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Steven Meglitsch

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Will there still be humans on this planet a million years from now?

I keep mulling around in my mind the question of whether or not the human species is evolutionarily viable on the long term. There seem to be a lot of pros and cons, but to me it looks as though the jury is still out.

The secondary questions are:
1. If we are still here in a million years, what will be different about us? What parameters will permit us to succeed.
2. If not, what will lead to our downfall, and what parameters in the human species will have hindered our continued survival?

Topics: a better world diagnosing humanity survival
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    Bren Herring

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    Dec 4 2012: I can certainly respect and appreciate your beliefs as well, Steven! I would not call it "religious" convictions just to clarify, but instead Faith or Spirituality and yes convictions too --- I find that RELIGION tends to twist, presume superior knowledge of and really excludes so much and so many so often!! (To be expected, as they are man-created and managed) And as far as Christianity - I would I guess be forced to apply the label simply because I do believe in the Christian God and Jesus Christ (Holy Trinity), but I really prefer to think of my God as The Creator and to me He represents Pure truth and Love -- Not a dictatorial, demanding and egomaniacal being! :) I don't see my walk as one that requires conforming to a set of strict codes and rules but instead it is a wonderous exploration and discovery - where I think my Creator ultimately only want to Give and bless me and show me how to be exactly who I was meant to be - live my true and highest purpose!! So really, it is not unlike what you described as your greatest hope...... :)

    One further point, if you don't mind.... I believe that all history has been handed down the same way - in part verbally, by written account and letters/missives and other documents if they were applicable or obtainable!! So, It still surprises me that the majority of people who argue against The Bible always seem to use that for their basis.... The Bible actually says... "God is the Living Word" and I am not aware of anywhere that is claims to be the entire chronological history from Creation to the early years A.D.

    I believe it is a representation of what we should know to help us to better understand ourselves, our Creator, the way the world works, the ways we can get off path and further away from Love and what we have in store for us once we embrace Love in it's purest form! A guidebook more than the entire set of encyclopedic history for mankind! ;) Be well and God bless you!!! :)
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      Steven Meglitsch

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      Dec 4 2012: Your point about distinguishing between religion and spirituality is well taken, Bren. Although it's not directly related to the question in this thread, I have a suspicion that we aren't too far apart on the question of what mankind's place in the universe really is, but also that our definitions of terms are very different.

      Just looking at the very big universe we are a part of might seem to make us insignificant, But the big, old Universe does what it does and it seemingly does it everywhere and all the time. Which means that we, as a tiny component of it, somehow reflect the whole. Judging by the kind of consciousness and mentation humans (as well as most organic life forms) have, we appear to be hard wired to walk that tightrope between curiosity and skepticism that allows us to continually ask questions and continually challenge the answers. To me, that is a source of optimism ... if we look hard enough we can find the answers.

      I have come to look at our future as perpetual challenge to either find our place as a sustainable species in the natural universe or being relegated to the fossil record for some new species, perhaps, to ponder.

      I am not scientist myself, but was brought up to look upon the scientific method as an excellent (though not exclusive) framework to ask questions and find appropriate answers. As the universe is such a very big place and our brains are so very small by comparison, each seemingly good answer we find must constantly be open to re-questioning and re-examination, each new round bringing us, hopefully, a little closer to the truth (though perhaps never getting us there)

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