Watching the students file into the lecture hall captivates my attention. Their conversations range from what they did or were going to do on the weekend to the latest album or rock concert to last nights TV show. It will never cease to amaze me as to what it would be like to be so ignorant; to be so unaware of the world and how society was formed.
The talking ceases as each one takes their seat. At last they direct their attention to myself and the words written on the board. With the course of the lesson planned out in my mind I begin to speak.
“ Can anyone tell me, what do these words mean?” I asked the class. On the board were the words “for why should he try to impose this shape on time? For surely he was imposing it. Wasn’t he?”
Whispers can be heard throughout the room as the students query their friends. I do not need to wait for a volunteer to know that everyone of them is puzzled by the words. With no answers being offered, I begin to explain it to them.
“ These words can mean many things. They are open to interpretation. For instance, perhaps they are referring to the concept of the world being a sphere. At the time, it was common knowledge that the world was flat. Yet, here comes this scientist who announces that the world was in fact round – that there was no danger of sailing off the edge of the earth.
“ Ideas shape the course of human history. If we use this example of the shape of the world we are able to confirm that this is the truth. The idea of a round world lead explorers and pioneers to map the coast lines of all seven continents, this changing the course of history.
“ Is it so unimaginable that one seemingly, simple belief can change the course of history? Belief systems are powerful frameworks of ideas which shape our relationship to the unknown. The world was an unknown place before explorers set sail, finding new places and proving that the world was round.
“ Skipping back in time to the crusades and when the church held the power. The belief system of that era was that you either follow God, technically the church, or were burnt at the stake as a heretic. Thousands, perhaps even millions, were murdered in the name of God; all simply because they had a different idea of the world.
“ Why? You ask. The church held the power. They had the ability to force people into following any rule or law that they declared. To bring the reasoning for this down to the lowest common denominator, so to speak, it is because of the belief system of the time. It was believed that if you sinned you would go to hell; to not sin would be to do whatever the church asked of you. This one belief influenced the shape of human history to the point that we, now, are years behind in the technology department.
“ It is human nature to be afraid of the unknown. It is the same as being afraid of the dark. Without light we are unable to fit things into shapes that we can recognise, therefore our imaginations create the images for us. We believe that theses images, presented by our imaginations are the truth. Being unable to place these images to something familiar, it causes us to be afraid. The need to recognise the shapes and ideas of this world has become as basic as the need for food.”
I pause to better observe the students reactions. Some remained staring out the window, others appeared to be attentive, yet their eyes remained glossed over. However, there were a small number who had increased their alertness and were beginning to understand what I was telling them. I could sense from their alertness that they had begun to think for themselves; to grasp at the reason and lift themselves from the stupor that they had been living in for their whole lives. Today, I had influenced the shape of their lives.