Evolution of man – The Next Stage

The evolution theory espoused by Charles Darwin, in his journal ‘The Origin of Species’ is perhaps the most controversial publication ever made. The ‘Origin of Species’ gave a birth to a new way of thinking: “Did God create man, animals, and plants?” Or did we (humans, and animals) evolve from lower level life form? When and how did it all begin? The evolution theory left many missing links, and since then, scientists have continued a frenetic search for these missing links. Creationist however reject in totality the theory of evolution and generally accept the biblical accounts of creation.

Evolutionist and creationist aside, man, scientifically termed Homo sapiens, is the most advance, most intelligent, and most adapted creature currently walking the face of the earth. Man has conquered and is thriving in every corner of the earth. Man is able to achieve these feats, not due to any physical ability, but rather to the fortune of a very evolved and complex system of brain. The brain is the most important differentiating factor in humans - the winning design, the winning edge!
The closest animal to the level of man sophiscation is the apes. However, the, the different in class and intelligence is a very big gulf. Man has stepped out of the caves, and has reached for the stars, while apes, still grope about in the thick of the jungles striving to scrape a living.

Man in his so much exaggerated advance intelligence, and adaptability is ironically the most discontent creature. Man wants to fly; we want to move faster than we currently do. Man want to predict the future, control events, travel the universe and back, create another man, eliminate diseases, slow or eliminate aging, and ultimately man want to live forever – like God!

The inability to achieve some of these things makes man feel discontented. Discontentment drives necessity, and “Necessity,” they say “is the mother of invention.” This brings me to the question: “What next for man? Where do we go from here and humans, and humanity? Will we continue to evolve? On the other hand, can we recreate ourselves, further from where how God made/left us? So far, man has been able to use very limited portion of his brain. The next level of man transition perhaps will result in better and more use of his brain. Better and more use of man’s brain will surely open a new vista in the story of man. Then perhaps in 2,000 years time, man will be able to fly easily at individual level, be faster, stronger, live longer, age slower, and so much more. Perhaps, I say, perhaps.

I know I cannot say for certainty if in the next 2,000 years life will continue on earth or not. Or what form of life will be by then, but I do know for sure is that humans discontent will result in further and further technological/medical advancements, and much more discontentment. Necessity, will continue to drive further the (r)evolution of man!

'Manimal', the most dangerous animal

Back in the days when man lived in caves, gathered fruits, and hunted animals as the primary source of protein, many animals were considered very dangerous. Man labeled carnivores such as lions, tigers, leopard, wolf, and bear, man-eaters. Many herbivores like the elephant, buffalo, hippo, rhino, inspired a mixture of fear and awe. Reptiles such as crocodiles and snakes completed the list of man’s most feared natural enemies. Mankind lived in perpetual fear, and would only venture far from the safety of their enclosures in groups. Stone age weapons like clubs, sticks, spears, bow and arrows are readily deployed to protect man at the very minimal sighting of these ‘dangerous’ animals.

Later, man discovered agricultures, fire, and metal. They tamed some of the not so dangerous animals, stepped out their caves. Since then things have never been the same. In stepping out of the caves, man began a process of progressive and rapid expansion. Forests were leveled to make way for the expanding population. The first victims of this expansion and the attendant deforestation were of course the now hapless animals. The retreating forest exposed several animal species to the rampaging man. Confrontations between these two always end in favour of the ruthless, armed and dangerous man.

With advancement in science and technology came better weapons and tools. Man the most adapted ‘animal’ transcended his mental evolution beyond survival. Man ceased the fear and awe of those hitherto ‘dangerous’ animal. In some instances, wild, and untamed animals, herbivores and carnivores alike, now take to their heels at the sighting of humans! Man became a terror, a savage beast, hunting animals not just for food, but for sports, ornamentals, and pleasure! He wipes out the competing animals at his whims and caprices. How soon the tide turns!

Man is everywhere! From the driest desert of the Sahara, to the deepest of the Amazon jungle; from the North to the South Poles, man’s footprint can be found. Even in the deepest of seas, and high up in the sky, man’s footprint can be found. Man’s footprints all over the face of the earth, is not just about survival, but also exploration and exploitation.

