What future do the world's traditions foresee, and what path must humanity follow?
“What is the vision of the future, and path that humanity is bound to follow?”
Islam
The Qur'an promises that the righteous will inherit the land. Those who believe and do good will be made vicegerents, with their religion established and peace in place of fear, on condition that they worship God alone. History ends when the earth quakes at the Day of Judgment. I1I2I3
- God sent His Messenger with the "Faith of Truth" so that it prevails "over every faith". I4
- Among the marks of the faithful is that they believe in the Day of Judgment as true. I5
References
- I1Qur'an 21:105 (Al-Anbya) · Qur'an · Mufti Taqi Usmani
- I2Qur'an 24:55 (An-Nur) · Qur'an · Mufti Taqi Usmani
- I3Qur'an 99:1 (Az-Zalzalah) · Qur'an · Mufti Taqi Usmani
- I4Qur'an 9:33 (At-Tawbah) · Qur'an · Mufti Taqi Usmani
- I5Qur'an 70:26 (Al-Ma'arij) · Qur'an · Mufti Taqi Usmani
Christianity
The Bible foresees a "new heaven and a new earth" in which God wipes away all tears and there is "no more death". Before the end comes, the gospel must be preached "in all the world" as a witness to all nations. C1C4C3
- The Orthodox Catechism teaches that this corruptible world will be transformed by fire into an incorruptible one. C6
- Augustine places the new heaven and earth after the final judgment of the wicked and the righteous. C7
- Nations will beat their swords into plowshares and will no longer learn war. C2
References
- C1Revelation 21:1 · Bible · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
- C2Isaiah 2:4 · Bible · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
- C3Matthew 24:14 · Bible · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
- C4Revelation 21:4 · Bible · King James Version (with Apocrypha)
- C6Longer Catechism of the Orthodox Church, On the Eleventh Article. · The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church (Philaret of Moscow, 1830) (Orthodox) · R. W. Blackmore (1845)
- C7Augustine of Hippo, The City of God (Book XX) — Chapter 16.— Of the New Heaven and the New Earth. · City of God · Translated by Marcus Dods. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series Vol. 2.
Judaism
The prophets foresee a time when God judges between the nations and they beat their swords into plowshares and learn war no more. Then "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD". The dead will awake, some to everlasting life and some to everlasting abhorrence. J1J2J4
- Rashi reads Numbers 24:19 as speaking of King Messiah, who will have dominion "from sea to sea". J5
- The Talmud pictures the Messiah sitting among the sick poor, ready to come at any moment to bring the redemption. J6
References
- J1Isaiah 2:4 · Tanakh · JPS 1917
- J2Isaiah 11:9 · Tanakh · JPS 1917
- J4Daniel 12:2 · Tanakh · JPS 1917
- J5Rashi on Numbers 24:19 · Rashi · Rosenbaum & Silbermann
- J6Talmud Sanhedrin 98a:16-18 · Babylonian Talmud · William Davidson edition (Koren/Steinsaltz)
Hinduism
The Laws of Manu teach that the creations and destructions of the world are "numberless" and that Brahman repeats them again and again. Dharma (righteousness) is complete in the Krita age (the first age) and loses one quarter in each later age through theft, falsehood and fraud. H3
- At the final dissolution, every entity dissolves back into that from which it came. H5
- The person who understands how the elements arise and dissolve is free of delusion and attains "all the spotless worlds". H4
References
- H3The Laws of Manu, The Laws of Manu I · The Laws of Manu · Georg Bühler, SBE 25 (1886)
- H4Bhagavad Gita, Anugîtâ: Chapter XX — CHAPTER XX · Bhagavad Gita (with the Anugita) · Kashinath Trimbak Telang, SBE 8 (1882)
- H5Bhagavad Gita, Anugîtâ: Chapter XXVII — CHAPTER XXVII. · Bhagavad Gita (with the Anugita) · Kashinath Trimbak Telang, SBE 8 (1882)
Buddhism
The Digha Nikaya foretells a wheel-turning monarch who will reign "by principle, without rod or sword". It also foretells the arising of Metteyya, a fully awakened Buddha. The future is no escape from impermanence, since what is impermanent is suffering. B1B5
- The Buddha warns of future perils within the monastic community, which mendicants should watch for and give up. B6
- The seven awakening factors, including mindfulness, energy and equanimity, prevent decline. B7
References
- B1DN 26 The Wheel-Turning Monarch · Digha Nikaya (Long Discourses) · Bhikkhu Sujato (SuttaCentral)
- B5SN 35.205 The Interior and What’s Impermanent in the Future · Samyutta Nikaya (Linked Discourses) · Bhikkhu Sujato (SuttaCentral)
- B6AN 5.80 Future Perils (4th) · Anguttara Nikaya (Numbered Discourses) · Bhikkhu Sujato (SuttaCentral)
- B7SN 46.25 Non-decline · Samyutta Nikaya (Linked Discourses) · Bhikkhu Sujato (SuttaCentral)
Sikhism
