The Third of Six Facts With Which to Humble Oneself

The Fact: We need reformers; Inherited norms change across generations.

How It Works: Like the second fact, this fact creates a tension against facts, or at least against inheriting them. In addition, it shakes confidence in relational norms, such as ways of loving. Because we do not live in a stable perfect world, perfectionists dare not attempt purification, silencing reformers and abolishing disagreement. Being in flux, knowing that progress is not yet finished, provides perfectionists with the kind of humility required to balance established wisdom against innovation.

Diverse Citations:
I will set up a prophet for them from among their brothers like you, and I will put My words into his mouth, and he will speak to them all that I command him. Devarim 18:18

For this is the covenant that I will form with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will place My law in their midst and I will inscribe it upon their hearts, and I will be their God and they shall be My people. Yirmiyahu 31:32

And it shall come to pass afterwards that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy; your elders shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And even upon the slaves and the maidservants in those days will I pour out My spirit. Yoel 3:1-2

So let the enlightened toil...set to bring the world deliverance. Bhagavad Gita 3.25

I rise, from age to age...succoring the good (or the way), thrusting the evil back, and setting Virtue on her seat again. Bhagavad Gita 4.7-8

The purity of Yog is to pass beyond recorded traditions...such a one ranks above ascetics, higher than the wise, beyond achievers of vast deeds! Bhagavad Gita 6.44-46

When the land has fallen utterly benighted, barren and decrepit, then can there arise the greatest of faithful ministers. Laozi 18

A Buddha is not easily found, he is not born everywhere. Wherever such a sage is born, that race prospers. Dhammapada 193

Three leaders have already lived: Kakusandha, Konagamana, and also Buddha Kassapa. The Buddha Supreme, now am I, but after me Mettayya comes. Buddhavamsa 27:18-19

The Master said, "The Zhou gazes down upon the two dynasties that preceded it. How brilliant in culture it is! I follow the Zhou." Lun Yu 3:14

Confucius said, "Those who are born understanding it are the best; those who come to understand it through learning are second..." Lun Yu 16:9

You’ve heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemies,” but I tell you, Love your enemies. Matthew 5:43-44

There is much more to tell you [said Jesus], but you couldn’t bear it yet. But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you to understand the truth. John 16:12-13

And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine… Ephesians 4:11-14

For each period is a Book revealed. Quran 13:38

This Qur'an is...a confirmation of revelations that went before it, and a fuller explanation of the Book. Quran 10:37

For scientific evidence of the impact of innovation, see Steil, B., Victor, D. G., & Nelson, R. R. (2002). Technological Innovation and Economics Performance. A Council of Foreign Relations Book. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, and Peilei, F. (2011). Innovation capacity and economic development: China and India, Economic Change and Restructuring, 44 (1), 49-73

For scientific evidence that norms change, see Pinker, S. (2011). The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined. USA:Viking Adult.

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