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==87:7. NATURE OF CULTISM==

==87:7. NATURE OF CULTISM==

87:7.1 The cult type of social organization persisted because it provided a symbolism for the preservation and stimulation of moral sentiments and religious loyalties. The cult grew out of the traditions of " old families " and was perpetuated as an established institution; all families have a cult of some sort. Every inspiring ideal grasps for some perpetuating symbolism—seeks some technique for cultural manifestation which will insure survival and augment realization—and the cult achieves this end by fostering and gratifying emotion.

87:7.1 The [[cult]] [[type]] of [[social]] [[organization]] [[persisted]] because it provided a [[symbolism]] for the preservation and [[stimulation]] of [[moral]] sentiments and religious [[loyalties]]. The [[cult]] grew out of the [[traditions]] of "old families" and was perpetuated as an [[established]] [[institution]]; all [[families]] have a [[cult]] of some sort. Every [[inspiring]] [[ideal]] grasps for some perpetuating [[symbolism]]—seeks some [[technique]] for [[cultural]] [[manifestation]] which will insure [[survival]] and augment [[realization]]—and the [[cult]] [[achieves]] this end by fostering and gratifying [[emotion]].

87:7.2 From the dawn of civilization every appealing movement in social culture or religious advancement has developed a ritual, a symbolic ceremonial. The more this ritual has been an unconscious growth, the stronger it has gripped its devotees. The cult preserved sentiment and satisfied emotion, but it has always been the greatest obstacle to social reconstruction and spiritual progress.

87:7.2 From the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_68 dawn of civilization] every appealing [[movement]] in [[social]] [[culture]] or [[religious]] advancement has developed a [[ritual]], a symbolic [[ceremonial]]. The more this [[ritual]] has been an [[unconscious]] [[growth]], the stronger it has gripped its devotees. The [[cult]] preserved sentiment and satisfied [[emotion]], but it has always been the greatest obstacle to [[social]] reconstruction and [[spiritual]] [[progress]].

87:7.3 Notwithstanding that the cult has always retarded social progress, it is regrettable that so many modern believers in moral standards and spiritual ideals have no adequate symbolism—no cult of mutual support—nothing to belong to. But a religious cult cannot be manufactured; it must grow. And those of no two groups will be identical unless their rituals are arbitrarily standardized by authority.

87:7.3 Notwithstanding that the [[cult]] has always retarded [[social]] [[progress]], it is regrettable that so many [[modern]] believers in [[moral]] [[standards]] and [[spiritual]] [[ideals]] have no adequate [[symbolism]]—no [[cult]] of [[mutual]] [[support]]—nothing to belong to. But a religious cult cannot be [[manufactured]]; it must grow. And those of no two [[groups]] will be identical unless their rituals are [[arbitrarily]] [[standardized]] by [[authority]].

87:7.4 The early Christian cult was the most effective, appealing, and enduring of any ritual ever conceived or devised, but much of its value has been destroyed in a scientific age by the destruction of so many of its original underlying tenets. The Christian cult has been devitalized by the loss of many fundamental ideas.

87:7.4 The early [[Christian]] cult was the most [[effective]], appealing, and enduring of any [[ritual]] ever conceived or devised, but much of its [[value]] has been destroyed in a [[scientific]] age by the destruction of so many of its [[original]] underlying tenets. The Christian cult has been devitalized by the loss of many [[fundamental]] [[ideas]].

87:7.5 In the past, truth has grown rapidly and expanded freely when the cult has been elastic, the symbolism expansile. Abundant truth and an adjustable cult have favored rapidity of social progression. A meaningless cult vitiates religion when it attempts to supplant philosophy and to enslave reason; a genuine cult grows.

87:7.5 In the [[past]], [[truth]] has [[grown]] rapidly and expanded freely when the [[cult]] has been elastic, the symbolism expansile. [[Abundant]] [[truth]] and an [[adjustable]] cult have favored rapidity of [[social]] [[progression]]. A meaningless cult vitiates religion when it attempts to supplant [[philosophy]] and to enslave [[reason]]; a genuine cult grows.

87:7.6 Regardless of the drawbacks and handicaps, every new revelation of truth has given rise to a new cult, and even the restatement of the religion of Jesus must develop a new and appropriate symbolism. Modern man must find some adequate symbolism for his new and expanding ideas, ideals, and loyalties. This enhanced symbol must arise out of religious living, spiritual experience. And this higher symbolism of a higher civilization must be predicated on the concept of the Fatherhood of God and be pregnant with the mighty ideal of the brotherhood of man.

87:7.6 Regardless of the drawbacks and [[handicaps]], every new [[revelation]] of truth has given rise to a new [[cult]], and even the restatement of the [[religion]] of [[Jesus]] must [[develop]] a new and appropriate [[symbolism]]. Modern man must find some adequate symbolism for his new and expanding [[ideas]], [[ideals]], and [[loyalties]]. This enhanced [[symbol]] must arise out of religious living, [[spiritual]] [[experience]]. And this higher symbolism of a higher [[civilization]] must be predicated on the [[concept]] of the [[Fatherhood]] of [[God]] and be [[pregnant]] with the mighty [[ideal]] of the brotherhood of man.

