Changes

==5:4. GOD IN RELIGION==

==5:4. GOD IN RELIGION==

5:4.1 The [[morality]] of the religions of [[evolution]] drives men forward in the God quest by the [[motive]] [[power]] of [[fear]]. The religions of [[revelation]] allure men to seek for a God of [[love]] because they [[Desire|crave]] to become like him. But religion is not merely a passive [[feeling]] of "[[absolute]] dependence" and "surety of [[survival]]"; it is a living and [[dynamic]] [[experience]] of [[divinity]] [[attainment]] predicated on [[humanity]] [[service]].

5:4.1 The [[morality]] of the religions of [[evolution]] drives men forward in the God quest by the [[motive]] [[power]] of [[fear]]. The religions of [[revelation]] allure men to seek for a God of [[love]] because they [[Desire|crave]] to become like him. But religion is not merely a passive [[feeling]] of "[[absolute]] dependence"[http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/friedrichs309359.html] and "surety of [[survival]]"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=5.4.1_Quote]; it is a living and [[dynamic]] [[experience]] of [[divinity]] [[attainment]] predicated on [[humanity]] [[service]].

5:4.2 The great and [[immediate]] [[service]] of true [[religion]] is the establishment of an enduring [[unity]] in human experience, a lasting [[peace]] and a [[profound]] [[assurance]]. With [[primitive]] man, even [[polytheism]] is a [[relative]] unification of the evolving [[concept]] of [[Deity]]; polytheism is [[monotheism]] in the making. Sooner or later, God is destined to be [[comprehended]] as the [[reality]] of [[values]], the substance of [[meanings]], and the life of [[truth]].

5:4.2 The great and [[immediate]] [[service]] of true [[religion]] is the establishment of an enduring [[unity]] in human experience, a lasting [[peace]] and a [[profound]] [[assurance]]. With [[primitive]] man, even [[polytheism]] is a [[relative]] unification of the evolving [[concept]] of [[Deity]]; polytheism is [[monotheism]] in the making. Sooner or later, God is destined to be [[comprehended]] as the [[reality]] of [[values]], the substance of [[meanings]], and the life of [[truth]].

5:4.7 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism Zoroastrians] had a religion of [[morals]]; the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hindus] a [[religion]] of [[metaphysics]]; the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucianism Confucianists] a religion of [[ethics]]. Jesus lived a religion of [[service]]. All these religions are of [[value]] in that they are valid approaches to the religion of [[Jesus]]. Religion is [[destined]] to become the [[reality]] of the [[spiritual]] [[Unity|unification]] of all that is [[good]], [[beautiful]], and [[true]] in human [[experience]].

5:4.7 The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism Zoroastrians] had a religion of [[morals]]; the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hindus] a [[religion]] of [[metaphysics]]; the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucianism Confucianists] a religion of [[ethics]]. Jesus lived a religion of [[service]]. All these religions are of [[value]] in that they are valid approaches to the religion of [[Jesus]]. Religion is [[destined]] to become the [[reality]] of the [[spiritual]] [[Unity|unification]] of all that is [[good]], [[beautiful]], and [[true]] in human [[experience]].

5:4.8 The [[Greek]] religion had a watchword "Know yourself"; the Hebrews centered their teaching on "Know your God"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Hosea#Chapter_.1]; the Christians preach a gospel aimed at a "knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=2nd_Letter_of_Peter#2nd_Letter_of_Peter.2C_III]; Jesus proclaimed the good news of "knowing God, and yourself as a son of God."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=1st_Letter_of_John#1st_Letter_of_John.2C_II] These differing [[concepts]] of the [[purpose]] of religion determine the individual's [[attitude]] in various life situations and foreshadow the [[Degree|depth]] of [[worship]] and the nature of his [[personal]] [[habits]] of [[prayer]]. The spiritual [[status]] of any religion may be determined by the [[nature]] of its prayers.

5:4.8 The [[Greek]] religion had a watchword "Know yourself"[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0010:card=300&highlight=yourself%2Cknow]; the Hebrews centered their teaching on "Know your God"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Hosea#Chapter_.6]; the Christians preach a gospel aimed at a "knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ"[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=2nd_Letter_of_Peter#2nd_Letter_of_Peter.2C_III]; Jesus proclaimed the good news of "knowing God, and yourself as a son of God."[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_John#Chapter_14][http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=1st_Letter_of_John#1st_Letter_of_John.2C_II] These differing [[concepts]] of the [[purpose]] of religion determine the individual's [[attitude]] in various life situations and foreshadow the [[Degree|depth]] of [[worship]] and the nature of his [[personal]] [[habits]] of [[prayer]]. The spiritual [[status]] of any religion may be determined by the [[nature]] of its prayers.

5:4.9 The concept of a semihuman and [[jealous]] God is an inevitable [[transition]] between [[polytheism]] and [[sublime]] [[monotheism]]. An exalted [[anthropomorphism]] is the highest [[attainment]] level of purely evolutionary religion. [[Christianity]] has elevated the concept of anthropomorphism from the [[ideal]] of the human to the [[transcendent]] and divine concept of the person of the glorified [[Christ]]. And this is the highest anthropomorphism that man can ever conceive.

5:4.9 The concept of a semihuman and [[jealous]] God is an inevitable [[transition]] between [[polytheism]] and [[sublime]] [[monotheism]]. An exalted [[anthropomorphism]] is the highest [[attainment]] level of purely evolutionary religion. [[Christianity]] has elevated the concept of anthropomorphism from the [[ideal]] of the human to the [[transcendent]] and divine concept of the person of the glorified [[Christ]]. And this is the highest anthropomorphism that man can ever conceive.