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"[http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/friedrichs309359.html] and "surety of [[survival]]"[https://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]].

5:4.1 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"[https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/friedrichs309359.html] and "surety of [[survival]]"[https://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]].

5:4.6 The [[Hebrews]] based their religion on [[goodness]]; the Greeks on [[beauty]]; both religions sought [[truth]]. Jesus [[revealed]] a God of [[love]], and love is all-[[embracing]] of [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_117#117:1._NATURE_OF_THE_SUPREME_BEING truth, beauty, and goodness].

5:4.6 The [[Hebrews]] based their religion on [[goodness]]; the Greeks on [[beauty]]; both religions sought [[truth]]. Jesus [[revealed]] a God of [[love]], and love is all-[[embracing]] of [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_117#117:1._NATURE_OF_THE_SUPREME_BEING truth, beauty, and goodness].

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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism Zoroastrians] had a religion of [[morals]]; the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hindus] a [[religion]] of [[metaphysics]]; the [https://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"[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"[https://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"[https://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."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_John#Chapter_14][https://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"[https://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"[https://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"[https://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."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Gospel_of_John#Chapter_14][https://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.

*3. [[Jesus]]' concept—God as a living [[friend]], a [[loving]] [[Father]], the divine presence.

*3. [[Jesus]]' concept—God as a living [[friend]], a [[loving]] [[Father]], the divine presence.

5:4.11 It must therefore be evident that composite [[Christian]] [[theology]] encounters great difficulty in [[attaining]] consistency. This difficulty is further aggravated by the [[fact]] that the doctrines of early Christianity were generally based on the personal religious experience of three different persons: [[Philo]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria Alexandria], [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]], and [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsus_(city) Tarsus].

5:4.11 It must therefore be evident that composite [[Christian]] [[theology]] encounters great difficulty in [[attaining]] consistency. This difficulty is further aggravated by the [[fact]] that the doctrines of early Christianity were generally based on the personal religious experience of three different persons: [[Philo]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria Alexandria], [[Jesus]] of [[Nazareth]], and [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarsus_(city) Tarsus].

5:4.12 In the [[study]] of the religious life of Jesus, view him positively. Think not so much of his sinlessness as of his [[Goodness|righteousness]], his loving [[service]]. Jesus upstepped the passive love disclosed in the Hebrew concept of the heavenly Father to the higher active and creature-loving [[affection]] of a God who is the [[Father]] of every [[individual]], even of the wrongdoer.

5:4.12 In the [[study]] of the religious life of Jesus, view him positively. Think not so much of his sinlessness as of his [[Goodness|righteousness]], his loving [[service]]. Jesus upstepped the passive love disclosed in the Hebrew concept of the heavenly Father to the higher active and creature-loving [[affection]] of a God who is the [[Father]] of every [[individual]], even of the wrongdoer.

5:5.2 Religion is not grounded in the [[facts]] of [[science]], the obligations of [[society]], the [[assumptions]] of [[philosophy]], or the implied [[Duty|duties]] of morality. Religion is an independent realm of human [[response]] to life situations and is unfailingly exhibited at all stages of human development which are postmoral. Religion may permeate all four levels of the [[realization]] of [[values]] and the enjoyment of universe [[Friendship|fellowship]]: the [[physical]] or [[material]] level of self-preservation; the social or [[emotional]] level of fellowship; the moral or [[duty]] level of [[reason]]; the spiritual level of the [[consciousness]] of universe [[Friendship|fellowship]] through [[divine]] [[worship]].

5:5.2 Religion is not grounded in the [[facts]] of [[science]], the obligations of [[society]], the [[assumptions]] of [[philosophy]], or the implied [[Duty|duties]] of morality. Religion is an independent realm of human [[response]] to life situations and is unfailingly exhibited at all stages of human development which are postmoral. Religion may permeate all four levels of the [[realization]] of [[values]] and the enjoyment of universe [[Friendship|fellowship]]: the [[physical]] or [[material]] level of self-preservation; the social or [[emotional]] level of fellowship; the moral or [[duty]] level of [[reason]]; the spiritual level of the [[consciousness]] of universe [[Friendship|fellowship]] through [[divine]] [[worship]].

5:5.3 The [[fact]]-seeking [[scientist]] conceives of God as the First [[Cause]], a God of [[force]]. The [[emotional]] artist sees God as the [[ideal]] of [[beauty]], a God of [[aesthetics]]. The reasoning [[philosopher]] is sometimes inclined to posit a God of [[universal]] [[unity]], even a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheism pantheistic] Deity. The religionist of [[faith]] believes in a God who fosters [[survival]], the [[Father]] in [[heaven]], the God of [[love]].

5:5.3 The [[fact]]-seeking [[scientist]] conceives of God as the First [[Cause]], a God of [[force]]. The [[emotional]] artist sees God as the [[ideal]] of [[beauty]], a God of [[aesthetics]]. The reasoning [[philosopher]] is sometimes inclined to posit a God of [[universal]] [[unity]], even a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheism pantheistic] Deity. The religionist of [[faith]] believes in a God who fosters [[survival]], the [[Father]] in [[heaven]], the God of [[love]].

5:5.4 Moral [[Behavior|conduct]] is always an antecedent of evolved religion and a part of even revealed religion, but never the whole of [[religious]] [[experience]]. Social [[service]] is the result of moral [[thinking]] and religious living. Morality does not [[biologically]] lead to the higher spiritual levels of religious experience. The [[adoration]] of the [[abstract]] [[beautiful]] is not the [[worship]] of God; neither is exaltation of [[nature]] nor the reverence of [[unity]] the worship of God.

5:5.4 Moral [[Behavior|conduct]] is always an antecedent of evolved religion and a part of even revealed religion, but never the whole of [[religious]] [[experience]]. Social [[service]] is the result of moral [[thinking]] and religious living. Morality does not [[biologically]] lead to the higher spiritual levels of religious experience. The [[adoration]] of the [[abstract]] [[beautiful]] is not the [[worship]] of God; neither is exaltation of [[nature]] nor the reverence of [[unity]] the worship of God.