THE THEORY - THE ARCHETYPES - THE SAECULUM

THE PROPHET ARCHETYPE

Living Prophet generations: Boomer (born 1943-1960)

We remember Prophets best for their coming-of-age passion and for their principled elder stewardship. Their principal endowments are in the domain of vision, values, and religion. A lifecycle outline:

• As Prophets replace Artists in childhood during a High, they are nurtured with increasing indulgence by optimistic adults in a secure environment.
• As self-absorbed Prophets replace Artists in young adulthood during an Awakening, they challenge the moral failure of elder-built institutions, sparking a society-wide spiritual awakening.
• As judgmental Prophets replace Artists in midlife during an Unraveling, they preach a downbeat, values-fixated ethic of moral conviction.
• As visionary Prophets replace Artists in elderhood during a Crisis, they push to resolve ever-deepening moral choices, setting the stage for the secular goals of the young.

To learn more about this theory, visit www.fourthturning.com.

From The Fourth Turning, William Strauss and Neil Howe, copyright 1996 Broadway Books.
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