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, 21:56, 18 July 2011Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame 92:7.1 Religion can never become a scientific fact. Philosophy may, indeed, rest on a [[sci...'
[[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:The_eye_of_all_ur60.jpg|right|frame]]
92:7.1 [[Religion]] can never become a [[scientific]] [[fact]]. [[Philosophy]] may, indeed, rest on a [[scientific]] basis, but [[religion]] will ever remain either [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:3._THE_NATURE_OF_EVOLUTIONARY_RELIGION evolutionary] or [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:4._THE_GIFT_OF_REVELATION revelatory], or a possible combination of both, as it is in the world today.
92:7.2 New religions cannot be [[invented]]; they are either evolved, or else they are suddenly revealed. All new [[evolutionary]] [[religions]] are merely advancing [[expressions]] of the old [[beliefs]], new adaptations and [[adjustments]]. The old does not cease to exist; it is merged with the new, even as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism Sikhism] budded and blossomed out of the [[soil]] and forms of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism Buddhism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam Islam], and other contemporary [[cults]]. [[Primitive]] [[religion]] was very [[democratic]]; the [[savage]] was quick to borrow or lend. Only with [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:4._THE_GIFT_OF_REVELATION revealed religion] did [[autocratic]] and intolerant theologic [[egotism]] appear.
92:7.3 The many [[religions]] of [[Urantia]] are all [[good]] to the extent that they bring man to [[God]] and bring the [[realization]] of [[the Father]] to man. It is a [[fallacy]] for any [[group]] of religionists to conceive of their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creed creed] as The Truth; such [[attitudes]] bespeak more of [[theological]] arrogance than of certainty of [[faith]]. There is not a [[Urantia]] [[religion]] that could not profitably [[study]] and assimilate the best of the [[truths]] contained in every other [[faith]], for all contain [[truth]]. Religionists would do better to borrow the best in their [[neighbors]]' living spiritual [[faith]] rather than to denounce the worst in their lingering [[superstitions]] and outworn [[rituals]].
92:7.4 All these [[religions]] have arisen as a result of man's variable [[intellectual]] [[response]] to his identical [[spiritual]] leading. They can never [[hope]] to [[attain]] a [[uniformity]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creed creeds], [[dogmas]], and [[rituals]]—these are [[intellectual]]; but they can, and some day will, [[realize]] a [[unity]] in true [[worship]] of [[the Father]] of all, for this is [[spiritual]], and it is forever true, in the [[spirit]] all men are [[equal]].
92:7.5 [[Primitive]] [[religion]] was largely a [[material]]-[[value]] [[consciousness]], but [[civilization]] elevates religious [[values]], for true [[religion]] is the [[devotion]] of the [[self]] to the [[service]] of meaningful and [[supreme]] [[values]]. As [[religion]] evolves, [[ethics]] becomes the [[philosophy]] of [[morals]], and [[morality]] becomes the [[discipline]] of [[self]] by the [[standards]] of highest [[meanings]] and supreme [[values]]—[[divine]] and [[spiritual]] [[ideals]]. And thus [[religion]] becomes a [[spontaneous]] and exquisite [[devotion]], the living [[experience]] of the [[loyalty]] of [[love]].
92:7.6 The [[quality]] of a [[religion]] is indicated by:
*1. Level of [[values]]—loyalties.
*2. Depth of [[meanings]]—the [[sensitization]] of the [[individual]] to the idealistic [[appreciation]] of these highest values.
*3. [[Consecration]] [[intensity]]—the [[degree]] of [[devotion]] to these [[divine]] [[values]].
*4. The unfettered [[progress]] of the [[personality]] in this [[cosmic]] path of idealistic [[spiritual]] living, [[realization]] of sonship with God and never-ending progressive [[citizenship]] in the [[universe]].