87:7.7 The old cults were too egocentric; the new must be the outgrowth of applied love. The new cult must, like the old, foster sentiment, satisfy emotion, and promote loyalty; but it must do more: It must facilitate spiritual progress, enhance cosmic meanings, augment moral values, encourage social development, and stimulate a high type of personal religious living. The new cult must provide supreme goals of living which are both temporal and eternal—social and spiritual.

87:7.7 The old cults were too [[egocentric]]; the new must be the outgrowth of applied [[love]]. The new cult must, like the old, foster sentiment, satisfy [[emotion]], and promote [[loyalty]]; but it must do more: It must facilitate [[spiritual]] [[progress]], enhance [[cosmic]] [[meanings]], augment [[moral]] [[values]], [[encourage]] [[social]] [[development]], and [[stimulate]] a high type of [[personal]] religious living. The new cult must provide [[supreme]] goals of living which are both [[temporal]] and [[eternal]]—[[social]] and [[spiritual]].

87:7.8 No cult can endure and contribute to the progress of social civilization and individual spiritual attainment unless it is based on the biologic, sociologic, and religious significance of the home. A surviving cult must symbolize that which is permanent in the presence of unceasing change; it must glorify that which unifies the stream of ever-changing social metamorphosis. It must recognize true meanings, exalt beautiful relations, and glorify the good values of real nobility.

87:7.8 No cult can [[endure]] and [[contribute]] to the [[progress]] of [[social]] [[civilization]] and [[individual]] [[spiritual]] [[attainment]] unless it is based on the [[biologic]], [[sociologic]], and [[religious]] significance of the [[home]]. A surviving cult must [[symbolize]] that which is permanent in the [[presence]] of unceasing [[change]]; it must [[glorify]] that which unifies the [[stream]] of ever-changing [[social]] [[metamorphosis]]. It must [[recognize]] true [[meanings]], exalt [[beautiful]] relations, and [[glorify]] the good [[values]] of real [[nobility]].

87:7.9 But the great difficulty of finding a new and satisfying symbolism is because modern men, as a group, adhere to the scientific attitude, eschew superstition, and abhor ignorance, while as individuals they all crave mystery and venerate the unknown. No cult can survive unless it embodies some masterful mystery and conceals some worthful unattainable. Again, the new symbolism must not only be significant for the group but also meaningful to the individual. The forms of any serviceable symbolism must be those which the individual can carry out on his own initiative, and which he can also enjoy with his fellows. If the new cult could only be dynamic instead of static, it might really contribute something worth while to the progress of mankind, both temporal and spiritual.

87:7.9 But the great [[difficulty]] of finding a new and satisfying [[symbolism]] is because [[modern]] men, as a [[group]], adhere to the [[scientific]] [[attitude]], eschew [[superstition]], and abhor [[ignorance]], while as [[individuals]] they all crave [[mystery]] and [[venerate]] the [[unknown]]. No [[cult]] can [[survive]] unless it embodies some masterful [[mystery]] and conceals some worthful unattainable. Again, the new [[symbolism]] must not only be significant for the [[group]] but also meaningful to the [[individual]]. The forms of any serviceable [[symbolism]] must be those which the [[individual]] can carry out on his own [[initiative]], and which he can also enjoy with his fellows. If the new [[cult]] could only be [[dynamic]] instead of [[static]], it might really [[contribute]] something worth while to the [[progress]] of [[mankind]], both [[temporal]] and [[spiritual]].

87:7.10 But a cult—a symbolism of rituals, slogans, or goals—will not function if it is too complex. And there must be the demand for devotion, the response of loyalty. Every effective religion unerringly develops a worthy symbolism, and its devotees would do well to prevent the crystallization of such a ritual into cramping, deforming, and stifling stereotyped ceremonials which can only handicap and retard all social, moral, and spiritual progress. No cult can survive if it retards moral growth and fails to foster spiritual progress. The cult is the skeletal structure around which grows the living and dynamic body of personal spiritual experience—true religion.

87:7.10 But a [[cult]]—a symbolism of [[rituals]], slogans, or goals—will not [[function]] if it is too [[complex]]. And there must be the demand for [[devotion]], the [[response]] of [[loyalty]]. Every [[effective]] [[religion]] unerringly develops a worthy [[symbolism]], and its devotees would do well to prevent the crystallization of such a [[ritual]] into cramping, deforming, and stifling stereotyped [[ceremonials]] which can only [[handicap]] and retard all [[social]], [[moral]], and [[spiritual]] [[progress]]. No cult can [[survive]] if it retards moral [[growth]] and fails to foster [[spiritual]] [[progress]]. The [[cult]] is the [[skeletal]] [[structure]] around which grows the living and dynamic [[body]] of [[personal]] [[spiritual]] [[experience]]—true [[religion]].

87:7.11 Presented by a [[Brilliant Evening Star]] of [[Nebadon]].

87:7.11 Presented by a [[Brilliant Evening Star]] of [[Nebadon]].

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[[Category: PART III: The History of Urantia]]

[[Category: PART III: The History of Urantia]]