Conscious Evolution: Awakening Our Social Potential

Historically speaking, new worldviews have been responsible for causing major social transformations, says futurist Barbara Marx Hubbard. It occurred in the Renaissance when the idea of progress through knowledge was born. It happened in the United States when the principles of democracy and freedom became institutions. "Now once again a new world view is arising," writes Hubbard. "This idea is the culmination of all human history. It holds the promise of fulfilling the great aspirations of the past and heralds the advent of the next phase of our evolution. It is the idea of conscious evolution."

Human beings have now gained the ability to shape their own evolution, explains Hubbard, and therefore the next world task is to become conscious of this power and guide the earth and all its inhabitants into survival and fulfillment of our potential. Born out of the new spirituality, which began as a path toward self- awareness, but has quickly spread into a "social potential movement," Hubbard predicts that the ideology of "conscious evolution" will be seen as a pivotal turning point in human history, leading us into an era of heightened creativity, environmental accountability, and spiritual development.

Her message is steeped in intelligent writing and persuasive research. But most enticing, she writes as an optimist as well as a visionary. Rather than buy into the "old story" of imminent self-destruction, Hubbard sees the potential for humanity to create a "new story" that melds all our advances--spiritual, scientific, and social--into a glorious vision for the future. --Gail Hudson