Changes

[[Progress]] is a word that [[human being]]s like to use in many [[different]] [[contexts]]. Progress can mean material acquirements, it can mean job advancement, it can mean personal progress, and it can mean societal progress. Humans have, on the whole, a narrower [[definition]] of progress than we do.

[[Progress]] is a word that [[human being]]s like to use in many [[different]] [[contexts]]. Progress can mean material acquirements, it can mean job advancement, it can mean personal progress, and it can mean societal progress. Humans have, on the whole, a narrower [[definition]] of progress than we do.

We see progress as containing [[the whole]], and that seeming progress in one area, while [[stagnation]] or retrogression in another, is not true progress in our estimation. When you think of [[societal]] [[progress]], you think largely of advances in [[technology]] and [[material]] well being. And while the last 100 years has seen this type of progress, [[spiritually]], society has not advanced at all and, in [[fact]], has [[retrogressed]] for some time and is just now turning a corner. This we have seen as a very unstable, indeed [[dangerous]], time and it has proven to be a very [[perilous]] time in which to live. When [[society]] advances in technology and especially in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_warfare advanced weaponry] without the [[simultaneous]] advance in spiritual [[brotherhood]], there is great [[danger]] to the races and the possibility of [[civilization]] self-destructing.

We see progress as containing [[the whole]], and that seeming progress in one area, while [[stagnation]] or retrogression in another, is not true progress in our estimation. When you think of [[societal]] [[progress]], you think largely of advances in [[technology]] and [[material]] well being. And while the last 100 years has seen this type of progress, [[spiritually]], society has not advanced at all and, in [[fact]], has [[retrogressed]] for some time and is just now turning a corner. This we have seen as a very unstable, indeed [[dangerous]], time and it has proven to be a very [[perilous]] time in which to live. When [[society]] advances in technology and especially in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_warfare advanced weaponry] without the [[simultaneous]] advance in spiritual [[brotherhood]], there is great [[danger]] to the races and the possibility of [[civilization]] self-destructing.

Here in these United States, with the advances in [[communication]], you have, on the whole, just begun to halt the backward slide of [[morality]] and have begun to redress the issues of [[personal]] and [[societal]] [[responsibilities]]. However, many, many parts of [[the world]] at this time are still sliding backwards morally while advancing [[technologically]]. We hope that Americans can be way showers for the world in advancing [[morality]] and basic [[brotherhood]] for the world to see. You who are involved in [[this mission]] will be way showers for many other people and will bring the first [[glimmer]] of [[light and life]] down to [[this world]].

Here in these United States, with the advances in [[communication]], you have, on the whole, just begun to halt the backward slide of [[morality]] and have begun to redress the issues of [[personal]] and [[societal]] [[responsibilities]]. However, many, many parts of [[the world]] at this time are still sliding backwards morally while advancing [[technologically]]. We hope that Americans can be way showers for the world in advancing [[morality]] and basic [[brotherhood]] for the world to see. You who are involved in [[this mission]] will be way showers for many other people and will bring the first [[glimmer]] of [[light and life]] down to [[this world]].

Q: When you talk about [[morality]] and its [[ebb and flow]] in the last 100 years, could you elaborate a little more on what you mean so we all have the same [[understanding]] of it.

Q: When you talk about [[morality]] and its [[ebb and flow]] in the last 100 years, could you elaborate a little more on what you mean so we all have the same [[understanding]] of it.

Ham: Different parts of [[the world]] have gone through [[different]] [[experiences]] and there have been a few [[spiritual]] [[leaders]] who have helped to change the [[direction]] of this spiritual [[desolation]]. But, largely, the [[extreme]] [[materialistic]] thinking, the so called [[scientific]] [[influence]], the [[nihilism]] in [[Occident|American and European society]] really increased during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century 20th century]] among [[the masses]]. And of course, there was the complete [[atheism]] of [[communism]] which came to [[dominate]] much of the globe. All these things have been extremely detrimental to the overall [[progress]] of [[civilization]].

