By The Qoheleth
From the beginning, men sought to know the nature of the creator of the universe, his purpose of creation and the functions of all the creatures. The earliest thinkers theorized that there must have been a great creator whose nature may have to be like man, because man is the only creation that thinks. This Supreme Being must be the unmoved mover seen differently from various parts of the world. There were so many oral traditions associated with various activities of man that needed to be explained ranging from marriage, nature of man, his freedom, laws governing his activities as well as relationship with his creator. These were recorded in oral traditions passed from generation to generation in various parts of the world as well as writings by various people as well. The Jews, Africa and Asia had different historical backgrounds of all these institutions and about the creator. The main aim then was to identify the nature of God and the purpose of life.
Out of ignorance, things were regarded as mysterious and miraculous. There were theories of being and nature in explaining creations and the creator. There were theories about institutions, time and nature. This was the age of theories and earlier investigations. This was also the period of faith, morals and questions. There emerged philosophers, and reformers said to be sent by God for different purposes. These people were extraordinary who authoritatively taught people how to live a just life as required by God. They taught morals and lived pious lives worthy of emulation but also theorized their faith unchallenged. They performed what was termed miracles. They taught that it is possible to live a pious life of love, unity and selflessness. They taught that there is a place after death known as heaven for the good and hell for the evil ones. They taught that there was a being known as devil who was thrown down from heaven to fight God and his people. Many people followed these teachings as coming directly from God and lived up to the expectations.
There came another generation with real discovery and less theory. These set of peoples discovered the proper use and meaning of what were ignorantly known as mysteries and miracles. They were able to explain and unearth many of the theories and beliefs by the older generation. At this period, man discovered that he has power to create and recreate through science and technology. Through science he could fly into other planets, discover other planets and create wonders of the world from existing substances. He discovered that it is possible to have babies outside the womb, that all manners of mysterious sicknesses could be healed, that the earth rotates round hanging on the solar system, that the place referred to as heaven is indeed the sky, discovered the causes of rain, night and day etc. Man at this period also discovered that every natural thing can perform more than one function. That leaves, stems and roots can heal various ailments while many were transformed into food substances and potions. These are no longer regarded as miracles but discoveries through science and technology. It is now taken for granted that man can do all those things that he said was directed by God and were mysterious.
In the current dispensation, many people were stuck with the first-generation theories and oral traditions, believing in the mysteries and miracles. They still believe that God is still active and performing certain duties and controlling people daily. They call on God to assist in doing what is very obvious they can do. They call on God to heal, educate, protect, provide jobs, give children, stop wars, protect them from enemies and journeys etc. While other reformers were busy creating jobs, producing tools, inventing things, creating jobs, producing tools and technologies to protect themselves and the society, discover new methods of producing babies outside the womb, find ways of prolonging and sustaining lives, secure lives and property, provide education, heal all manners of sickness and transform nature to useful materials, many of the new generation believers and theorists still believe that God can directly provide these for them while they pray for them daily.
The modern reformers discover the power in natural things such as water, land, plants and trees, air, sand etc. These people are making the real nature of God more realistic and the purpose of life more meaningful. They still believe in the existence of the super being who is the creator of things from which they transformed to others even though his true nature has not been identified.
Obviously, the next generation of reformers and transformers will have a near-clearer perfection of no sickness, no death, easier life of love and peace. Everyone will have what it requires to live a happy and fulfilled life. That will be the eternal life that the earlier reformers preached and envisioned. While working towards this, the roles of the earliest reformers and the scientific discoverers will all be recognized. This is because they assisted and contributed in taking all to the anticipated end.
It is foolishness to continue to live the life of old when we have outlived it such as praying for what we can obtain ourselves. It would be foolishness to believe that heaven is in the sky when we know that it is not and to believe that the earth has three spheres when it is just a planet revolving around the sun. Our job would be to develop the world with what is available to us; to build the world with love and virtuous life; to teach people how to love and live in harmony and not to destroy non-existent devil which was created in the time of old; to apply the modern discoveries to change the world to a better place and not believing in miracles and non-existent issues and things, and not to waste time praying for these.
