Very interesting insight! Stuart and I watched a documentary recently called “Do You Trust This Computer?” that was about the future of AI and it was interesting, about (among other things) what the role of doctors will be when machines are better at diagnostics and surgeries, and how computers are adept problem solvers without compassion, which is similar to the justice system of the wilderness. I thought it was a bit tantalized by itself, but I recommend it anyway.

Mariner’s great worry is that humanness will lose control of human history and its future as well. Most of us who take time to ponder these things tend to homogenize all humans into a narrow definition of functionality; this is not true. Ninety percent of humans are virtually identical to other members of the primate family – that is, little skill or interest in conceptual values. This sounds hypocritical but it is painfully true. It will be easy for AI to take the upper hand in all manner of human behavior – including its future.

I have long been concerned by the “undeification” of God. This can be seen in the use of small letters to refer to him vs. Him, by the use of the familiar pronoun “you” instead of an honorific one “thou.” and by putting us on a level with God like he’s just one of the gang. The same thing happened with the Old Irish gods. Deities that were originally potent actors in the affairs of men became diminished and are now leprachauns. Which originally meant “little body.” Many other languages have special vocabularies to speak to or about a God. The sense of awe that I believe we should have toward God is lessened when we address Him as an equal.

Well spoken, Robert. I have similar grievances about worship services when the litany becomes rote and emotionless. Spirituality in any circumstance requires concentration and self-evaluation. Metaphorically, one cannot reach for the stars if the stars are lying on the living room rug.

Interesting and unsettling–as futurists often are. My only question is at the end when you say “In the future it is likely that profit will be built into the corporate model because corporations will control human value without human preferences.” I wonder what that model would look like? And then I have a follow up: from whence do philosophers arise? is it because the culture gets too bloated and unstable so that a change of direction becomes obvious? Does it depend on the arrival of a genius? Or a Jesus?

What a refreshing and helpful way to start the day. Your description of Jane Pauley’s voice is eloquent.

Glad you recognize and appreciate your wife’s extraordinary talent! This a wonderful poem and I hope she shares more with us. Loved it.

Beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Not what I expected

National unity does seem like an impossible dream. It doesn’t feel like Americans are on the same team anymore, and I wonder when that happened. I could blame certain parties, but that does not advance the cause of unity. But if certain parties would be more reasonable, unity would be easier to achieve!

I love the term “clutter sanctuary” – what a cozy set of words. I wonder if keeping the doors off the closet would improve things? Good luck!

I love these! Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for sharing Rajneesh’s commandments. I love all of them and they do make alot of sense to me, but I can see where most would have trouble understanding. I did for years as well. But some day, hopefully, we will all understand what he is telling us. Nice to see “old Friends” again isn’t it?

There is a lot of Buddhist theology in these commandments. Personally, I find them unsettling and egocentric. I stopped at # 2 and realize that going further would be futile, but I did it anyway. I simply do not understand most of these. Number 10 especially. “Don’t search”? Why on earth should we not search? Does this mean sit around under a Bo tree and smugly feel that this is it, you know all there is to know? I find this fairly repulsive. OK, rant is over. The Commandments certainly do make one think.