The Gutenberg Press

What are the defining events of the last millennium? Intellectually, we would have to consider the Renaissance. At that time we moved from the medieval age of intellectual darkness into a new age of enlightenment. Coinciding with this event was the Reformation, bringing a new openness into religion. However neither of these would have occurred if it had not been for the invention of moveable type by Gutenberg. That one invention made it possible for new ideas to be shared with the masses.

For those of us here in America, all of these things contributed to the settling of the New World. Perhaps the invention of navigational aids might rank right up there with the printing press. But there is little doubt but that the coming of the industrial age during the latter part of the millennium completely changed our civilization as we know it from an agricultural base to a new age of science and technology.

This led to an explosion of technology during the last century. We might consider the invention of radio, television, the automobile, the airplane, and many other devices that turned our world into a much smaller community. Space travel has given us a new perspective on our role in the vast universe of space. Into this milieu we saw the development of the atomic bomb, which changed us forever. In one moment we lost our innocence.

However, just as technology moved us into the industrial age it was the invention of the computer during our lifetime that ushered in the information age. As of now, we have had only a glimpse of what the Internet will eventually contribute to our ability to process new knowledge.

What does the next millennium hold for us? I would love to have some inkling, but I don't. I only know that if we fail to use our intellect to save our planet, all the new developments will be in vain. We must find ways to reverse the rape of our habitat, and that means learning to control population growth. Zero population growth will happen in one way or another. Either we learn to control it by reasonable methods or a series of utter catastrophes will do it for us.

Most importantly, I hope that we learn to live with each other in peace. We need to accept diversity in culture, religion, and all the other things that divide us without letting our differences spill over into hate and strife. Each of us must work towards these goals. If we do, then we will truly enter a new millennium of love and understanding. May God bless us all as we move down the corridors of this new age.