This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at his office, 105th St. & Ocean, Va. Beach, Va., this 15th day of January, 1932, in accordance with request made by those present, and the Glad Workers of the Norfolk Study Group #1 who are sponsoring the lectures by Edgar Cayce.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mildred Davis, Hugh Lynn and L. B. Cayce, and Ernest and Helene Zentgraf.

TEXT

1. GC: You will have before you the entity Edgar Cayce, present in this room and the subject of the lecture he desires to give tonight, "Present World Conditions." Please indicate the approach he should make and outline in detail the data for this talk. Please answer the questions regarding this which will be asked.
2. EC: Yes, we have the entity here. In approach to such an universal subject, there is the necessity for the signifying of the approach that is to be made, and if [is] same to be of value in the experience of others, what may be done about same.
3. In the beginning when chaos existed in the creating of the earth, the Spirit of God moved over the face of same and out of chaos came the world - with its beauty in natural form, or in nature.
4. With man's advent into the world, then personalities, individualities, began to find expressions in SUBDUING the earth, and man - with his natural bent - not only attempted to subdue the EARTH, but to subdue one another; and the result was the differences of opinions, the various sects, sets, classes and races.
5. As the earth was peopled, and the abilities of expansion were able to bring the various groups, or associations of groups or nations, they COULD - and DID - withdraw into themselves, and build for themselves in the various portions of the world that known as the periods of advancement of some particular group of peoples.
6. As the world has advanced, all the various phases of man's developments have entered to make a different phase, either in the political, economic, or religious aspect of man's experience. In the various portions, then, of the world there has been builded those necessary developments for that particular group or portion of those peoples, or those developments of those peoples in their particular line.
7. With the advent of the closeness of the worlds coming into being, so that the man upon the other side of the world is as much the neighbor as the man next door, more and more have been the turmoils that have arisen in the attempt of individual leaders or groups to induce, force or compel, one portion of the world to think as the other, or the other group to dwell together as brethren with one bond of sympathy, or one standard for all.
8. With the present conditions, then, that exist - these have all come to that place in the development of the human family where there must be a reckoning, a one point upon which all may agree, that out of all of this turmoil that has arisen from the social life, racial differences, the outlook upon the relationship of man to the Creative Forces or his God, and his relationships one with another, must come to some COMMON basis upon which all MAY agree. You say at once, such a thing is impractical, impossible! What has caused the present conditions, not alone at home but abroad? It is that realization that was asked some thousands of years ago, "Where IS thy brother? His blood CRIES to me from the ground!" and the other portion of the world has answered, IS answering, "Am I my brother's keeper?" The world, AS a world - that makes for the disruption, for the discontent - has lost its ideal. Man may not have the same IDEA. Man - ALL men - may have the same IDEAL!
9. As the Spirit of God once moved to bring peace and harmony out of chaos, so must the Spirit move over the earth and magnify itself in the hearts, minds and souls of men to bring peace, harmony and understanding, that they may dwell together in a way that will bring that peace, that harmony, that can only come with all having the one Ideal; not the one idea, but "Thou shalt love the Lord Thy God with all thine heart, thy neighbor AS thyself!" This [is] the whole law, this [is] the whole answer to the world, to each and every soul. That is the answer to the world conditions as they exist today.
10. How shall this be brought about? As [they] each in their own respective sphere put into action that they know to be the fulfilling of that as has been from the beginning, so does the little leaven leaven the whole lump.
11. Man's answer to everything has been POWER - Power of money, Power of position, Power of wealth, Power of this, that or the other. This has NEVER been GOD'S way, will never be God's way. Rather little by little, line upon line, here a little, there a little, each thinking rather of the other fellow, as that that has kept the world in the various ways of being intact - where there were ten, even, many a city, many a nation, has been kept from destruction. Though ye may look upon, or feel that that which was given to Abram - as he viewed the cities of the plain and pled for the saving of same - was an allegorical story, a beautiful tale to be told children - that it might bring fear into the hearts of those that would have their OWN way - may it not come into the hearts of those now, today, wilt THOU, thine self, make of thine OWN heart an understanding that thou must answer for thine own brother, for thine own neighbor! and who is thine neighbor? He that lives next door, or he that lives on the other side of the world? He, rather, that is in NEED of understanding! He who has faltered; he who has fallen even by the way. HE is thine neighbor, and thou must answer for him!
12. Ready for questions.
13. (Q) What is the cause of the great economic depression and when may conditions be expected to become normal in the United States?
    (A) The United States may not expect to recover sooner than another nation, unless its basis for recovery is FOUNDED IN that that brings peace, harmony AND understanding. As it, the United States, (in the present) is the leading nation in attempting to give an understanding of the principles of "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," it stands above all others in its financial, in its social positions in the world; yet it has faltered, and - as of old - when troubles arise, when fearful conditions beset thee, the same answer as was of old, "Know ye that SIN lieth at THY door!"
    When there are, then, the greater number that would SEE that the IDEAL is again MADE the STANDARD, then may CONDITIONS be EXPECTED to improve. This not as MEN count improvement, in dollars and cents, but in contentment and understanding - and ONE is the fruit of the other!
14. (Q) Will the United States be drawn into war or go to war within the next five years? If so, with whom and over what will the trouble arise?
    (A) The position or conditions that exist in the affairs, or the hearts of nations, is much as has been described. Now as to whether this will come to pass or not, depends upon whether there is the arousing in the hearts, souls and minds of a sufficient NUMBER of individuals - who will align themselves WITH that that is RIGHT in HIS sight, or not!
    Some years ago (this, we understand, is out of line with what many would have one believe), there was a Peace Table, and about same were gathered representatives of every nation under the sun! In the SOUL of the representative of the United States SAT the Prince of Peace; yet many would have you believe, in the economical world, the financial world, that had that man never left his home, his own shores, that the WORLD would be better today. Not so; for "Ye shall pay every whit," for "The heavens and earth may pass away, but MY WORD shall not," are the words of Him who MADE the world.
    As to whether it will be in three years or five years, depends upon those who would rally to, "I will make of MY life a channel of blessing to SOMEONE, today!"
15. (Q) From the general trend of events, what is to be expected in the struggle between Great Britain and India?
    (A) Great Britain is LOSING an excellent fight. Non-resistance is hard to be broken!! [Mohandas Gandhi] As to whether those peoples will REMAIN, or whether the prayers and supplications of others will be with those, depends upon individuals.
16. (Q) What can be expected in the trend of events in the political and economic conditions in Europe?
    (A) Europe is as a house broken up. Some years ago there was the experience of a mighty peoples being overridden for the gratification and satisfaction of a few, IRRESPECTIVE of any other man's right. That peoples are going through the experience of being born again, and is the thorn in the flesh to many a political and financial nation in Europe, in the world - but out of same, with the prayers and supplications of those that may pray - even as Abram, or Abraham - "If there be fifty, will it not be spared?" "O, if there be ten faithful, will it not be spared?" Then, the hope of Europe depends upon YOU! in your own home TODAY! In not the same WAY, but the same MANNER as did the life of Lot, or of the other peoples in Sodom and Gomorrah.
17. (Q) What is the name of that nation referred to?
    (A) Russia!
18. (Q) Considering the general trend of events, will prohibition be lost in America and about when?
    (A) No one may ever LEGISLATE GOODNESS into the heart of the soul of anyone! When there is builded in the souls of men that as would be called prohibiting, that satisfies that of a physical desire, this will make for the right character of prohibition - but it has ALREADY lost in America, and only waits the decisions of those as to whether the peoples will stand as a law abiding, or a law breaking peoples.
19. (Q) Upon what religious thought will fall the greatest responsibility in leading the world toward the light of understanding?
    (A) That as is comprised in that as has been given, whether it be the Greek or the barbarian, whether it be from the bond or from the free, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and thy neighbor as thyself!"
20. We are through.

