Changes

==71:4. PROGRESSIVE CIVILIZATION==

==71:4. PROGRESSIVE CIVILIZATION==

71:4.1 Economics, society, and government must evolve if they are to remain. Static conditions on an evolutionary world are indicative of decay; only those institutions which move forward with the evolutionary stream persist.

71:4.1 [[Economics]], [[society]], and [[government]] must evolve if they are to remain. [[Static]] conditions on an [[evolutionary world]] are indicative of [[decay]]; only those [[institutions]] which move forward with the evolutionary [[stream]] [[persist]].

71:4.2 The progressive program of an expanding civilization embraces:

71:4.2 The [[progressive]] [[program]] of an expanding [[civilization]] [[embraces]]:

*1. Preservation of individual liberties.

*1. Preservation of [[individual]] [[liberties]].

*2. Protection of the home.

*2. [[Protection]] of the [[home]].

*3. Promotion of economic security.

*3. Promotion of [[economic]] [[security]].

*4. Prevention of disease.

*4. Prevention of [[disease]].

*5. Compulsory education.

*5. Compulsory [[education]].

*6. Compulsory employment.

*6. Compulsory employment.

*7. Profitable utilization of leisure.

*7. Profitable utilization of [[leisure]].

*8. Care of the unfortunate.

*8. [[Care]] of the unfortunate.

*9. Race improvement.

*9. [[Race]] improvement.

*10. Promotion of science and art.

*10. Promotion of [[science]] and [[art]].

*11. Promotion of philosophy—wisdom.

*11. Promotion of [[philosophy]]—[[wisdom]].

*12. Augmentation of cosmic insight—spirituality.

*12. Augmentation of [[cosmic]] [[insight]]—[[spirituality]].

71:4.3 And this progress in the arts of civilization leads directly to the realization of the highest human and divine goals of mortal endeavor—the social achievement of the brotherhood of man and the personal status of God-consciousness, which becomes revealed in the supreme desire of every individual to do the will of the Father in heaven.

71:4.3 And this [[progress]] in [[the arts]] of [[civilization]] leads directly to the [[realization]] of the highest [[human]] and [[divine]] goals of [[mortal]] endeavor—the [[social]] achievement of the [[brotherhood]] of man and the [[personal]] [[status]] of [[God-consciousness]], which becomes [[revealed]] in the [[supreme]] [[desire]] of every [[individual]] to [[do the will of the Father]] in [[heaven]].

71:4.4 The appearance of genuine brotherhood signifies that a social order has arrived in which all men delight in bearing one another's burdens; they actually desire to practice the golden rule. But such an ideal society cannot be realized when either the weak or the wicked lie in wait to take unfair and unholy advantage of those who are chiefly actuated by devotion to the service of truth, beauty, and goodness. In such a situation only one course is practical: The " golden rulers " may establish a progressive society in which they live according to their ideals while maintaining an adequate defense against their benighted fellows who might seek either to exploit their pacific predilections or to destroy their advancing civilization.

71:4.4 The [[appearance]] of genuine [[brotherhood]] signifies that a [[social]] order has arrived in which all men delight in bearing one another's burdens; they [[actually]] [[desire]] to [[practice]] the [[golden rule]]. But such an [[ideal]] [[society]] cannot be realized when either the weak or the wicked lie in wait to take unfair and unholy advantage of those who are chiefly actuated by [[devotion]] to the [[service]] of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_56#56:10._TRUTH.2C_BEAUTY.2C_AND_GOODNESS truth, beauty, and goodness]. In such a situation only one [[course]] is [[practical]]: The "golden rulers" may [[establish]] a [[progressive]] [[society]] in which they live according to their [[ideals]] while maintaining an adequate [[defense]] against their benighted fellows who might seek either to [[exploit]] their [[pacific]] predilections or to destroy their advancing [[civilization]].

71:4.5 Idealism can never survive on an evolving planet if the idealists in each generation permit themselves to be exterminated by the baser orders of humanity. And here is the great test of idealism: Can an advanced society maintain that military preparedness which renders it secure from all attack by its war-loving neighbors without yielding to the temptation to employ this military strength in offensive operations against other peoples for purposes of selfish gain or national aggrandizement? National survival demands preparedness, and religious idealism alone can prevent the prostitution of preparedness into aggression. Only love, brotherhood, can prevent the strong from oppressing the weak.

71:4.5 [[Idealism]] can never [[survive]] on an evolving [[planet]] if the idealists in each [[generation]] permit themselves to be [[exterminated]] by the baser [[orders]] of [[humanity]]. And here is the great test of [[idealism]]: Can an advanced [[society]] maintain that [[military]] [[preparedness]] which renders it [[secure]] from all [[attack]] by its war-loving neighbors without yielding to the [[temptation]] to employ this [[military]] [[strength]] in offensive operations against other peoples for [[purposes]] of selfish gain or [[national]] [[aggrandizement]]? National [[survival]] demands [[preparedness]], and [[religious]] [[idealism]] alone can prevent the [[prostitution]] of preparedness into [[aggression]]. Only [[love]], [[brotherhood]], can prevent the strong from [[oppressing]] the weak.

==71:5. THE EVOLUTION OF COMPETITION==

==71:5. THE EVOLUTION OF COMPETITION==