The activities of man continue to create smaller and smaller space for the diminishing animal population. The once simple, feeble, fearful, cave man, has eventually become, the ultimate predator; the most dangerous animal on earth, a terror to other members of the ecosystem. Man has slowly but surely morphed into what is now termed – ‘Manimal’’. Man the animal!

A wildlife documentary presenter once spoke on behalf of several endangered animal species, when she asked: “Fifty year from now, will animals look back and say indeed man was once the great ape.” Of course, that is from the evolutionist point of view. The creationist and bible scholars would probably ask: “Fifty years from now, will the animals look back, and say with satisfaction, that was the same man that God took us to, to be named. The one God trusted to take care of us!”

In defense of Oliver Twist (3)- (The Oliver in you)

In the preceding parts of this trilogy, the author traced the history of defamation of the character of Oliver Twist - greedy. Attempt was made not only to correct this notion but also to depict Oliver Twist in the character he belongs – a true hero. At birth he cheated death in the first few critical seconds of his life when he gasped for breath. While growing up, he endured severe hardship and survived under deplorable conditions. Oliver was a survivor. Even when fate handed him the famous task of leading the campaign to “ask for more”, he did not refuse (though it took a little prompting) to do what no one has ever done in the history of the workhouse.

Many may journey through live like Oliver; sojourning where fate pushes them; doing very little to change their circumstance, and weathering the storms of life like an inflated vessel. But that’s what life is full of – a tug of war; a see-saw; a flip-flop. But like every situation an event, which acts like a trigger – like the nudge to ask for more – exists. Like Oliver Twist, we must not refuse the nudge to ask for more either on our behalf or on behalf of others, as our destinies may lie in that.

However, inertia, as described by Newton’s first law of motion is the most active law in human behaviour – humans continue to do what they are doing (or do nothing) until an external force is applied upon them. Inertia has robbed many of their creative talents, transforming them into android; shrouding their minds from discovering whom they are (or not) and what they are supposed to be doing (or not). Inertia!

Well perhaps, it may not be inertia; it may be called “capacity building”, “gathering momentum”, gestation period, etc. Whatever it is that have caged your potential, be ready to spring when the trigger is pull; be ready to stand up and be counted when you feel the nudge like Oliver. Whatever be the challenges, remember: “It is persistence, that enable the snail reach the Ark in the days of Noah”

Push forward – there is an Oliver in you; a hero is you.

In defense of Oliver Twist (2)

In part one, the author embarked upon an unsolicited humanitarian journey to correct the stain of greed associated with poor Oliver’s name. It is obvious from reply received that many are sympathetic to Oliver’s travail. In this part, an attempt will further be made to clear all air of misgivings around him (as portrayed) in the first two chapter of the novel; and to place him where he belongs – a hero.

Granted that Oliver was desperate with hunger (a good motive to ask for more), he did not do that on his volition. It was a council’s decision that Oliver Twist carried out. The text below shows us how the Oliver carried out the task.

The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The master, in his cook's uniform, stationed himself at the copper; his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons. The gruel(food) disappeared; the boys whispered each other, and winked at Oliver; while his next neighbours nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said: somewhat alarmed at his own temerity:

"Please, sir, I want some more."

Oliver was further brutalized and confined for this utterance (and deed). To further compound his misery, he was eventually offered for “sale” for five pounds, with a “prophecy” that he will live to be hanged.

I’d like to submit that based on the background of Oliver – debased, abused, tortured, maltreated, ignorant, uncared for, unwanted – it is very easy for him to believe that the fellow who threatened to “eat” one of them will indeed carry out the threat. Moreover, “the boys” were the only one who “cared” for Oliver and he shared a lot with them. It will be unfortunate for Oliver to refuse the decision of the “council” that he was part of, more so when the decision to choose him was by ballot.

