Envisioning a future world requires a great deal of creativity and human imagination. Even today, science has made remarkable advancements.
However, there is a seemingly ordinary person who, after a year-long coma, intrigued futurists by vividly recounting his experiences in the body of another person in the year… 3906.
The Diary of Dreams
Paul Amadeus Dienach was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1884. From a young age, he dreamed of standing at the lectern, imparting knowledge to younger generations, and tirelessly worked towards this goal. After graduating, he became a teacher of German and French.
Did Paul Amadeus Dienach really ‘travel to the future’?
In 1917, Dienach contracted a mysterious illness known as Encephalitis lethargica, commonly referred to as sleeping sickness. Those afflicted with this disease fall into a coma for extended periods, sometimes never waking up. Dienach began his illness with natural sleep, sometimes lasting just a few minutes, other times extending over several days.
By 1921, his condition worsened, and he remained in a deep sleep for an entire year. During this time, he was monitored continuously in a hospital in Zurich. Upon waking in a normal state, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, possibly contracted while hospitalized. After his condition stabilized, Dienach moved to Greece to work as a French teacher.
In his classroom, he became quite close with a student named Georgios Papachatzis, who later became an important figure in the Greek government. In 1924, intending to return to Switzerland, he gifted Papachatzis his personal diary as a farewell present.
In this diary, he wrote down everything he had “dreamt” during his year-long coma. Dienach’s only wish for Papachatzis was that the information within the diary not be made public. Shortly thereafter, in 1924, Dienach passed away from tuberculosis.
Papachatzis read the diary and translated it from French to Greek. Initially, he thought his teacher had penned a mysterious novel, but as he read on, he realized that what he was translating was actually his teacher’s memories.
Across 800 pages, Dienach described the process of his consciousness leaving his body and entering that of a man… living in the year 3906. Despite Dienach’s warnings, Papachatzis published the book in 1972.
In reality, Dienach was not a professional author, poet, or writer, nor was he particularly imaginative. Throughout the diary, Dienach stated he was merely an ordinary person recounting his experiences, with no intention of publishing it or seeking fame through a book.
Nonetheless, the book titled “Chronicles of the Future: The Strange Story of Paul Amadeus Dienach” was released by Papachatzis, sparking much debate. Many claimed the author (Dienach) attempted to turn fiction into a factual narrative.
From diary to a controversial book.
What is the Future World Like?
In the book, Dienach describes waking up in the year 3906 in the body of a man named Andreas Northam, who lies in a hospital in a state of clinical death following an accident.
Dienach (in the form of Andreas) was astonished by the modern technology of the hospital, as well as the uniforms worn by the doctors. He could not understand the language spoken by the doctors and could not remember who he truly was. Even more astonishing, Dienach’s consciousness controlling Andreas’s body discovered everything that had occurred from 1921 to 3906. According to him, the major issues of the 20th and 21st centuries were:
- World War conflicts
- Disrespect for nature
- Widespread violence
- Excessive consumerism destroying the planet
Additionally, global politics and economics were under the control of a new world order. Violence and poverty spread throughout the globe. It became a time when the Earth’s population was overgrown, and Mars had many settlers. However, the Martian colony only lasted for 60 years before a catastrophic event destroyed everything there.
By 2309, nearly the entire population of Europe was wiped out by a nuclear war. The survivors migrated to Southern Europe, beginning the process of repopulating the continent. By the early 24th century, a new global government was established, eliminating all nations and continents, uniting the entire population of the Earth under one nation, bringing equality to humanity.
Dienach emphasized that the year 2894 was crucial, marking the rebirth of a spiritual force in the Valley of Roses. This spiritual entity introduced a new archetype and a new way of life for society, making humanity happier.
By 3382, a man named Alex Volky spread new ideas about human consciousness through meditation. Humanity unlocked the true power of the mind and achieved astounding feats, such as controlling the chemicals in the body that affect emotions.
Interestingly, the history leading to 3906 seems to follow the philosophy presented by Giambattista Vico (1668 – 1744), who described humanity’s journey through time as an unending cycle of highs and lows.
Humanity continually faces challenges leading to death and despair. It will be difficult for humanity to achieve a stable state of happiness, despite technological advancements or spiritual richness.
The specific details in the book lead many to believe that Dienach truly “traveled through time” to the year 3906. However, his descriptions of the distant future are dismissed by some as nonsense from the disordered mind of a comatose individual. Nevertheless, his story continues to captivate futurists.