92:7.7 Religious [[meanings]] [[progress]] in [[self-consciousness]] when the child [[transfers]] his [[ideas]] of [[omnipotence]] from his [[parents]] to [[God]]. And the entire [[religious]] [[experience]] of such a [[child]] is largely dependent on whether [[fear]] or [[love]] has [[dominated]] the [[parent]]-[[child]] [[relationship]]. [[Slaves]] have always [[experienced]] great [[difficulty]] in transferring their master-[[fear]] into [[concepts]] of [[God]]-[[love]]. [[Civilization]], [[science]], and advanced [[religions]] must deliver [[mankind]] from those fears born of the dread of [[natural]] [[phenomena]]. And so should greater [[enlightenment]] deliver educated [[mortals]] from all dependence on intermediaries in [[communion]] with [[Deity]].
92:7.8 These [[intermediate]] [[stages]] of [[idolatrous]] hesitation in the [[transfer]] of [[veneration]] from the [[human]] and the visible to the [[divine]] and [[invisible]] are [[inevitable]], but they should be shortened by the [[consciousness]] of the facilitating ministry of the [[indwelling divine spirit]]. Nevertheless, man has been [[profoundly]] [[influenced]], not only by his [[concepts]] of [[Deity]], but also by the [[character]] of the [[heroes]] whom he has chosen to [[honor]]. It is most unfortunate that those who have come to [[venerate]] the divine and risen [[Christ]] should have overlooked the man—the valiant and [[courageous]] [[hero]]—[[Jesus|Joshua ben Joseph]].
92:7.9 [[Modern]] man is adequately [[self-conscious]] of [[religion]], but his [[worshipful]] [[customs]] are [[confused]] and discredited by his [[accelerated]] [[social]] [[metamorphosis]] and unprecedented [[scientific]] [[developments]]. [[Thinking]] men and women want [[religion]] redefined, and this demand will compel religion to re-evaluate itself.
92:7.10 [[Modern]] man is confronted with the task of making more readjustments of human [[values]] in one [[generation]] than have been made in two thousand years. And this all [[influences]] the [[social]] [[attitude]] toward [[religion]], for religion is a way of living as well as a [[technique]] of [[thinking]].
92:7.11 True [[religion]] must ever be, at one and the same time, the [[eternal]] [[foundation]] and the guiding [[star]] of all [[Sustainable|enduring]] [[civilizations]].
92:7.12 Presented by a [[Melchizedek]] of [[Nebadon]].
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92 Go to Paper 92]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 92 - Later Evolution of Religion]]
92:7.1 [[Religion]] can never become a [[scientific]] [[fact]]. [[Philosophy]] may, indeed, rest on a [[scientific]] basis, but [[religion]] will ever remain either [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:3._THE_NATURE_OF_EVOLUTIONARY_RELIGION evolutionary] or [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:4._THE_GIFT_OF_REVELATION revelatory], or a possible combination of both, as it is in the world today.
92:7.2 New religions cannot be [[invented]]; they are either evolved, or else they are suddenly revealed. All new [[evolutionary]] [[religions]] are merely advancing [[expressions]] of the old [[beliefs]], new adaptations and [[adjustments]]. The old does not cease to exist; it is merged with the new, even as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikhism Sikhism] budded and blossomed out of the [[soil]] and forms of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism Buddhism], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam Islam], and other contemporary [[cults]]. [[Primitive]] [[religion]] was very [[democratic]]; the [[savage]] was quick to borrow or lend. Only with [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:4._THE_GIFT_OF_REVELATION revealed religion] did [[autocratic]] and intolerant theologic [[egotism]] appear.
92:7.3 The many [[religions]] of [[Urantia]] are all [[good]] to the extent that they bring man to [[God]] and bring the [[realization]] of [[the Father]] to man. It is a [[fallacy]] for any [[group]] of religionists to conceive of their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creed creed] as The Truth; such [[attitudes]] bespeak more of [[theological]] arrogance than of certainty of [[faith]]. There is not a [[Urantia]] [[religion]] that could not profitably [[study]] and assimilate the best of the [[truths]] contained in every other [[faith]], for all contain [[truth]]. Religionists would do better to borrow the best in their [[neighbors]]' living spiritual [[faith]] rather than to denounce the worst in their lingering [[superstitions]] and outworn [[rituals]].
