Changes

==99:2. WEAKNESS OF INSTITUTIONAL RELIGION==

==99:2. WEAKNESS OF INSTITUTIONAL RELIGION==

99:2.1 Institutional religion cannot afford inspiration and provide leadership in this impending world-wide social reconstruction and economic reorganization because it has unfortunately become more or less of an organic part of the social order and the economic system which is destined to undergo reconstruction. Only the real religion of personal spiritual experience can function helpfully and creatively in the present crisis of civilization.

99:2.1 [[Institutional]] [[religion]] cannot afford [[inspiration]] and [[provide]] [[leadership]] in this impending world-wide [[social]] reconstruction and [[economic]] reorganization because it has unfortunately become more or less of an [[organic]] part of the [[social]] order and the [[economic]] [[system]] which is destined to undergo reconstruction. Only the real [[religion]] of [[personal]] [[spiritual]] [[experience]] can [[function]] helpfully and [[creatively]] in the [[present]] [[crisis]] of [[civilization]].

99:2.2 Institutional religion is now caught in the stalemate of a vicious circle. It cannot reconstruct society without first reconstructing itself; and being so much an integral part of the established order, it cannot reconstruct itself until society has been radically reconstructed.

99:2.2 [[Institutional]] [[religion]] is now caught in the [[stalemate]] of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtuous_circle_and_vicious_circle#Vicious_circle vicious circle]. It cannot reconstruct [[society]] without first reconstructing itself; and being so much an integral part of the [[established]] order, it cannot reconstruct itself until [[society]] has been [[radically]] reconstructed.

99:2.3 Religionists must function in society, in industry, and in politics as individuals, not as groups, parties, or institutions. A religious group which presumes to function as such, apart from religious activities, immediately becomes a political party, an economic organization, or a social institution. Religious collectivism must confine its efforts to the furtherance of religious causes.

99:2.3 Religionists must [[function]] in [[society]], in [[industry]], and in [[politics]] as [[individuals]], not as [[groups]], parties, or [[institutions]]. A religious [[group]] which presumes to [[function]] as such, apart from religious activities, [[immediately]] becomes a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_party political party], an [[economic]] [[organization]], or a [[social]] [[institution]]. Religious [[collectivism]] must confine its efforts to the furtherance of [[religious]] causes.

99:2.4 Religionists are of no more value in the tasks of social reconstruction than nonreligionists except in so far as their religion has conferred upon them enhanced cosmic foresight and endowed them with that superior social wisdom which is born of the sincere desire to love God supremely and to love every man as a brother in the heavenly kingdom. An ideal social order is that in which every man loves his neighbor as he loves himself.

99:2.4 Religionists are of no more [[value]] in the tasks of social reconstruction than nonreligionists except in so far as their [[religion]] has conferred upon them enhanced [[cosmic]] [[foresight]] and [[endowed]] them with that superior social [[wisdom]] which is born of the [[sincere]] [[desire]] to [[love]] [[God]] supremely and to love every man as a [[brother]] in the heavenly kingdom. An [[ideal]] [[social]] order is that in which every man loves his [[neighbor]] as he loves himself.

99:2.5 The institutionalized church may have appeared to serve society in the past by glorifying the established political and economic orders, but it must speedily cease such action if it is to survive. Its only proper attitude consists in the teaching of nonviolence, the doctrine of peaceful evolution in the place of violent revolution—peace on earth and good will among all men.

99:2.5 The [[institutionalized]] church may have appeared to serve [[society]] in the past by [[glorifying]] the [[established]] [[political]] and [[economic]] orders, but it must speedily cease such [[action]] if it is to [[survive]]. Its only proper [[attitude]] consists in the teaching of [[nonviolence]], the doctrine of [[peaceful]] [[evolution]] in the place of [[violent]] [[revolution]]—peace on earth and good will among all men.

99:2.6 Modern religion finds it difficult to adjust its attitude toward the rapidly shifting social changes only because it has permitted itself to become so thoroughly traditionalized, dogmatized, and institutionalized. The religion of living experience finds no difficulty in keeping ahead of all these social developments and economic upheavals, amid which it ever functions as a moral stabilizer, social guide, and spiritual pilot. True religion carries over from one age to another the worth-while culture and that wisdom which is born of the experience of knowing God and striving to be like him.

99:2.6 [[Modern]] [[religion]] finds it [[difficult]] to [[adjust]] its [[attitude]] toward the rapidly shifting [[social]] [[changes]] only because it has permitted itself to become so thoroughly [[traditionalized]], [[dogmatized]], and [[institutionalized]]. The religion of living [[experience]] finds no [[difficulty]] in keeping ahead of all these social [[developments]] and economic upheavals, amid which it ever [[functions]] as a [[moral]] stabilizer, [[social]] guide, and [[spiritual]] pilot. True [[religion]] carries over from one age to another the [[worth]]-while [[culture]] and that [[wisdom]] which is born of the [[experience]] of knowing [[God]] and striving to be like him.

==99:3. RELIGION AND THE RELIGIONIST==

==99:3. RELIGION AND THE RELIGIONIST==