I think that human society would much happier spiritually and materially if we were to go back to living a more simple agrarian God-conscious lifestyle.
I'm all for simplifying life... I try to practice this principle everyday,. However, I don't think we can or should return to a purely agrarian lifestyle. It's simply not feasible for a population numbered in the several billion.
I don't think that technology has offered any significant benefit to human society. In fact it is destroying the planet.
I disagree... as someone who has a deep awareness of the millions of First Nations people wiped out by smallpox.... someone who would have died in childbirth had it not been for modern medicine, I rather think it's our application of technology in consumptive ways rather than sustainable ways that is the issue.
Technology gives us the ability to be more sustainable than in any point in our history. We can use less water, less energy and less land in destructive agriculture than ever before.
We have a choice to use technology in sustainable ways or in destructive ways no matter how far back in our history you go. Fire is used in slash and burn agriculture going back thousands of years... this is destructive agrarianism. We no longer need to use this method thanks to modern technology.
We can choose to use the best methods of both modern and ancient knowledge to maximize our productivity while minimizing our impact on the environment.
For example Growing my garden in the traditional mound plantings of the Iroquois maximizes my plants production while minimizing the need for fertilizers and pest control, but I use a passive solar greenhouse to extend my growing season into the winter months when the ground would otherwise be frozen. I can grow many cold tolerant crops like Kale and therefore reduce my need to import fresh vegetables from warmer climates.
Using solar hot water to reduce my need for energy and prevent myself from having to burn wood to heat water in the winter. The solar hot water system is a closed loop so no additional input into the system is needed except sunlight.
On a more practical note I think that adopting this lifestyle is a matter of survival for human society since we are completely dependent on oil at every level and when it runs out this current society will collapse.
I generally agree with this position as well... but again I would point out that proper application of technology is essential.
What we need isn't a shunning of technology but a more holistic approach to it's use. As well as a reduction in our consumerist driven economy.
wa:do
