If I had my way, any world-changing idea worth its salt would lick the boxes of a long list of interconnected concerns (see Appendix 1 for the entire list). For my money, it would need to address questions such as:
- Is there a meaning to life?
- What is death?
- Is there such a thing as reincarnation?
- Is there an afterlife?
- Is there a God in charge—and what sort of a job does she think she’s doing?
- Does my dear sweet pet have a soul?
- What is the nature of good and evil?
- What is the essence of time?
- Is the universe, like diamonds, forever?
- Is there a ‘right’ religion—one that we’re meant to follow and never ever question?
- How does love fit into the picture? (Were the Beatles right?)
- What is sex for, and is it okay? (Again, see under Beatles.)
- What merit, if any, does there lie in abstaining from alcohol, drugs, meat and tobacco? (Linda? Yoko?)
- Are humans really at the top of the pole?
- What should I, personally, do with my life?
- Do I have an assigned role, or am I free to please myself? Should people act ‘selfishly’, or is it better to devote ourselves to the lives of others?
- Is happiness in itself an admirable goal?
- Is there such a thing as free will?
- Is everything predetermined, or can we change the future?
- Why do wars, poverty, starvation and terrorism exist, and what can we do about them?
- Isn’t it a waste of time and effort to try to save the world?
- If there is a higher power, why doesn’t he, she or it appear to give a damn?
- Does anyone really know what it’s all about, or are we all just floundering in the dark?
- Is there a mountaintop guru that we can approach for help?
- Is it even possible to become enlightened?
- If so, where’s the manual?
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