A Being by the given name of Arrogance approached Awareness and asked, "What other choices do you bring us?"

"What I know, was given to me by a golden creature named Information. A shapeless creature of Technology, which like a snake, had no arms or legs to move, yet slid through the trees and across the air with speed like lightning."

"Why would a creature be so strange?"

"I did not learn the nature of its making." Awareness was not afraid to admit his lack of knowledge, since it only accentuated the need to learn more.

Awareness continued: "By chance it approached me as I rested under the shade of a great Baobab, and gave me the opportunity to read unlimited information and learn. But all the information was too much for any single Being to memorize, so instead I was given something more important, the desire for Freedom and my intuition for critical thinking, having thus the urge to find Truth. Knowing the truth of things provides me with greater choices. You are invited to stay and learn all that I could retain from Information, for many good things come with Knowledge."

Space and Order eventually saw all that came upon Beings, that they too had been ripped from perfection as it happened before with the Universe.

"Who among you has disobeyed my command?" The resounding voice of God cracked like thunder across the sky. Awareness had not realized that it was his own actions that the Eternal Realities were referring to. Out of fear, Arrogance stepped forward to accused Awareness of treason. "It is he, Awareness, who came with this idea of Choice and gave us all names. Others gave me my own name, Arrogance, because I at first did not want a name. But when I began to see all the wonderful things that from Choice had come: Music, Poetry, Drama, Painting, Dance and Philosophy; all made to reflect the Glory of the Universe, I was bewildered and the desire for Choice grew in me."

Awareness defended his position by saying, "I never disobeyed your commandments; it was not Time who I had listened to, but to a creature of Technology's design. But look at all the beautiful things that have come out of Knowledge, all to exalt Creation, all from our own creation. What can be so wrong about Knowledge?"

"If I had intended for you to have Knowledge I would have given it to you myself. There could not be a Law for prohibiting Knowledge, for a word denying Knowledge is acknowledging Knowledge itself. And if I had reason for giving you individual names, I would have given you each one so. For your disobedience you shall no longer be called Beings, as you are no longer the perfection we intended, a reflection of our own. You will be called Humans once again, for you now are an imperfect creature like any other animals, and you shall suffer from injury, sickness, and death."

"As for you Arrogance, you have proven the most faithful of all Humans, despite your weakness to submit. I appoint you as Vicar, to teach Religion to all Humans. Be their Guide. Religion will do away with Science, the self-proclaimed seeker of Truth. Enforce Faith. Faith will substitute Knowledge.

"And you will call me God, for it is I who have created the Universe and Humans.

"I shall grant you divine privileges as reward for your services. You will speak my Word and proclaim it as the Up-most Truth. For such, I shall give you eternal life, so you will always be my viceroy. And I shall give you a realm beyond reality, a place to take all those you convert. So teach them to follow my Laws and they shall be yours, forever after their death."

"Oh most generous God," responded Arrogance. "I shall lead all Humans to you in every way, and conserve their souls forever after as you dictate. Out of Love you have created us and in Love we must live. All good in God," he acclaimed.

And to Awareness, Arrogance said, "you have brought suffering, sickness, and death to the world, taking away our perfection. Bringing wickedness in a world made perfect by God. For that, you shall be the first of all humans to die."

"I may die here but my name for always will be remembered as Awareness, the first human with Free Will, the choice-bearer. But you shall be remembered forever by a different name, Ignorance, the traitor, the fearful, the incriminator." And giving a horrendous blow with a stick, Ignorance struck Awareness in the head to end with his life, cracking the skull and revealing all the light of creativeness from within his mind.

From this internal light came out three mechanisms for finding Truth: Justice, Medicine, and Ethics. For there are three Teachings of the Human Order: to indicate what is just, to promote what is healthy, and to embrace the proper. Justice, the science of Law: finds social order, the conduct with others. Medicine, the science of Life: seek health, to benefit from the environment. Ethics, the science of Happiness: dictates the moral, to conduct with one self. It is through education that humans learn about Truth. And it is through teaching by which Knowledge is perpetuated.

Since the name of Ignorance had been given by Awareness to mark him throughout history as the greatest traitor, Arrogance decided to change it yet again to a now forgotten name. He covered himself in black robes to project a menacing and imposing figure. And so in his disguise he preached the Word of God in His service. Promising an everlasting existence beyond death.

"God is Love and his Word is Law. Fear him in great respect, for only in him you will find salvation. I tell you the truth: God is a soothing dream. Believe and you will be comforted in the night. Close your eyes and sleep, for in your sleep dreams are found. Do not seek understanding. Do not open your eyes to the harsh reality of life. It is why the defenders of Knowledge are doomed, for they give merit to the Sciences and not to Religion. I tell you: Seek Faith not Knowledge. Believe in the Word of God. Science is the voice of mankind. Science seeks to understand the structures and systems which God himself has created.

"Beware! The word uttered by Science is confusing. It seeks truth by searching for falsehood. What could be more correct, three complex and undetermined Truth-finders or one simple and precise Truth-giver? Science attempts to find what Religion provides. All you need to know is the Word of God.

"Have Faith in Religion, for it is the One Way and the Whole Truth. This is the Word of God as it is given to me. God knows all for he has made all, the sky above and the earth below, and all the water that flows between. Follow Him and you shall have everlasting life, or die and rot in the ground just as Science claims."

With devious compromises and tragic rhetoric, Ignorance managed to entrap a large number of followers, deceiving all in remaining ignorant. It was necessary to keep the masses from developing Logic, Reason, and Critical Thinking ­ the means by which scientific attitude toward truth is attained ­ if people were to acquire these skills they would recognize their precarious situation and revolt. So they must remain enslaved in ignorance, arrested from enjoying the liberty that comes from Justice, Medicine, and Ethics with the gain of Knowledge ­ all for the faith of a jealous and bigot God.

On the pristine land where Awareness once met the golden asp, now the tyrant of ignorance ruled. Away then, ventured the sons and daughters of Free Will and those who had accepted Choice, and did not wish to participate in a life of control that was threatened to become under the tyrant's rule. Staying would only lead to deprivation and unhappiness. Oh, these were all brave people, as it takes courageous efforts to face an uncertain future with hope.

So many more stayed behind, for fear of encountering unpredictable dangers. For them, choice was not worth the risk. They rather stay content with a settled life in such a providing land, regardless of any prevailing abuse, than abandon it for unknown environments. Is not that being content with ones own life is unacceptable, but one must not compromise happiness and well-being for security, stability and certainty if these come with the stagnation and mitigation of enforced control. On the contrary, content with one's possessions is a great virtue that only leads to happiness. It is one's acceptance of the universal Gift.

Regrettably, it was these less venturous people that Ignorance took as his followers. His pride had grown large and his compassion darkened, severely punishing all those who would not obey the Law of God. Ignorance had realized the great power he possessed, to rule two realms, the living and the dead; a fierce earth to torture the waking souls, and an ethereal sky for them to rest eternally-a place where temporary Humans lived under suffering, and a place of promised eternal tranquility after death. For it is through suffering that the hope for recompense is venerated.

WISDOM