Salient features of the present time

Article No. 35
04/January/2020

It is very important to understanding and realizing the present time based on historical records, economic awareness, psychological perspectives and eschatological theology. The physical world that we experience is a contingent one, so change is inevitable to everything that we could experience. Based on solid historical data, the man started to live on this planet earth around 6000 years ago. From that day, vast changes occurred to human living conditions here.

One study found that population in BC 2400 was 4 crore, in AD 1 was 30 crore, in AD 1800 was 100 crore, in AD 1930 was 200 crore, in AD 1960 was 300 crore, in AD 1975 was 400 crore, in AD 1988 was 500 crore, in AD 1999 was 600 crore, in AD 2011 was 700 crore, in AD 2016 was 740 crore, in AD 2019 was 745 crore, in January 2020 is 755 crore. Based on Pew Research World’s population is projected to nearly stop growing by the end of the century. The global fertility rate is expected to be 1.9 births per woman by 2100, down from 2.5 today. The world’s median age is expected to increase to 42 in 2100, up from the current 31 – and from 24 in 1950. The population of Asia is expected to increase from 4.6 billion in 2020 to 5.3 billion in 2055, then start to decline. Six countries are projected to account for more than half of the world’s population growth through the end of this century, and five are in Africa. India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country by 2027. Meanwhile, Nigeria will surpass the U.S. as the third-largest country in the world in 2047, according to the projections.

There are many other changes also occurred along with this population growth on this planet earth; such as living conditions, cultures, science, technology, values, religion etc. Analysis and research of all available knowledge and data give us some salient features of the present time.

Feature 1: Narcissistic nature in people

Selfishness is an all-time high in the historical available knowledge of different cultures and societies. Now, people are ready to betray anything for their self-interest. It was not the case before a few decades ago. There is nothing wrong to enhance materialistic life in a moral way, but people often peruse to be materialistic in an immoral way. It will eventually destroy moral decorum of the society. Moral values and principles are much greater than materialistic assets.

Harmony in society can develop through cooperation and mutual care. Concern about collective responsibilities and duties make social life more meaningful and free from narcissism.

Feature 2: Difficulty in marketing creativity

Creativity is the development of novel original work. There is proliferation creativity around the world that more than we want. After the invention of the internet and its wide popularity, creative ideas are being spread across this planet from any corners of the world. There is enough idea in the atmosphere at free of cost. So there is a difficulty to start a new venture without having regular other income sources. It better to wait for commercialization of idea until getting a regular income from any other sources.

Feature 3: Not save much money

The 50-20-30 (or 50-30-20) budget rule is an intuitive and simple plan to help people reach their financial goals. The rule states that you should spend up to 50% of your after-tax income of needs and obligations that you must-have or must-do. The remaining half should be split up to 20% savings and debt repayment and 30% to everything else that you might want. Simply, 50% of income for Needs, 30% of income for Wants and 20% of income for Savings.

Inflation is so powerful to washout all money that saved. So it is better not to save more than 20% of income. This 20% can split into two: 10% in money and 10% in an asset like gold or real estate. It will be more viable and practical as well as a stable approach in money management.

Feature 4: Low birth rate in society

Official data available of Kerala says that birth rate is 1.7 for a couple. It is very below to the replacement level that is 2.1.

Therefore, the number of children in families must be three to five. Because of 1. Based on sociologically or demographically, if a couple has only two children, they just only replaced themselves. A society needs a fertility rate of 2.1 to continue to exist. So that more than two children in a family are essential to prevent our society from depopulation or end of humanity. 2. God teaches in the Bible that gets married, be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it. Multiply means need more than two, having two children; they just replacing. 3. It is very essential to develop a community among children. Because they are not allowed to mingle with misleading people in the world. So children must have a mutual community development in the home itself. It creates more harmony in the family and among the children. It needs five children to maintain a community life in a family among children.

Feature 5: Lack of critical thinking

Agreeableness among people is an all-time high in the present society. It may be due to blind trust in the media and internet sources. Spreading of fake news in much faster than the real news. Therefore, it is very essential to develop an ability to think critically to distinguish truth from false. Critical thinking based on rationality and morality help a person to see right and wrong in life.

Feature 6: Comparison of life

Comparing ourselves with others always cause to less happy and unsatisfied life, it ruins meaning and purpose of life in each individual as well as family. Good, happy, stable and healthy life demands to compare ourselves with our previous stages in life, not others. It is essential that an individual and family must try to improve our present stage with respect to previous stages in life. Comparisons can be seen in all walks of life such as among family members, relatives, friends, peers in the academic or educational institution, peers in the workplace, people in society etc.

10th commandment of ‘Ten Commandments’ says that “You shall not covet your neighbour's house, you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour's”. Coveting is desiring much more than ‘to want’. In the modern generation, people’s comparison themselves with others is an all-time high in the history of humankind. It causes most of the sorrows in life. This is exclusively happening in our mind or thought with or without purposefully. All coveting in present generation finally leads to evil. Because this coveted matter not achievable due to our limited resources or lack of abilities. Here, it is important that we must work on our resources and abilities to improve our previous stages in life.

Harmony in life

Harmony in life can be achieved by realizing the peculiarities of the present time and act accordingly. Pursue life in a meaningful way rather than an enjoyable way. Ability to distinguish right and wrong in the greatest quality in life. It is highly complex and not easy. Life has a definite meaning and purpose. Purpose of life can simply state that “Being more good to reach more order”. People born with chaos and vulnerabilities, but due to the socialization of religious study (Doctrine & Discipline) make them be more good. Meaning of life can simply state that "It's transcending in nature by Good, Right, Happy, Satisfied and Stable experiences as a human being". It is a fight between good and evil. We can either fight for good or evil. Noone can both.

By,

Nithin A F

Doing Post Graduation in Psychology

Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala.

Email : nithinaf@gmail.com

www.NithinAF.blogspot.com

04/January/2020