2024-04-04

In our current world, people and their relationships with everything have been turned upside down due to five challenges: religion, politics, climate change, social media, and the pandemic, as well as another future challenge.

There will be a new challenge coming in for better or for worse. It’s artificial intelligence, AI. We don’t know what it will be like to present in a world that we could not imagine in our lifetime. It is right under our nose. We hope AI will provide reliable resources to enhance the qualities for all on Earth. But we still don’t know.

Religion comprises a set of beliefs, practices, and rituals associated with the concept of a higher power or god(s). It often provides moral guidance, traditions, and, in some cases, the worship of one or more deities, aiming to imbue life with meaning and to foster an understanding of the universe and one’s place within it. All religions have undergone evolution, disappeared, split into different sects, or taken on extremist forms in various ways. Currently, our world faces a significant challenge: combative religious extremism, which has claimed countless lives in the name of ideology. The prevalence of mental illness among extremists is alarmingly high. Hate and fear have surged, seeking to grasp power and wealth. Does this signal the resurgence of a dark age?

Politics has always been a part of our lives. It is an integral aspect of our society. However, we are now witnessing a new kind of politics, characterized by strong divisions and constraints among various ideologies such as far right, fascism, conservatism, libertarian, moderation, liberalism, progressivism, socialism, communism, and far left around the world. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lack of diplomatic approach in the political world, which hinders effective communication and collaboration. The centre-right, centre, and centre-left have been in decline since the 2010s or even earlier. They are considered politically moderate and reasonable.

Climate change is undeniably the most critical issue our world has ever faced. However, there are numerous differing views on this matter. Regrettably, some individuals choose to outright reject the existence of climate change, despite the overwhelming scientific evidence supporting its reality. These individuals resist any form of change and cling to the status quo, fearing that progressivism will dismantle their way of life. This resistance to change is akin to being like frogs in a pot of boiling water, where the gradual increase in temperature goes unnoticed until it’s too late.

Social media represents the most significant shift the world has ever witnessed. It enables us to communicate almost anywhere on Earth, including underwater, in the air, and even in space. This shows a quiet advancement from the 20th century. However, facts, falsehoods, and opinions can now spread easily across the globe. Unfortunately, many people lack the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills necessary to recognize between truth and falsehood. Unfortunately, they often take part in attacks on rational dialogue, leaded by their personal biases or beliefs, which they refuse to give up.

The pandemic has profoundly and destructively impacted the world. Many people have died due to bad decisions made by governments that ignored expert advice. Militants, who opposed regulations to encourage the use of masks and getting vaccinated, are a problem in our society. They don’t care about scientific evidence. All they believe in is pseudoscience and conspiracy theories that have been fabricated by people lacking critical thinking skills. They are detrimental to our society. We must learn to coexist with them and address the issue. We will never achieve a perfect society due to ongoing challenges such as religions, politics, climate change, and social media. 

– David Kerr