For his action, Oliver was not a villain but a hero; who dared the odds to carry out a joint decision. What's more? Oliver did not “tell”; he bore the responsibility for his action. The punching, shouting, screaming, and locking up was bore by him alone. Oliver suffered for the council (the boys). He was brave – a hero.

However, over time, the role and consequences of Oliver efforts and deed has watered down. In our bid to communicate, we seem interested in remembering the “sins” of Oliver and little about the story behind it.

I like to conclude this part by suggesting that when we think of using “Oliver ask for more”, in any of its various forms, we should rather say “Give an man an inch and he’ll ask for a mile” (or any of it variance). This way, we pass the same message across without further disparaging the good name of our poor hero – Oliver Twist.

In defense of Oliver Twist (1)

It is refreshing to punch the keyboards once more to get my thoughts put down in what our friends in the IT world call softcopy. Indeed the last few months have been a period of indecision on my part (to be or not to be). However, spurred by friends and colleagues who persuaded me to “run for another term”, I have decided to key in my thoughts once more.

Today, against seeming odds against him, I wish to come to the defense of Oliver Twist as he asks for more.

Every now and then we are reminded that “Oliver asked for more”. This phrase (as used in the popular Charles Dickens novel portrays Oliver daily as an ingrate, who despite being cared for in an orphanage had not only the temerity but also the bold effrontery to do a great disservice to mankind (especially West Africans) by his impudence to ask that more food be apportioned to him.

Before I proceed to defend poor Oliver, I crave your indulgence to permit me take you (once again) through the tortuous route to the saga.

Oliver Twist (a name arbitrary assigned to him) was born in a workhouse by an unknown woman whose greatest desire (at that time) was to see the fruit of her womb and die (this she achieved). The poor boy who struggled to breathe the first few critical seconds of his life was left in world characterized by “systematic treachery and deception”; he was malnourished and starved with no mother to take care of him. He was left to the care of a pauper old woman who herself has lost eleven of her own thirteen children! When he was ten months old, he was transferred to an outstation in an attempt to salvage what was left of his tumultuous infancy.



At the outstation the fat elderly woman who attended to him (and some delinquents) did not only starved him further (as she greedily appropriated little stipends meant for the wards to herself) but also maltreated him. Oliver Twist celebrated his 9th birthday incarcerated in a coal-celler with two other mates, after sound trashing, for “atrociously presuming to be hungry”. By this period, Oliver Twist was described as pale, thin child, and somewhat diminutive in stature. He was taken from the outstation and repatriated to the workhouse where he hitherto started his twisted journey.

Back at the workhouse, things only got worse for Oliver and his companion. According to the novelist Charles Dickens:

Oliver Twist and his companions suffered the tortures of slow starvation for three months: at last they got so voracious and wild with hunger, that one boy,
who was tall for his age, and hadn't been used to that sort of thing (for his father had kept a small cook-shop), hinted darkly to his companions, that unless he had another basin of gruel (food) per diem, he was afraid he might some night happen to eat the boy who slept next him, who happened to be a weakly youth of tender age. He had a wild, hungry eye; and they implicitly believed him. A council was held; lots were cast who should walk up to the master after supper that evening, and ask for more; and it fell to Oliver Twist.

From the above, it is explicit, that Oliver was mandated by the “council” to carry out their decision in order to save a life.

Resource Control (2): The Nature of Man

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth,” (Gen. 1:26, NASB).

In the Image and Likeness of God, He made them. Man and Woman He made them.—Genesis 1:27

"Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever," (Gen. 3:22, NASB).

In part one, we traced the origin and instance of man’s quest for resource control. An understanding of this quest lies rooted in man’s origin, psychological make-up and mandate. From the above citations, human are not ordinary creature; they are made in the image and likeness of the living God. To this end, human have similarities with God. The most important difference between man and God is that: God is immortal whereas man can die.

Mathematically, (God – x) – Immortality = MAN (or god) where x = some things only God knows.

Like their creator, man has power; indeed dominion over everything God created (on earth?). “Dominion”! In dominion lies one of the keys to understanding man and his quest for resource control. Man was born to rule; to dominate. In order to exercise this mandate, man set off to take charge of everything he sets his eyes upon – plants, animasl, lands, water, sky, nature, and even me! Yes me, in form of human resources!

