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TRANSFORMATION
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"The term transformation has interesting parallel meanings in mathematics, in the physical sciences, and in human change. A transformation is, literally, a forming over, a restructuring. . . . "And, of course, we speak of the transformation of people -- specifically the transformation of consciousness. In this context consciousness does not mean simple waking awareness. Here it refers to the state of being conscious of one's own consciousness. . . . "Significantly, ancient traditions describe transformation as new seeing. Their metaphors are of light and clarify. They speak of insight, vision. Teilhard said that the aim of evolution is 'ever more perfect eyes in a world in which there is always more to see.'" (p. 68) [emphases added] Ferguson's reference to the French Jesuit philosopher Teilhard de Chardin is important to note. Teilhard, censored as an apostate, postulated that just as man evolved from apes, that there would be an evolution of man to a higher order species he called homo noeticus (new man). This would be an evolution of consciousness, a collective cosmic blurp that would create a higher-order species of mankind. Marilyn Ferguson sums up Teilhard's beliefs when she stated, "The proven plasticity of the human brain and human awareness offers the possibility that individual evolution may lead to collective evolution." (p. 70) Embedded in the modern usage of the word "transformation" is the idea of human evolution -- personal and corporate. This is the idea that mankind can perfect himself on Earth, that we can attain a higher-order level of spirituality, that we can facilitate our own evolution, and attain perfection by our activities.
Bear in mind that the use of the word "transformation"
was borrowed by secular sources and has now become widely secularized.
But, peel back but a few layers, and delve into the philosophy and
context in which this word is being used, and one will discover evidence
that the same evolutionary mindset is still at its foundation. Marilyn
Ferguson describes the process by which this word entered mainstream
acceptance. Today, there is a strong possibility that Christian leaders
have embraced this term and its process, along with its embedded philosophy,
without even thinking to question its source or its real meaning. |
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