Patterns of Prophecy

by Alan Vaughan

Dust jacket missing. Foxing on exterior pages. Signature inside front cover. Pages are perfect. Same day shipping.

242 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Bri Fidelity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictions for the future, c. 1973:

The evolution of society is very much like the development of a human being. It builds on past patterns (archetypes). History repeats itself, but with variations. The United States, for instance, repeats patterns from antiquity, drawing upon a different archetype for each stage of development. Like Carthage, which was a colony of the seagoing Phoenicians, America fought a war for independence and outgrew the seagoing British in importance. Like Rome, America rejected the idea of monarchy and established a republic that included a large confederacy of states. Like Rome, America has been attacked and drawn into wars from which she has emerged victorious and that have enlarged her sphere of influence. Like Rome, America is eager to establish worldwide peace through establishing peacekeeping armies throughout the world. Like Rome, signs of decadence are beginning to develop in America. Rome debased her coinage; America devalued its dollar. The American eagle, like the Roman eagle, has begun to lose its prestige.

Can such a comparison have any predictive value? Here are some prophecies for America based on the archetype of Roman civilisation:

• The American president will acquire greater and greater power.

• The Senate and the House of Representatives will correspondingly lose power, being demoted to the status of yes-men.

• The government will become increasingly corrupt and resort to dubious methods to maintain control.

• Semi-military organisations at the capital (like the Roman Praetorian Guard) will increase in power such that eventually they will control the presidency.

• Eastern culture will heavily influence American thought in the years to come. Eastern cults and religions will gain strength here and finally supplant traditional Christianity. A new religion will combine Eastern and Christian concepts.

• Americans will become less concerned with individual freedom and more concerned with security. Guaranteed incomes and ever more lavish television spectaculars will correspond to 'bread and circuses'.

• America's technology will rise to new heights.

• Armies will shrink in size. Americans will no longer be drafted (already a virtual certainty). Foreign nationals will be employed in peacekeeping operations.

• America will become more and more dependent on importing goods from other countries.

• The percentage of affluent Americans will continue to grow, as will their decadent excesses. Yet an influential minority will continue to fight to maintain older standards.

• A clash with the 'barbarians' (probably Russians) will weaken America but put it into alliance with Russia. In fact, the clash may have already happened, being dubbed the Cold War, the Korean Police Action, and Vietnam. The alliance with the Soviet Union should follow soon, but with America in a weaker position than now.

• A Pax Americana - a period of relative lack of war - should be soon upon us. Optimism should run high, decadence should run wild, and the stage will be set for America to begin a search for new spiritual values.

So that is the basic scenario using the pattern of ancient Rome as the model. The reader can probably supply many more predictions from classical history. Of course the Roman Empire lasted for 2,000 years, while America is only 200 years old. The pace of life accellerates continually.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting easy read, but now extremely outdated, as it was written in the early 1970's. The Earth DIDN'T tilt on it's axis in 1978, bringing floods and catastrophe to the world.Unless I was asleep at the time.

[ALISSANDRO REYES · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of its contents and predictions for its "prophecy" are defunct such as the organizations mentioned in the book, but still quite interesting for its pursuit of unclouding what the future may bring. It follows its trials and theories that is understandable to an ordinary person looking for something to read. It is still well written and message is concisely written. Although again, it is clearly outdated.