God explains until We comprehend.

I. People of the Dawn

     In the beginning, the people were barely human. We lived like animals, and could barely speak a thousand words. Our camps were crude and temporary, since we followed the animals we hunted and gathered only what we found that we could eat. Our tools were very basic, and mostly degradable. But we had the power to make fire. So we were evidently clever, and just a little dangerous.

We required large territories to live, especially in less bountiful seasons, so our clans were small and we rarely saw other people. And when we did meet, that's when we were really dangerous. The only thing another clan had that we needed was women, so a meeting could be friendly, or not so friendly. If all turned out well, we would trade and learn from each other, and swap female children before we went our separate ways. Those were the good times, but it didn't always go so well. There was conflict as often as not. Those were also the times when life could be dirty, nasty, brutish and short. It soon became obvious that larger clans had an advantage over smaller ones, and could take what they wanted. We needed a way to band together, for our own protection.

And then, the gods had pity on us.

II. Myth, Allegory, Parable & Metaphor 

     Of course, the meager minds of such primitive people could not possibly grasp the glory of another world full of people so advanced that they could come to visit us. To them, every little action of "the Angels" would be so amazing and otherworldly that they could only be explained as gods from the lands of spirits. Even the answers we were given only served to confirm the belief that they were nothing like us. If they said they lived far above the sky among the stars, of course, that's Heaven, where the beloved dead go.

Seeing how everything they told us only confused us more, they decided to keep their answers vague, or to tell us simple stories that even the children could understand. They began with myths, to tell us just enough to let us know that we are special, and that we would one day have a grand destiny. They told us that we would have to learn how to behave properly, with laws to tell us how we are supposed to treat each other. They wanted to give us a sense of discipline. But everything they told us had to be couched in phrases and stories told within the milieu of our primal, simple lives. Basically, every idea had to be translated into images and actions that we could understand.

As the ages passed, they would return on occasion, and add some new insights, or correct misunderstandings. But always they had to remain obscure, working only behind the scenes. Their favorite methods seemed to be telepathic in nature, inspiring prophets who could better teach their own peoples in terms they could comprehend.

III. Incremental Leading, Imagination & Encouragement 

     Eventually, we grew in understanding to build upon the revelations and create our own religions. Some of us developed cults of personality and collected them into a pantheon of equals, while others realized that moral consistency requires a singular,  supreme god. It required a leap of faith to get past a legalistic collection of culturally bound rules, to simplify morality into an ideal principle that could be applied more broadly across many cultures. It became a hope that we could potentially unify the whole world behind one faith and religious tradition. The sacrifices that would require were worthy of the rescue of such brave spirits, and their immediate induction into transcendence.

But even as we chose a single faith to follow, we did not forget the ideals of  other cultures worthy of remembrance. From that point, our native intelligence, given enough time, could reach for ever greater understanding of our world, and our spiritual nature. Then we would come into our adolescence as a species, and an enlightenment sufficient to allow us to seek our own Truth. Unfortunately, like many adolescents, some would follow the assertions of pride and contrariness and retain less healthy, violent behaviors.

IV. Reinterpretation & Illumination: Emerging Independence 

     With the development of nature studies  and a philosophy of experimental truths, we would begin to see the benefits of incremental advances in knowledge and technology. The "Angels" were happy to see us advancing, but worried that we were still so warlike. They chose only to slow the ones who favored violence, however, with doubts about science and mathematics, while encouraging those who would try to spread the values, if not the practice, of peace. It was a considered choice, but every planet has an unknown time limit in which to let its life emerge into the wider Cosmos.

The real test would come later, when we were very nearly ready to take our first steps away from our Cradle of Origin. The very same technologies that would open the way for our release would also be so dangerous for us to handle that we might misuse them to our own destruction. But fortunately, much of the imagery of the stories told for our spirituality involved some references to the Heavens, so that, at least subconsciously, we felt compelled to reach for the stars.

As we go out to establish our first hopeful footholds in space, we will be building the possibilities for our salvation. If we can accomplish this in a spirit of peace and cooperation, we will gain an extension of our longevity as a species. Having once removed the natural threats to our survival, only our own lack of good sense would condemn us.

V. Explore, Adventure & Do It Yourself

     The very first thing we noticed about space was that it is nothing like what we know down here. It isn't perfectly suited to us, or to our ideas. In some places, it's a blank slate; in others it's terrifying, and it's always dangerous. We have so much to discover, many brave new worlds, full of riches. But it will be a challenge for us to learn, not just the technology, but how to adapt the ways we will live.

Our own solar system is full of wonders, waiting  for us to come and see them. The views exceed anything we have here on our cozy, green and blue earth. And, yes, there are "dragons," but there are also fantastic treasures. No great adventure is ever offered without risk, both of great cost and of possible failure. However, we have many brave souls among us, who know that it is the adventure itself, and how it makes us grow, that is the real prize.

For most of us, however, the biggest prize will be the opening of new liebensraum, new space for living. Planets, yes, but it's an old adage that "the one thing they aren't making any more of is land," and that won't be true any more. We can learn how to build new open landscapes, many islands floating in space, ready for us to move in and settle down. We can build each one exactly to our own specifications, from the ground up. And not just the lands, but new societies, too! Places to try out new ideas, to be free to build eutopia to fit our best ideals. We can finally try out our "faith in society" experiments without interference, and without displacing anyone who was already there.

VI. Welcome to Paradise 

     One day, we may fill up the vastness of our solar system, and be ready to try the deeps between the stars. By that time, we should have learned how to accept the differences among ourselves, and be truly ready to meet real strangers. Living in the fragile worlds we can create is already enough of a challenge. No one needs any violence in the interstellar community. That may be the simplest solution to the Fermi paradox: the zoo hypothesis. We are still too primitive and violent to be told that we are not alone.

But in another thousand years, or so, when we have the technology to leave, they may reveal themselves. If we are worthy, we may be welcomed as a mature member of the community. And by that time, we may have also learned how to organize our societies so as to live in harmony with each other. Whether that may be only one kind of happiness, or several ways to live and let live, is probably just fine with them. Surely, they must know the value of variety, and that everyone learns something from the successes, or failures, of everyone else.

Imagine, finally having a world where everyone has a place, where each one is valued and cared for, and where all you need is enough ambition to make your own happiness. Whether you want to gather and acquire wealth for your community, or explore far and wide for knowledge and territory, or research for better technology to solve problems, or maybe you just want to pass on the wisdom of the ages and encourage others to use their talents for everyone to enjoy, you will have so many choices. You can do almost anything you want to have a meaningful life, so long as it doesn't threaten anyone.

Wouldn't that be Heaven?