The Aquarian Conspiracy: Personal and Social Transformations in the 1980s by Marylin Ferguson (review)

Books 65 3. 4. Simone Lacour, sculptor,Studia Mystica, published by California State University, Spring, 1981. Susan Glyn, sculptor, reviewing the 40th National Interfaith Conference on Religion, Architecture and the Arts, Phoenix, Arizona, 1979, in The Tablet, London. Patrick Reyntiens, stained glass designer, in a conference paper distributed by the Societt Internationale des Artistes Chrttiens, 1976. Also the title of the principal address at the artists’ conference jointly organised by S.I.A.C. and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Christliche Kunst, St Florian, Austria, 1981. 7. Living and Knowing by E. W. F. Tomlin (London: Faber & Faber, 1955). 8. See paintings and sculpture ofangelsby Epstein, Poliakoff, Gilioli, Sktkely, and many of the young Free Russians now working in Paris. 9. Christianiry and the Visual Arts, (London: Faith Press, 1964). 10. S.I.A.C. Congress, Salzburg, Austria, 1977. 11. Barnett Newman and Susan Glyn debating with Father T. Matthews, S. J., 1st International Congress on Religion, Architecture and the Visual Arts, Hilton Hotel, New York, 1967. Dennis Hawkins, painter and art teacher, defending symbols of the Resurrection in contemporaryart against churchmen present: Arts Symposium, Kintbury, England, organised by R.E.R.U., 1980. Visiting artists protesting ‘Where is the Living Christ? at a televised exhibition, largely of Crucifixions, organised by Dr Rombold. theologian and art-historian, in Linz, Austria, 1981. 5. 6. 12. 13. The Aquarian Conspiracy: Personal and Social Transformations in the 1980s. Marylin Ferguson. J. P. Tarcher, Los Angeles, 1980. 448 pp. $15.00. ISBN: 0-87477-116-1. Reviewed by Robert F. Erickson; The principal thesis of this book has no restraints on its optimism; it states that mankind is on the eve of the creation of a new world, and that nearly every individual can find within himself the energy and resources to assist in its creation. The title was chosen to signify the ‘time of “the mind’s true liberation”,’ an age which will be a ‘millenium of love and light’. The conspirators are individuals and groups who have sensed the overwhelming need for changes in attitudes, thought and institutions, and who are working to transform not only their own livesand societies, but the entire world. The author is the publisher of Brain/MindBu/letin;her previous book was The Brain Revolution (1973). and she introduces this book as the summarization of her knowledge about the forces of change which are operating toward social transformation through personal transformation . She relates that the great response she received to her newsletter (Brain/Mind Bulletin) informed her that many people were exploring new avenues for change, and, since much of their work was without publicity, it could be described as a conspiracy or, ‘a leaderless but powerful network’. The conspiracy is held together by the conviction that people can change themselves, and that by doing so, the problems of the world can be overcome. The titles of some of her chaptersexpress this conviction; thus, ‘Transformation: Brains Changing, Minds Changing; Crossover: People Changing; Healing Ourselves. Where is the evidence for these ideas? Ferguson cites numerous writers such as David Riesman, Jean-Francois Revel, author of Without Marx or Jesus, George Leonard, The Transformation, and others to support the view that America will experience a transformation, both spiritual and philosophical. She further deals with new discoveries in science, changes in traditional views about education,the appearanceof numerous groups of the ‘self-awareness’ type, a growing spirit of community reliance, environmental protests, the anti-war movement of the Vietnam era, and much more. Acknowledging that in all of these areas, as yet only a minority of the total population is involved, Ferguson nevertheless makes a case for the inevitable spread of their influence,and citesGandhi’s movement in South Africa and India asthe prime example of the achievement of great goals through faith and action. What will the future look like if these transformations occur? In government there will be a turning toward decentralization and local control; politics will be determined by a world-view; government will foster growth, creativity, cooperation; there will be an emphasis on transformation in individuals as essential to successful reform. In medical treatment, there will be a large-scale adoption of the ‘holistic’ approach with an emphasis...