    Copy to Self
    Copy to File
    Copy to Ass'n
    Copy to Helene Zentgraf
    Copy to L. B. Cayce

REPORTS

1. 2/02/32 See 3976-9 re publishing 3976-8 in a magazine.
2. 2/04/32 See Mr. [165]'s letter under 165-2 Reports in re world affairs and 2/09/32 EC's reply to it under 262-11 Reports.
3. GD's note: In 1945, reading 3976-8 with exception of questions and answers, was published in a booklet entitled AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER; in 1959 reprinted under title TIMES OF CRISIS.
4. See Source File Key #3976 for 2/05/24 Selma Times Journal article, HOW WILSON FAILED; 2/59 Reader's Digest article, THE BOOK THE KREMLIN IS AFRAID TO LET THE RUSSIANS READ; 6/20/60 Virginian Pilot article, WILSOM WAS READY TO GIVE HIS LIFE; 11/19/73 U.S. News & World Report article, LET'S HEAR IT! FOR U.S.; 6/09/78 Virginian Pilot article 'EXHAUSTED' WEST WEAKENING, SOLZHENITSYN SAYS; 5/24/79 L.A. Times article, TOTAL VICTORY NOT WANTED - EDITOR FINDS NEW WILSON PAPER ON WAR; 8/79 Glenn Clairmonte's article, FACING THE FUTURE, re 3976-8.

Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation