, why should we care about history? To be progressive, shouldn’t we throw off the chains of the past and keep our eyes on the future?
As we’ve tried to be forward-thinking, we’ve too easily assumed that because our scientific knowledge and technological abilities are advancing forward that our spiritual knowledge is progressing along in the same direction. We are mistaken to think that we, as a society, know so much more about being human, about relating to one another and our environment, and about doing what is right, than those who lived before us. Of course, just because an idea is old does not mean that it is true or worth keeping. Human history isn’t short on examples of beliefs that have been held for decades or centuries that are outright false and sometimes dangerous. And, also, just because an idea is popular and appears fresh, new, and radically forward-looking when we look through those ideological lenses our society tells us to use, doesn’t mean that the idea is really a good idea.
Despite all the positive political, social, and scientific improvements we enjoy as a society, we have overestimated our overall progress. We have gained knowledge of the material world, but we have lost knowledge of the spiritual realm. We have learned more about the function of the physical body, while we have drifted into ignorance regarding the nature and health of the human soul. As our technological abilities show progressive evolution, the decline in our understanding of ourselves on the deepest level shows regressive devolution. Our blind spot to the knowledge we have lost has caused us to neglect and forget the most central aspects of our shared human history.
We have especially disregarded that stream of ancient history that reveals who we are as human beings, our present purpose in the world, and our future potential. Our ancestors knew very powerful truths that have been mostly neglectfully forgotten in our time. By entering into the Tao of Holy Orthodoxy, you begin to learn those truths and to clearly see the trajectory of an authentically progressive path for your soul. If you follow that Path, your life will be changed and you will be far more capable of knowing the significance of your place in the world, of expressing love to others, of building healthy relationships, and doing meaningful, purposeful work in your daily life.
Text copyright © 2017 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees