In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find…


Let’s pretend that Zager & Evans
start their song at the beginning of the human species and then go forward to
this present time.

Scientists estimate the age of our
species, Homo sapiens, at about
250,000 years. Originating in Africa, our species began arriving in Eurasia
maybe 100,000 years ago, Australia about 40,000 years ago, the Americas about
15,000 years ago, and more remote Pacific islands within the past 1000 years.
Fire was harnessed, stone tools made, rudimentary shelter and clothing
fashioned, and rudimentary language, religion, and art developed.

Human population was sparse upon the
earth until agriculture developed at the close of the last Ice Age about 12,000
years ago. Stable food supplies boosted human population to about ten million,
and provided the space and time to develop advanced civilizations. Even in
those early years agriculture began to deplete soil, alter landscapes and
climate, exterminate species, and jump mutated animal diseases to humans.
Periodic warfare, famine, and pestilence devastated populations. Societies
stratified into classes of elite political, religious, and commercial classes
to peasantry and slavery. Language developed into written form that enabled
information to educate others, while trade increased in range and frequency.
Recent advances in sanitation and medicine reduced premature morbidity. Technology
accelerated exponentially.

Global population is at 7.8 billion and
growing. Sum total human knowledge is doubling every four  years. Human pressure upon earth ecosystems
continues to squeeze out species, pollute the earth, seas, and atmosphere.
Climate change coupled with ocean death is on track to seriously decimate human
populations if not extermination. The proliferation of nuclear weapons indeed
could exterminate all human life within hours. Genetic manipulation could also
go in nefarious ways. The potential of mutated lethal pandemic diseases is
worrisome. Artificial intelligence is yet in its infancy with unforeseen

Mayr, leading biologist of the twentieth century, referred to human
intelligence as a lethal mutation in evolution in that it was not a mutation that
would have been favored by natural selection but is a mutation that will
precipitate the extinction of the human species.   Its lethality is due to
our cleverness in developing even more sophisticated technology while lacking
the wisdom for its application.

Here are some key questions: What should we do now to pass on a viable, livable earth for future generations? What moral characteristics should we cultivate for future generations? Are we humans on our own, or is there a benevolent Being who will lead us to preservation, and our response?

Zager And Evans – In The Year 2525 Lyrics

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may find
In the year 3535
Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lies
Everything you think, do, and say
Is in the pill you took today

In the year 4545
Ain’t gonna need your teeth, won’t need your eyes
You won’t find a thing to chew
Nobody’s gonna look at you

In the year 5555
Your arms are hanging limp at your sides
Your legs got nothing to do
Some machine is doing that for you

In the year 6565
Ain’t gonna need no husband, won’t need no wife
You’ll pick your son, pick your daughter too
From the bottom of a long glass tube’ Whoooa

In the year 7510
Maybe he’ll look around himself and say
Guess it’s time for the Judgement day

In the year 8510
God is gonna shake his mighty head then
He’ll either say I’m pleased where man has been
Or tear it down and start again

In the year 9595
I’m kinda wondering if man is gonna be alive
He’s taken everything this old earth can give
And he ain’t put back nothing

Now it’s been 10, 000 years
Man has cried a billion tears
For what he never knew
Now man’s reign is through
But through eternal night
The twinkling of starlight
So very far away
Maybe it’s only yesterday

In the year 2525
If man is still alive
If woman can survive
They may thrive
In the year 3535
Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lies
Everything you think, do or say