92:7.4 All these [[religions]] have arisen as a result of man's variable [[intellectual]] [[response]] to his identical [[spiritual]] leading. They can never [[hope]] to [[attain]] a [[uniformity]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creed creeds], [[dogmas]], and [[rituals]]—these are [[intellectual]]; but they can, and some day will, [[realize]] a [[unity]] in true [[worship]] of [[the Father]] of all, for this is [[spiritual]], and it is forever true, in the [[spirit]] all men are [[equal]].
92:7.5 [[Primitive]] [[religion]] was largely a [[material]]-[[value]] [[consciousness]], but [[civilization]] elevates religious [[values]], for true [[religion]] is the [[devotion]] of the [[self]] to the [[service]] of meaningful and [[supreme]] [[values]]. As [[religion]] evolves, [[ethics]] becomes the [[philosophy]] of [[morals]], and [[morality]] becomes the [[discipline]] of [[self]] by the [[standards]] of highest [[meanings]] and supreme [[values]]—[[divine]] and [[spiritual]] [[ideals]]. And thus [[religion]] becomes a [[spontaneous]] and exquisite [[devotion]], the living [[experience]] of the [[loyalty]] of [[love]].
92:7.6 The [[quality]] of a [[religion]] is indicated by:
*1. Level of [[values]]—loyalties.
*2. Depth of [[meanings]]—the [[sensitization]] of the [[individual]] to the idealistic [[appreciation]] of these highest values.
*3. [[Consecration]] [[intensity]]—the [[degree]] of [[devotion]] to these [[divine]] [[values]].
*4. The unfettered [[progress]] of the [[personality]] in this [[cosmic]] path of idealistic [[spiritual]] living, [[realization]] of sonship with God and never-ending progressive [[citizenship]] in the [[universe]].
92:7.7 Religious [[meanings]] [[progress]] in [[self-consciousness]] when the child [[transfers]] his [[ideas]] of [[omnipotence]] from his [[parents]] to [[God]]. And the entire [[religious]] [[experience]] of such a [[child]] is largely dependent on whether [[fear]] or [[love]] has [[dominated]] the [[parent]]-[[child]] [[relationship]]. [[Slaves]] have always [[experienced]] great [[difficulty]] in transferring their master-[[fear]] into [[concepts]] of [[God]]-[[love]]. [[Civilization]], [[science]], and advanced [[religions]] must deliver [[mankind]] from those fears born of the dread of [[natural]] [[phenomena]]. And so should greater [[enlightenment]] deliver educated [[mortals]] from all dependence on intermediaries in [[communion]] with [[Deity]].
92:7.8 These [[intermediate]] [[stages]] of [[idolatrous]] hesitation in the [[transfer]] of [[veneration]] from the [[human]] and the visible to the [[divine]] and [[invisible]] are [[inevitable]], but they should be shortened by the [[consciousness]] of the facilitating ministry of the [[indwelling divine spirit]]. Nevertheless, man has been [[profoundly]] [[influenced]], not only by his [[concepts]] of [[Deity]], but also by the [[character]] of the [[heroes]] whom he has chosen to [[honor]]. It is most unfortunate that those who have come to [[venerate]] the divine and risen [[Christ]] should have overlooked the man—the valiant and [[courageous]] [[hero]]—[[Jesus|Joshua ben Joseph]].
92:7.9 [[Modern]] man is adequately [[self-conscious]] of [[religion]], but his [[worshipful]] [[customs]] are [[confused]] and discredited by his [[accelerated]] [[social]] [[metamorphosis]] and unprecedented [[scientific]] [[developments]]. [[Thinking]] men and women want [[religion]] redefined, and this demand will compel religion to re-evaluate itself.
92:7.10 [[Modern]] man is confronted with the task of making more readjustments of human [[values]] in one [[generation]] than have been made in two thousand years. And this all [[influences]] the [[social]] [[attitude]] toward [[religion]], for religion is a way of living as well as a [[technique]] of [[thinking]].
92:7.11 True [[religion]] must ever be, at one and the same time, the [[eternal]] [[foundation]] and the guiding [[star]] of all [[Sustainable|enduring]] [[civilizations]].
92:7.12 Presented by a [[Melchizedek]] of [[Nebadon]].
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92 Go to Paper 92]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 92 - Later Evolution of Religion]]
