#2181 The Axial Age: Pivotal and Principal To Our Beliefs (#2181)

German philosopher and psychiatrist Karl Jaspers coined the term ‘The Axial Age’ (German,’Achsenzeit,’ axis or pivotal time) to describe the period from 800 BCE to 200BCE, during which the spiritual foundations of humanity, as we now know them, were laid simultaneously and independently in different regions of the world. Zoroastrianism in Iran and the Middle East, monotheism in Israel, Taoism and Buddhism in Asia, Hinduism in India, and ancient Greek Platonism in Europe all shared fundamental characteristics beneath their obvious differences. Zoroaster, the prophets in Palestine, Confucius, Lao-Tzu, the Buddha and Mahavira, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Thales, Xenophanes, and Heraclitus, all asked the questions of life in its essence in order to understand the purpose of life in its intent. The result was our present day faith and traditions. Are we entering a new axial age?