In a few of the evolving cultures the mystery of the unknowable gave room for a belief in powerful human-like creators -- gods. In one culture, at least, the concept of one all powerful God was born. This was a second major mindshift for humanity. The dharmic view of the world was replaced by theocratic beliefs. The world controlled nature was transformed to a world controlled by a supernatural power. That power was was transmitted to humans through priestly orders, holy books, and divinely sanctioned governments.

The Renaissance and Reformation brought a new element to the Age of Faith. Control of the world shifted from the priests to the banks, the politicians, and the moneyed class. An oligarchy, still claiming divine sanction, ruled the world. Only slowly did the power of the Church loose control as science and the Age of Reason strengthened the hands of the owners of the tools of production. It was this EuroAmerican culture that became the most powerful and with its sword (technology), flag (nationalism), and cross (religion) Its social paradigm soon dominated the whole world.

A fourth major paradigm shift came in 1776 when political democracy was born in America. The social paradigm was little changed from the dominator paradigm that had been growing since humans were first taught that the Earth was made for them. And that man (and I do mean "man") was created to dominate the earth and all of its life forms including women, children, other races, . This democratic political paradigm adopted the moral code of self-interest, competition and materialism which led to material wealth as well as to the destruction of the natural habitat. But it also eliminated the divine-right-of-kings, and gave some power and responsibility to we-the-people. Or at least to representatives of the people. Technologies and techniques of the day did not make direct democracy possible. This glitch kept political and social control in the hands of a monied elite that continued to own the tools of production and distribution.

Today we are involved in a fifth paradigm shift. Chaos, Complexity, and Gaian theories are revealing a radically different world view. The are showing that individual unfettered freedom is neither economically nor scientifically sound. The Cosmos is shown to be a single, unit or holon, composed of tightly interlocked and interdependent holons. The dominator paradigm of the past is being replaced by a Gaian paradigm. All entities in the cosmos are no longer seen as free and autonomous. The well being and freedom of each is subject to the well being and freedom of all. Humans are part of Gaia and are controlled by, as they control, the Gaian paradigm. Separate research on human evolution and human nature reveal that cooperation and interdependence is social necessity as well as human nature and cosmic law.