Man is greedy, an insatiable creature. Man is territorial, apportioning resources (and matter) to himself. Man is domineering; conquering everything no matter how long it takes. Man is also fearful and feel threatened when his authority is challenged; he feels vulnerable when his mandate to rule is being contested by another of God creature – man or beast. But then man is also very intelligent and he expounds reasons for his action.

Provided the action or activity of man goes unchallenged and unquestioned by other beings (or man), it is welcomed and it generates no conflict. But man is man and every now and then, one man may decide not just to be MAN but the MAN. When man meets man at the opposing end of any resources, the battle for resource control is not only probable but also inevitable; it is not a matter of “if” but of “when”. The scarcer and more beneficial the resource(s), the fiercer and more prolong will the quest to control it be, provided man remains man and a man wants to be the MAN.

The quest for control of resources remains unabated even now in post biblical times. It has permeated into every segment of human live. Like God, man is a natural born (made) controller. Hence, the quest for resource control whether in the Middle East, Far East, Caribbean, Asia, U.S. , Central Africa , Sub Sahara Africa, West Africa etc, and indeed our Niger Delta is not an anomaly. It is an exercise of the mandate given to man by God to dominate. As far as human exists and there are benefits to be acquired from natural or artificial “matter”, there must be quest to control such. The methods and techniques may only vary from the subtle to the obvious.

As it was in the beginning is now, ever it shall be world without end – sorry, I mean till the end of time as we know it on planet earth.

Resource Control (1): The Genesis of the Quest

Very few readers (if any) are oblivious of the happenings in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria – the gun fights, explosions, killings, kidnappings, etc – that have turn rivers of oil to rivers of blood and fire. Many too are conversant with my apolitical inclinations (at least from previous discourse). I have tried as much as possible to shy away from political confraternities for obvious reasons. In line with that stance, I’ll attempt to look at the Niger-Delta age long quest for resource control from another angle.

Before advancing, I would like to attempt a definition of the term “Resource Control”.

The term “resources” could be used to refer to anything – animate or inanimate, tangible or intangible, visible or invisible, natural or man-made, refined or raw, etc – which acquisition or ownership may provide certain level of satisfaction or benefit to a benefactor. Resources provide satisfaction. By extrapolation, resource control is an act, activity, or series of activities aimed at but not limited to exploring, exploiting, and directing the use (or not) of resources.

The genesis of resource control can be traced to the book of Genesis (in the Bible). Indeed the quest for resource control started since creation (or evolution). The first casualty of this quest (according to Biblical accounts) was Abel. Abel was cut down by his own brother who was jealous of his acceptance by the greatest source of resource in the universe (or multiverse) – God. God’s acceptance of the offerings of Abel and the rejection of Cain’s, ignited a deep sense of (resource) insecurity in Cain, warranting him to do away with the “competitor” – Abel – with the hope that he could enjoy the “resource” alone. It was not to be and he was punished severely for shedding the blood of his brother.

The quest for resource control continued down the generation. Again in the book of Genesis 13 (Bible), we were told of Abraham and Lots squabbles (though through their servants) for resource control. Abraham and Lot were very rich! They were so rich in cattle and servants that the land could not contain both of them living together. In their case, the resource well-watered land for their cattle. It was very scarce and their servants quarrel over them. The crisis was so much that Abraham (being older but humbler) asked Lot to choose any portion while he take the any portion left. Lot chose the “best” stretch of land. They separated.

Perhaps no other book of the bible discusses the genesis of the quest for control of resource more than this same book of Genesis. Listen to this word of God concerning Rebecca’s painful pregnancy:

Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."

Here the quest for control of resource (birthright in this case) between Jacob and Abraham had started already begun while in their mother’s womb. Eventually after birth, Jacob the younger of the twins executed the famous “advance porridge fraud” to trickishly steal his elder brother’s birthright. Later on, aided and abetted by his mother, Jacob further stole the blessings (resources) that were meant for his brother.

