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This book investigates the state of civilization in the 21st century, which is characterized by the transformation of Western Civilization into Global Civilization and the resulting Great Recession, triggered by the financial crisis in the United States in 2008. Since the state of former Western Civilization is steadily worsening, the question is rising whether civilization is sustainable at all. To answer this question, 20 authors, members of the International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations (from several countries and continents) investigate the aspect of human spirituality, and whether its actual level of development is able to steer the sustainable development of civilization? The authors investigate the complexity of the current state of world civilization and the Planet, concluding that western societies entered the Second Great Crisis of Civilization, and reminding that the First Great Crisis took place after the fall of Rome I in 476 CE, and lasted till the Italian Renaissance, which means almost 1000 years. The current Second Great Crisis is characterized by 16 analyzed crises, such as; population, ecological, strategic resources, education, administration, technique, science, religion, and similar crises. Therefore further questions are investigated. Are we overcivilized? Do we have human and societal potential for transcending this crisis of civilization? How should human behavior be re-engineered? Hence, the traditional main religions are analyzed, including whether their spirituality can successfully direct humans toward the sustainable life. Also, secular thinking is analyzed on whether it is able to do same task. Particularly the “religion” of Global Civilization is analyzed and eventually the conclusion is rather pessimistic, since this religion is de facto “business” with its limited ethics and social responsibility. This book offers spirituality 2.0 as a possible “tool” for people to behave wisely in order to sustain our civilization. This new spirituality 2.0 contains a set of complementary best values of current eight civilizations, which should lead to tolerant (less-conflict driven) human behavior and wise decision-making. The book finally defines Wise Civilization and paths of its implementation, under the condition that people will be not only knowledgeable, but wise and inspired mainly by right spirituality. |
