R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz

 
This greater vision was not only found within the Egyptian civilization, while it certainly was its greatest expression.

The traditional worldview underlied much of Medieval thought, though its unity was not expressed as clearly as it was in Egypt.

Since the reference point for modern man is the material world, he judges life by his perceptions and acts accordingly. His life is hence governed by physical desires and material requirements.

This way of life, whether it be Western consumerism or Marxist materialism, was created by the development of the (Western) scientific worldview, whereby man was removed from his place at the center of the universe and reduced to his new status as an "evolved monkey".

Beginning in the 19th century (some would argue earlier) prevailing ideologies began to jettison God, spirituality and the Medieval worldview and replace "superstition" with a "scientific" model based on matter, evolution and technology coupled with a blind belief in progress. This new scientific model was and is a direct contradiction of the earlier "traditional" model, which was based on the "Great Chain of Being".
 

This Great Chain is the traditional view of the universe which is not locked in a simple "nuts and bolts" view, but which encompasses the great span of existence from the very heights of spirit to the depths of the infernal realms.

The Great Chain of Being while expressed in many cultures is not doctrinally specific, it can be found in Hindu, Buddhist, Platonic, Christian and Mystical cosmology, it is found throughout literature from myth and legend to the visions of Dante.