I see four basic reasons why the world is in such bad shape today.
1. Original predicament
All religions have the premise that human life is underpinned by a major problem that must be addressed for us to live a meaningful life. Religions are meant to explain and guide us through this problem. For monotheistic religions-- Christianity, Islam and Judaism-- humans have disobeyed God and must repent and follow God. Mainstream Christianity calls the problem of existence original sin. Eastern religions hold that ignorance is the problem. People believe they are separate egos in a completely material world. The goal is to extinguish personal ego and desire and live spiritually. All religions teach that spiritual, not materialistic, values should guide our lives.
I find most congenial the Hermetic or Platonic view of the original human predicament. This s that we have an immortal soul inside a mortal body. Our true nature is spiritual, but we are born into a material world. The Hermetic view has more philosophic rigour than "original sin," which is simplistic and patriarchal. However, the concept of original sin rightly states there is a very serious problem underlying human life.
Some people like to avoid the idea of an original predicament. By saying matter is really spiritual. This is too easy; you cannot define the problem away. William Blake has explored the human predicament with insight second to none. He wrote, "Without contraries is no progression." A sportsman has to pit himself against resistence in order to develop his strength, endurance and skill. Similarly, the conflict mater and spirit is necessary for human growth and development. John Keats wrote, "This world is the vale of soul making." Being trapped on the earth plane gives the soul opposition and therefore the impetus for growth.
Humans are at the very centre of a cosmic battle, called Armageddon in The Revelation. This battle is between the forces of non-being and the forces of eternal life. As Paul said, the way of the flesh is death [because all flesh dies] but the way of the spirit is eternal life. In I Cor.15 Paul reiterates the view of Plato and some other Greek philosophers: when the soul is immersed in matter, man is spiritually "dead." The Christ is the new Adam, the living spirit coexisting with the resurrected soul residing within each human being. The struggle from "death" to life is the prime human challenge, and goes by various names, such as the pilgrim's progress, the quest for the Holy Grail, the hero's journey.
2. Patriarchy
As if the original predicament is not enough to deal with, we also have the patriarchy. Roughly 5,000 years ago aggressive men began to take over society. Their goal was power and control over others. They instituted slavery, war, sexism, social inequality and exploitation. Today the power-crazed patriarchy has in its hands tools and weapons of mass destruction that threaten the very existence of life on earth.
3. Materialism
As if the patriarchy is not enough to deal with, our society is dominated by the philosophy of materialism. This began approximately 400 years with the likes of Bacon and Descartes, then Locke and Newton. These men were castigated with holy anger by Blake. Materialism holds that only matter exists, and God, the soul and spirit are mere fancies. In Blake's words, the materialists reduce the divine human to no more than a "worm of sixty winters."The so called enlightenment was an endarkenment because it banished spiritual vision from human life.
"May God us keep, from single vision and Newton's sleep." Materialism is one dimensional. Consumerism turns people into voracious beast like characters who are never satisfied. It's mantra is simply "more, more, more." Today it is though humanity is in a great deep pit, with people calling out, "Dig deeper, that's the way out."
4. The End of an Age
As if materialism is not enough, we are living at the end of an Age. The sages of ancient Egyptian knew that at the end of each Age, lasting for just over 2,000, it was the time to change the gods. The current Age of Pisces, represented by mainstream Christianity, is coming to a close. Its primary values were universalism, faith and "love" (more in talk than action). Mainstream Christianity has reached the end of its shelf life, and in the Words of William B. Yeats, "Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold." This is the pattern of life: birth, growth, maturity, decay and death. The coming Age of Aquarius will not be perfect, because Man is not perfect. It will no longer be a case of one size fits all. It will recognise that there are many paths to enlightenment, and each should be free to follow the path that suits them best.
According to William Blake, Eternity is the reality behind this evryday world, not an endless prolongation of time. As human beings, we have the capacity to dwell in Eternity. This means to change our consciousness, to be reborn. Eternity is our true home, and the greatest goal to strive for.
Some suggested reading
Blake, William. Complete Writings.
Damon, Foster S. A Blake Dictionary.
Kingsford, Anna. The Perfect Way or the Finding of Christ.
Kuhn, Alvin B. The Lost Light: an Interpretation of Ancient Scriptures.
Raine, Kathleen. Blake and the New Age.
------------- Blake and Tradition.