Global Consciousness Change
Indicators Of An Emerging Paradigm

Author: Duane Elgin
Format: Report
Length: 38 pages
Publisher: The Simple Living Network

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Item #: BGCC

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Numerous trends indicate that the industrial era is on a collision course with nature--from ozone depletion to climate change, rainforest destruction, and environmental pollution. The global ecological crisis is compounded by social, economic, and spiritual challenges that are equally daunting. Is there a countervailing set of indicators that shows that we humans may be waking up to our predicament? Is there a set of trends that shows that we are beginning to consciously organize ourselves to respond to the ecological, social, and spiritual challenges we face?

The objective of this inquiry was to discover whether global culture and consciousness are significantly changing in such a way that new patterns of values and approaches to living are emerging. To discover whether this is so, we examined a number of the most comprehensive global and U.S. surveys of the past decade. We organized this inquiry into five thematic question areas:

• Is the global communications revolution fostering a new global consciousness?

• What is the extent of humanity's global ecological awareness and concern?

• Is there a shift underway toward "postmodern" social values?

• Is a new kind of experiential or first-hand spirituality emerging?

• Is there a shift underway toward more sustainable ways of living?

From this inquiry, we have concluded that a new global culture and consciousness have taken root and are beginning to grow in the world. This represents a shift in consciousness as distinct and momentous as that which occurred in the transition from the agricultural era to the industrial era roughly three hundred years ago. Because communications technologies are a powerful force driving the emergence of this new epoch, it would be convenient to call it the "communications era." But that name would be ill-suited since the most distinctive feature of this emerging era is not technological change, but a change in human consciousness.

This change in consciousness has two primary features. First, there is a further awakening of our unique capacity to be self-reflective--to stand back from the rush of life and, with greater detachment, observe the world and its workings non-judgmentally. Second, from this more spacious perspective, the Earth (and even the cosmos) are seen as interconnected, living systems. Because of these two features, we are calling this emerging change in culture and consciousness the "reflective/living-systems" paradigm or perspective.

Because of survey limitations, it is impossible to estimate with any accuracy the percentage of the world's population moving toward a reflective/living-systems way of life. In the U.S., a conservative estimate is that 20 million people--10 percent of adults--are consciously exploring new ways of living that seem consistent with this paradigm. While this group is a relatively small percentage of the U.S. population, we believe they represent an important harbinger of changes in global culture and consciousness.

About The Author:

Duane Elgin is a researcher, author, and speaker with 30 years of experience in exploring the co-evolution of culture and consciousness. He is the author of three books: Promise Ahead: A Vision Of Hope & Action For Humanity's Future, Awakening Earth: Exploring The Evolution Of Human Culture & Consciousness and Voluntary Simplicity: Toward A Way Of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich. He is also the author of two reports: Global Consciousness Change: Indicators Of An Emerging Paradigm and Collective Consciousness & Cultural Healing. In addition, Duane co-authored (with Joseph Campbell, Willis Harman, and others) the book Changing Images of Man (Pergamon, 1982).

Duane was formerly a senior social scientist at the Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International), where he co-authored numerous studies on the long-range future; for example, Alternative Futures for Environmental Planning: 1975-2000 (for the EPA); Anticipating Future National and Global Problems; and Limits to the Management of Large, Complex Systems (both for the President's science advisor). While at SRI International, he also participated as a subject in a range of scientific experiments on parapsychology over a period of several years. Prior to SRI, Duane worked in 1970-71 as a senior staff member for the joint Congressional-Presidential Commission on Population Growth and the American Future. From 1981-1989, Duane was the founder and director of the non-partisan and non-profit organization Choosing our Future. The mission of COF is to revitalize citizen participation through the innovative use of tools of mass communication. COF conducted research, took legal action with the FCC, developed a pilot "electronic town meeting" (aired on ABC-TV in San Francisco), and organized a "community voice" organization to produce televised forums for citizen dialogue and feedback. Duane has an M.B.A. from the Wharton Business School and an M.A. in Economic History from the University of Pennsylvania.

Related Resources:

Voluntary Simplicity Toward A Way Of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich - Revised Edition
      By Duane Elgin (Paperback)

Promise Ahead A Vision Of Hope & Action For Humanity's Future
      By Duane Elgin (Paperback)

Collective Consciousness & Cultural Healing
      By Duane Elgin (Report)

Living Legacies How To Write, Illustrate & Share Your Life Stories
      By Duane Elgin & Coleen Ledrew with foreward by Angeles Arrien, Ph. D. (Hard Cover)