Indeed the book of genesis is fraught with many incidents of squabbles for resource control that it will take many pages to narrate them all.

But why the squabbles for resource control? What is the way forward? If the reader knows, I would like to share from your knowledge.

GOD, AN ENDANGERED SPECIE?

In the Arthurian legend movie ‘Merlin’, the wizard Merlin was engaged in a protracted battle of wits, and magic with an evil sorceress Mab. The consequence was series of attacks against King Arthur, and anything that Merlin or King Arthur holds dear. After suffering many losses as a result of the machinations of the witch, Merlin applied an advice: “You are dead when you are forgotten” by mobilizing the community to forget the witch. This singular collective act of forgetting her, resulted in the unraveling, and demise of the evil sorceress – Mab. And Mab died!

“How does this apply to God?” you may wonder, “After all, God is neither a sorcerer nor wizard.” Truly God is neither sorcerer nor wizard, but then God is extremely concerned about the issue of worship. In the Holy Bible, we were told of a great battle in heaven, in which God’s Archangels succeeded in casting down Lucifer, the hitherto favored angel who turned ‘bad’ to earth. Lucifer, popularly known as Satan the devil, was said to have committed what the earthly judicial system might called ‘treasonable felony’ - he dared to receive worship like God! God did not intend to share His glory with anyone, certainly not Lucifer. Perhaps another pointer to God’s position on worship (praise) was in the nineteenth chapter of Luke, in the fortieth verse; when Jesus the Christ, assured that stones will (be made to) praise God should men hold their peace! From immortal heavenly hosts, to mere mortal man, the requirement for the creatures to acknowledge, praise, and worship the creator - God, can therefore not be over-emphasized.

‘Progress’ in science and medical technology like stem-cell, nanotechnology, hold a very great potential for longer life, and unimagined opportunity for mankind. Mankind is approaching the treasured destination – Godlike and immortality.
As mankind continue to gravitate further away from God towards science and technology, towards money and power, Darwinism and secularism; as mankind continue to rationalize sexual anomalies like same-sex marriage, homo-sexualism, and the likes, a time will come when the line between good and evil will be blurred. Mankind may depend lesser and lesser on the spiritual for guidance. And ultimately develop lesser and lesser reverence for God, and what He stands for.

But does this mean that God depends on His creations’ praise and worship for relevance, and sustenance? What would God do if mankind deliberately or unconsciously chooses to forget Him? Would God become an endangered being? In other words, would God go quietly into the night (vanish from man’s memory) should mankind stop praising and worshiping him as it is happening in some western nations? Would He vanish like mist or myth like it happened to the sorceress Mab in the aforementioned Arthurian legend, when forgotten by Merlin and the people? Or would God seeing that man’s heart is turning against him, reach out in His divinely interventionist way with confusion like he did to the Tower builders of Babel, or with cleansing flood like He did to the Noah’s generation in Genesis of the Holy Bible? Or will He send again His only begotten son to show us the way back home (Christ second coming)? Will the famous futuristic final conflict of good versus evil then take place – Armageddon? Or will God simply walk away from His creatures, and perhaps, in a planet in a distant galaxy, prepare another ‘primordial soup’, that evolutionary scientists claimed theoretical life ultimately evolved from?

While we may not know exactly what God will do or not, or what will become of God or man, we can at least decide what we do. Showing our children the way to God’s house is indeed the least we can do. For while many of us may not be standing around when that time might come, our off-springs, or our great (great, great …) grand off-springs may. A little seed of spirituality today, might give them a stepping stone tomorrow. I really don’t think God needs us, as much as we need him. An African adage says: “A river that forgets its source soon dries up.” In a conflict of wit, and might, between the most intelligent mortal - man, and an ageless being - God, do you honestly believe that man stood a chance?

Welcome to Salient Mantra

Welcome to Salient Mantra.

In this blog, I will share with you my thoughts about life, nature, humanity, and so on, through my articles. You are welcome to give your opinions, and comments.


Thank you for visiting.