Ham: Different parts of [[the world]] have gone through [[different]] [[experiences]] and there have been a few [[spiritual]] [[leaders]] who have helped to change the [[direction]] of this spiritual [[desolation]]. But, largely, the [[extreme]] [[materialistic]] thinking, the so called [[scientific]] [[influence]], the [[nihilism]] in [[Occident|American and European society]] really increased during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century 20th century]] among [[the masses]]. And of course, there was the complete [[atheism]] of [[communism]] which came to [[dominate]] much of the globe. All these things have been extremely detrimental to the overall [[progress]] of [[civilization]].

Q: I would point out that it is often not what most of our most ardent [[Christians]] point to when they talk about the moral decay of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States American society].

Q: I would point out that it is often not what most of our most ardent [[Christians]] point to when they talk about the moral decay of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States American society].

Ham: When I speak of moral decay, I am talking about the lack of higher [[ideals]] and [[truth]] and the [[confusion]] in the [[minds]] of many over what is truth and what is idealism. Those who are spiritually identified with the highest [[moral]] [[values]] have no problem understanding what truth is nor do they hesitate to identify themselves with the truth. [[Confusion]] has been the order of the day for many, many years. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism German people followed Hitler] thinking their greatest [[ideal]] was German cultural supremacy. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leninism Russian people followed Lenin] thinking their greatest [[ideal]] was complete social [[equality]]. But, these are not true [[ideals]], there is no truth in either. Is this helping?

Ham: When I speak of moral decay, I am talking about the lack of higher [[ideals]] and [[truth]] and the [[confusion]] in the [[minds]] of many over what is truth and what is idealism. Those who are spiritually identified with the highest [[moral]] [[values]] have no problem understanding what truth is nor do they hesitate to identify themselves with the truth. [[Confusion]] has been the order of the day for many, many years. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazism German people followed Hitler] thinking their greatest [[ideal]] was German cultural supremacy. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leninism Russian people followed Lenin] thinking their greatest [[ideal]] was complete social [[equality]]. But, these are not true [[ideals]], there is no truth in either. Is this helping?

Q: Yes, I would say very much, thank you.

Q: Yes, I would say very much, thank you.

Ham: It is not impossible to [[become]] a leader through [[service]] and without [[ambition]] to elevate oneself over others. [[Jesus]] had none of these things and he has continued to lead good men for 2000 years through just a few [[words]] that he left behind. The leaders you describe are not true leaders and their [[influence]] is not lasting. Personal ambition to lead often propels men forward into your so-called leadership [[positions]], but if that's all there is, they cannot truly lead once they get there. Your world is full of such non leaders, men whose [[ambition]] is for their own self-exaltation and nothing more. Yes, in true [[leadership]], there is a drive to serve, to better the circumstance of one's more unfortunate fellows and this drive is more [[powerful]] and more reliable than any personal [[ambition]] could ever be.

Ham: It is not impossible to [[become]] a leader through [[service]] and without [[ambition]] to elevate oneself over others. [[Jesus]] had none of these things and he has continued to lead good men for 2000 years through just a few [[words]] that he left behind. The leaders you describe are not true leaders and their [[influence]] is not lasting. Personal ambition to lead often propels men forward into your so-called leadership [[positions]], but if that's all there is, they cannot truly lead once they get there. Your world is full of such non leaders, men whose [[ambition]] is for their own self-exaltation and nothing more. Yes, in true [[leadership]], there is a drive to serve, to better the circumstance of one's more unfortunate fellows and this drive is more [[powerful]] and more reliable than any personal [[ambition]] could ever be.

Q: I think that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King Martin Luther King] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi Gandhi] were examples of leaders like that.

Q: I think that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King Martin Luther King] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhi Gandhi] were examples of leaders like that.

Ham: Yes.

Ham: Yes.

Q: And [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt FDR].

Q: And [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt FDR].

Ham: No.

Ham: No.