Lost Horizon

The novel was published in 1933, the year Herr Hitler became Chancellor of Germany.

To me, that event marks the high point of the story of the Optimistic Narrative of the landscape of the world. This was the story of Shangri-La and the promise of peace and self-fulfillment. However, the British protagonist is morally compelled to return to civilization, taking with him the woman of Shangri-La who has fallen in love with him. When the go back through the mountains and beyond a certain "magical" boundary, the woman ages rapidly to her true antiquity... unhappy endings all around.

From Shangri-La to the Anti-Utopian visions that have dominated the popular mind, we have history since 1933. I pointed out that even religious fundamentalism finds its symbolic treasure in stories of End of Times and strife, not Eden and peace.

We are formed by our World, and we create it, too. It is a feedback cycle. Someone has a monkey wrench or spanner of spiritual dimensions... please throw it into the works! Derail this train to Armageddon!