Cycles of History

There are a number of cycles that tend to repeat in history. Generation after generation people forget, if not the facts, then the feelings of what went before. The current generation may know the history of those former but they don't remember the gestalt former generations had. Younger generations often quickly forget the lessons that their forefathers had to learn...quite often the hard way.  Economic upheavals, like depressions, tend to come in cycles. Wars also tend to come in cycles. Such cycles and historical trends are carefully studied by sociologists and economic advisers and others to predict future trends.

One historical cycle that is often overlooked is that of religious orthodoxy. It is an historical trend that people tend to turn back to their religious traditions in times of economic, political and social upheaval. When people feel lost and powerless they often turn to the religious traditions of their forefathers. We can see this happening in the Arabic Muslim world right now. As the dictators that have ruled Arabic countries fall one by one the people are trending to turn back to their traditional faith...Islam.

I believe we are on the verge of a similar cycle here in the West. Western Europe and America especially are undergoing a time of economic uncertainty and social upheaval. We simply can't keep pace with our technology and societal changes. The result leaves many people feeling lost and disconnected. Some call it 'existential angst'. When that feeling has reached a tipping point I believe we will witness large segments of our population turning back to the traditional faiths of their fathers.

There is a certainty in the faith of ones fathers but there is also a drawback in adhering to ones traditional faith because it "feels" more secure. The drawback is that such worldviews tend to become rigid and closed off to new ideas. A strong religious population can be oppressive to those who don't hold it's beliefs. It's for that reason that people tend to eventually throw off traditional beliefs. Therein lay the roots of the cycle that tends to repeat itself in history.

In the West, both in Europe and in America, we have reached a "free-for-all" in our morality. This is dangerous for several reasons but it's main affect is to create an unstable society. History is clear that such societies do not exist for long. We are ripe for a religious orthodoxy to be imposed upon us. Such times often see political tyranny imposed on people as well. What faith our world turns to may well depend on who the world recognizes as a leader. The most charismatic voice is the one usually heard the loudest. Christians the world over believe that Christ will return but most don't realize that the Anti-Christ will come first. That too is a historical trend. The world will believe that a savior has returned. History and the Bible tell us that they will be wrong.

He is coming.