The Gurus describe the present as Kali Yuga (the Dark Age), in which tyrants are approved and those who practise Truth are frustrated. In this age rituals are of no use. The path is to be Gurmukh (one oriented to the Guru) and let the Lord's Name grow in the heart. S1S2
- By Hukam (divine Command), "coming and going in reincarnation cease" when God links a person to devotional worship. S4
- The Lord Himself "created and destroys" the earth, which He made as "the true home of Dharma (righteousness)". S6
References
- S1Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 1129-1130 — Raag Bhairao, Guru Amar Daas Ji · Sri Guru Granth Sahib · Sant Singh Khalsa (BaniDB)
- S2Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 902-903 — Raag Raamkalee, Guru Nanak Dev Ji · Sri Guru Granth Sahib · Sant Singh Khalsa (BaniDB)
- S4Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 962 — Raag Raamkalee, Guru Arjan Dev Ji · Sri Guru Granth Sahib · Sant Singh Khalsa (BaniDB)
- S6Guru Granth Sahib, Ang 785 — Raag Soohee, Guru Amar Daas Ji · Sri Guru Granth Sahib · Sant Singh Khalsa (BaniDB)
Secular Ethics
Humanist Manifesto III holds that humanity can progress toward its highest ideals and that responsibility for the world is "ours and ours alone". It sees this as a duty to uphold human rights, to take part in democracy and to protect nature. Humanist Manifesto II holds that human life has meaning "because we create and develop our futures". X3X1
- Humanist Manifesto II warns against ideologies that sacrifice individuals "on the altar of Utopian promises". X1
- Mill holds that liberty is "the only unfailing and permanent source of improvement". X6
- Russell criticises the idea of a law of universal progress drawn from biology as a hasty generalisation. X4
References
- X1Humanist Manifesto II — Religion · Humanist Manifesto II · American Humanist Association (1973)
- X3Humanist Manifesto III · Humanist Manifesto III · American Humanist Association (2003)
- X4Bertrand Russell, Mysticism and Logic (incl. A Free Man's Worship) — I · Mysticism and Logic (incl. A Free Man's Worship) · Bertrand Russell (1918), Project Gutenberg
- X6John Stuart Mill, On Liberty — Of Individuality, As One Of The Elements Of Well-Being. · On Liberty · John Stuart Mill (1859), Project Gutenberg
Comparison
| Aspect | Islam | Christianity | Judaism | Hinduism | Buddhism | Sikhism | Secular Ethics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shape of history | Moves toward the Day of Judgment | Moves toward judgment and a new heaven and earth | Moves toward messianic peace and resurrection | Endless cycles of creation and destruction | Impermanence, with future perils and the coming Buddha Metteyya | The present Dark Age (Kali Yuga), under God's Command (Hukam) | Open; progress is possible but not guaranteed |
| Vision of the future | The righteous inherit the land; peace replaces fear | No more death, sorrow or pain | No more war; earth full of knowledge of the LORD | Final dissolution of all entities | Rule by principle without rod; Metteyya arises | Reincarnation ends for those linked to devotion | Human rights, democracy and a sustainable planet |
| Path to follow | Belief, good deeds, worship of God without partners | Gospel preached to all nations | Await the Messiah, who is ready to redeem | Understand how all things arise and dissolve | Practise the awakening factors; give up the perils | As Gurmukh (Guru-oriented), cherish the Lord's Name | Human responsibility, liberty and participation |
| Agent of change | God's promise and decree | God creates all things new | God, who judges the nations, and King Messiah | Brahman repeats creation and destruction | Awakened beings and the individual's own practice | God's Command (Hukam) | Humanity alone |
Conclusion
Most of the sources foresee a future beyond present strife: peace in place of fear, swords beaten into plowshares, rule by principle without the sword, or a world of rights and sustainability. Islam, Christianity and Judaism describe a single history moving toward divine judgment and renewal. Hinduism and Sikhism speak of cycles or ages, with the present age in decline. Buddhism stresses impermanence and the practices that prevent decline, and secular humanism rejects any set destiny. The deepest difference is who shapes the future: God, a cosmic cycle, or humanity alone.
Where they agree
- Most of the sources foresee an end to violence and fear.
- Every tradition ties a better future to a way of living now: righteousness, devotion, practice or responsibility.
Where they differ
- Islam, Christianity and Judaism foresee one history ending in judgment, while Hinduism describes numberless creations and destructions.
- The religious sources place the future in God's hands or in a cosmic order; the humanist sources say responsibility is "ours and ours alone" and progress is not guaranteed.
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