How can anyone think they can change the world? When it is hard enough to change ourselves?

Question

It seems it takes an enormous amount of people to think the same way and yet people in general do not organize themselves unless there is a great tragedy and still too many do not care, or they are oblivious? Religion was the answer at one time but now? So what is the answer?

Answer 1

Now science and money are changing the world. However, the most influential thing that changes the world through changing its people is values..... no wonder therefore that erosion of values is so changing the world today that one seriously worries for its future! And you are absolutely right there... we do not have any other means than religion to inculcate values!!

Science and money have so bedazzled us that arts and humanities and spiritualism are disappearing from our horizon!! However, I am not at all pessimistic... I strongly believe that we would certainly wake up soon enough to realize our misplaced overemphasis on science and money... my assured belief is based on the confidence I have on our intelligence and knack for survival!!

Answer 2

There was a great line in a movie once (it may have been Malcolm X): "there is nothing more dangerous than a man with nothing to lose, for it doesn't take 10 such men to change the world, it only takes 1." Or something like that. It was decades ago so I'm probably not remembering it correctly. There have been many people who made a difference & effected change. Rebels who stood up for their cause. (Malcolm X for one, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Jesus of course etc etc). Some people dare to make the effort, to stand up for what's right even if it means risking their own lives. Mother Teresa said "we can do no great acts in life, only small acts with great love" or something to that effect. The point is that if we all were to think "nothing I can do will make a difference anyway" then we become apathetic & don't make the effort. But if we are committed to making the world a better place & we take some steps (however small) then we can make a difference. It only takes love, courage & commitment. Pay it forward. Be kind. Volunteer. Stand up for what's right. If each person were to do something then the whole world would be involved. You never know what you're capable of until you try.

The answer is to care and then to take action. You may be able to change the world. Start with changing yourself. Be the best you can be. Think positively. Realize your power & then harness it.

Answer 3

Changing the world is quite different from changing ourselves. In changing ourselves we have to be able not only to fix our deficiencies but first see and acknowledge them. Anyone can change the world. The medical field is an excelent example. The discovery of penicillin changed the world, the invention of the artifical heart (not by a team of scientists but by one man) has changed the world. There are also multiple levels of changing the world. You change it a little bit here and there or make a huge impact right away. The scientific medical examples I listed were a huge impact right away. Those who try to change it either using religion or because of religion generally do so on a smaller scale and do not usually expect change to be rapid and may not even expect the change to spread beyond their onw local area. Because they do it for religion the goal is generally to change the world one person at a time in hopes that if you can reach just one person they may also change the world in a similar way. Mother Theresa is more of an example of this level of changing the world. She did not change the third world countries she was in into self-sufficient world powers but she did reach out to people one person at a time helping as many villages as she could. She did this because of her religion. Did she change the entire world? Well... no but, she did change the worlds of those she helped. I guess the answer now depends on which of these routes you wish to take. If you want an immediate change the answer is science! Study science learn about medicine or engineering or chemistry, something that you can make advancements in. If prefer the other route all you need is faith and patience. In this case religion surely is still the answer but it also requires great patience since you may not see the fruits of your labor within your lifetime.

Answer 4

We all change the world. The only questions are if we are changing it in ways that we like. I think if the plans that include the "If everybody" phrase are dropped you will find things easier. Anything that needs everybody doing it is almost always doomed. People just don't work that way. If it is a change that could be organized by a herd of cats there is a much higher likelyhood of success. Of course if it is a plan that you can carry out by yourself even better.
Soimetimes changing the world is as simple as this set of instructions say it is:
http://www.nativedeen.com/ns/pages.php?ID=SmallDeeds

Answer 5

Maybe it is not about changing the world to have people think the same way. Maybe we can create greater change by accepting differences and looking for similarities. If you look at our US congress--My guess is that between Republicans and Democrats there are more similarities than differences but we focus on looking at the differences and think we have to get people to think our way. Well our way may not be the best way. Barack Obama talks about this in his new book! Obama for president!

Answer 6

Change the World ........Truly is about creating changes in your OWN world. Globally we should all do the same.

I can't influence anyone if I lack the ability to influence what happens in my small space and time.

Steven Wolf

Answer 7

You can only change yourself, and in doing so, set a good example, and one by one, change the world. I'm a believer.
Happy New Year!

Answer 8

Now there is no answer.We cannot change the world neither can we change ourselves very much.We can learn to suppress our emotions but that does not mean that our nature has changed.
In Hindi language there is a saying "MAJBOORI KA NAAM MAHATMA GANDHI'( it means when you have no choice you behave like a saint and accept it.

Answer 9

Religion is still the answer but not the old religions of the past.

O SON OF MY HANDMAID!
Guidance hath ever been given by words, and now it is given by deeds. Every one must show forth deeds that are pure and holy, for words are the property of all alike, whereas such deeds as these belong only to Our loved ones. Strive then with heart and soul to distinguish yourselves by your deeds. In this wise We counsel you in this holy and resplendent tablet.

O CHILDREN OF ADAM!
Holy words and pure and goodly deeds ascend unto the heaven of celestial glory. Strive that your deeds may be cleansed from the dust of self and hypocrisy and find favor at the court of glory; for ere long the assayers of mankind shall, in the holy presence of the Adored One, accept naught but absolute virtue and deeds of stainless purity. This is the daystar of wisdom and of divine mystery that hath shone above the horizon of the divine will. Blessed are they that turn thereunto.

O COMPANION OF MY THRONE!
Hear no evil, and see no evil, abase not thyself, neither sigh and weep. Speak no evil, that thou mayest not hear it spoken unto thee, and magnify not the faults of others that thine own faults may not appear great; and wish not the abasement of anyone, that thine own abasement be not exposed. Live then the days of thy life, that are less than a fleeting moment, with thy mind stainless, thy heart unsullied, thy thoughts pure, and thy nature sanctified, so that, free and content, thou mayest put away this mortal frame, and repair unto the mystic paradise and abide in the eternal kingdom for evermore.

Answer 10

Changing yourself is the only way to change the world.