Firstly, I reckon we could all benefit from a shift in how we interpret what it is to be human. I would recommend Ken Carey's "Third Millennium", as a good place to start.
Also, check out the "Mayan Prophecy 2012" website. There are some very interesting ideas there.....There's one in particular, which talks about our planetary orbit and how it brings us through space dimensions that seem to accelerate evolution. I know that's a bit Arthur C Clarkish...but!
Based on the maths, earth last passed into one of these zones around 5000 years ago, and in the space of 100 years mankind developed written language, discovered how to build pyramids, etc, etc,etc.
Almost sounds a bit like "What have the cosmic dimensions ever done for us?"