In order to fully appreciate and understand the nature of the New Paradigm, it is necessary to first examine the nature of the Old Paradigm. Only by examining where we are in terms of our cultural and spiritual conditions can we begin to see the path that is unfolding before us, a path that will lead us from the Old to the New.
The following sections will explore three main components of the current paradigm we are living in: beliefs, values, and marriage. While these components form the fundamental structure of any society, they also form the fundamental structure of every individual life. As such, they are the most significant aspects of the human condition, and it is the transformation of these aspects that will thus define the evolution of human consciousness.
Old Paradigm Beliefs
Religion has been one of the most significant aspects of the human experience since the dawn of time itself. It seems no culture, no matter how primitive or advanced, is without some form of belief system. Although these systems can be quite diverse in many ways, most follow a fairly common pattern, containing many of the same core elements.
Among these common elements is a sacred text, a particular world view, and some sense of a higher truth. Even though the specifics may differ, the fundamentals usually remain the same from one tradition to the next. This section will examine these fundamentals, revealing how they serve as expressions of the true nature of the Old Paradigm, and thus explain why so many have chosen to leave them behind.
Control-Driven Values
Just as religion plays a huge part in defining the spiritual life of a person, culture plays the same role in defining their day-to-day existence. One of the most significant elements of any culture is the set of values that it adheres to. These values determine which behaviors and tendencies are to be embraced, as well as which behaviors and tendencies are to be shunned. By establishing ideals and taboos, a culture not only shapes society as a whole, but it shapes each and every individual within that society.
The values of the Old Paradigm can be summed up in a single word ─ control. Whether it’s controlling behavior, money, or the world itself, rather than setting people free, these values only serve to enslave those who adopt them. As more and more people wake up to this stark reality, they begin rejecting the control-driven values that are an ingrained part of their life, seeking a better values system instead. This section will explore the main forms of control-driven values and show yet one more reason why so many are making the journey from the Old to the New Paradigm.
Old Paradigm Marriage
While countless people are making the exodus from the Old Paradigm to the New, the shift can often go unnoticed. This is because many changes that occur within an individual express themselves in very subtle ways. It would be highly unlikely, for example, that you could tell if a person had changed their religious beliefs as you stand behind them in line at the grocery store. However, there are some areas in which this shift can be seen in abundant clarity.
One such area is that of the marriage model. For countless generations, the model of marriage has remained fairly constant. Rules regarding the race, creed, gender, and number of people allowed to be joined in matrimony have been followed largely without question. However, in recent times these rules have not only been brought into question, they have been eliminated altogether. This section will look at the restrictions of the Old Paradigm marriage model, and show why they are soon to be little more than a footnote in history.