With some 7.5-8 billion individual neural universes existing and interacting, I believe the need for common narratives becomes ever more difficult yet important. Organized religions accomplished this as they provided symbolic narratives and universal truths couched in story -- i.e., parable. As the world religion built, crumbles, the Racial, National, and other superficial tribal narratives become the easy way out for many and will lead to conflict and pain. A story without purpose and a narrative without hope is indeed a bleak prospect. Narrative is everything. Here's to hoping for better ones (South Park and the memes both give me hope). Cheers.