battle lines
I. Humans began their story on this Earth as brutish, violent, tribal knuckle-draggers, barely distinguishable from their ape relatives. Over thousands of years of gradual genetic and cultural evolution, humanity has marched through history to achieve progressively more peaceful and prosperous societies. We're slowly but surely approaching an age wherein every individual can live a happy, healthy, dignified life. War, poverty, and disease will be eradicated; hate, bigotry, and arbitrary distinctions will become relics of our past. The world will shrink into a borderless, global village, but we must never give up the struggle against oppression and injustice until such time when the dark forces of our history are finally overcome.
II. Man was created and put here on this Earth in order to fulfill a mission greater than what he alone is capable of understanding. His nature is such that his intelligence and capacity for reason gives him unmatched dominion over the natural world, but he is fallen. He is prone to great outbursts of creativity and invention, though he is limited by his greed, lust, and vindictiveness. The tragedy of man is such that he must toil for his daily bread, all while knowing that he will perish in the end of his days. The best he can hope for is to live a good life in accordance with the divine commandments, to be good to his neighbor, to act with righteousness and respect for the law. He is to find for himself a woman, to make a home with her, and give thanks to the good Lord for all that is provided, for we cannot know the plan in store for us.
III. Most people, when pressed, will identify more strongly with one of these two mutually incompatible narratives. This is the battle line.