Changes

Evolution means that the creative plan is gradually and progressively developing through the provision for, and the fostering of, the slow growth of the capacities of the creatures concerned. (357, 2) A created being starts with an original status that he did not earn; it was bestowed upon him by the action of a pre-existent Creator. (52, 2) In contrast to this, an evolutionary being earns everything - ". . . even his status as an ascension candidate." (ibid.) To make this point very clear, let us consider three examples of creation in contrast to evolution:

Evolution means that the creative plan is gradually and progressively developing through the provision for, and the fostering of, the slow growth of the capacities of the creatures concerned. (357, 2) A created being starts with an original status that he did not earn; it was bestowed upon him by the action of a pre-existent Creator. (52, 2) In contrast to this, an evolutionary being earns everything - ". . . even his status as an ascension candidate." (ibid.) To make this point very clear, let us consider three examples of creation in contrast to evolution:

:(a) Pure Creation. The Ancients of Days are a good example of an order of being endowed with perfection by fiat of creation. They are described as ". . . the most perfect, most versatile, and most divinely endowed rulers in all time-space existence." And these qualities are present by virtue of the creative action of the Paradise Trinity; these qualities have not been experientially earned. ( 207, 10-11); ( 210, 1-3)

:(a) ''Pure Creation''. The Ancients of Days are a good example of an order of being endowed with perfection by fiat of creation. They are described as ". . . the most perfect, most versatile, and most divinely endowed rulers in all time-space existence." And these qualities are present by virtue of the creative action of the Paradise Trinity; these qualities have not been experientially earned. ( 207, 10-11); ( 210, 1-3)

:(b) Creation plus evolution. Seraphim are created beings and they are also evolutionary beings. Angels have nothing to do with earning their original status; they are given such status by the act of a pre-existent Creator - by the action of a local universe Creative Spirit. ( 418, 4) When such seraphim are created, they are projected at a divinity- and-functional level that is considerably lower than that of the seconaphim of the superuniverses. By personal effort and evolutionary growth the seraphim can close this gap, so that they eventually function as the co-ordinates of seconaphim. ( 441, 6)

:(b) ''Creation plus evolution''. Seraphim are created beings and they are also evolutionary beings. Angels have nothing to do with earning their original status; they are given such status by the act of a pre-existent Creator - by the action of a local universe Creative Spirit. ( 418, 4) When such seraphim are created, they are projected at a divinity- and-functional level that is considerably lower than that of the seconaphim of the superuniverses. By personal effort and evolutionary growth the seraphim can close this gap, so that they eventually function as the co-ordinates of seconaphim. ( 441, 6)

:(c) Pure evolution. Mortal creatures are completely evolutionary. They are not created; they are procreated on the inhabited worlds by mortal parents. They first earn status as faith sons ( 448, 3-8), then they earn a higher status as ascending sons ( 447, 6), as spirit beings (342, 6), as Havona pilgrims ( 290, 4-5), as Paradise arrivals ( 290, 6), and finally, as finaliters. ( 351, 2) Everything of survival value in an ascending mortal has evolved through the cooperation of that mortal creature with the indwelling spirit of God, the Adjuster. (1205,1) Even the arrival of the Adjuster must await the first moral decision of the human being concerned. (1186, 9)

:(c) ''Pure evolution''. Mortal creatures are completely evolutionary. They are not created; they are procreated on the inhabited worlds by mortal parents. They first earn status as faith sons ( 448, 3-8), then they earn a higher status as ascending sons ( 447, 6), as spirit beings (342, 6), as Havona pilgrims ( 290, 4-5), as Paradise arrivals ( 290, 6), and finally, as finaliters. ( 351, 2) Everything of survival value in an ascending mortal has evolved through the cooperation of that mortal creature with the indwelling spirit of God, the Adjuster. (1205,1) Even the arrival of the Adjuster must await the first moral decision of the human being concerned. (1186, 9)

The uniqueness of evolution. Evolutionary beings encompass meaning-values that are not creatable. The legal experts, the Technical Advisors, "could not be created." ( 280, 5) The Perfectors of Wisdom personify the existential wisdom of the Paradise Trinity ( 216, 2), but they still require the complement of experiential wisdom provided by the Trinitized Sons of Attainment. ( 216, 4) And there are other illustrations.

''The uniqueness of evolution''. Evolutionary beings encompass meaning-values that are not creatable. The legal experts, the Technical Advisors, "could not be created." ( 280, 5) The Perfectors of Wisdom personify the existential wisdom of the Paradise Trinity ( 216, 2), but they still require the complement of experiential wisdom provided by the Trinitized Sons of Attainment. ( 216, 4) And there are other illustrations.

Evolution is creativity-in-time, but it is also something more than this. Evolution can produce certain meanings and values that are not creatable. In the process of evolutionary growth, the Creator and the creature are in partnership - even as man may enter into partnership with the eternal God through cooperation with God's indwelling spirit, the Adjuster. All of this is well summarized in a statement in the Papers. (1279, 3) When time-space experience is united with Paradise perfection, the net result is something new in the meanings and values of the levels concerned.

Evolution is creativity-in-time, but it is also something more than this. Evolution can produce certain meanings and values that are not creatable. In the process of evolutionary growth, the Creator and the creature are in partnership - even as man may enter into partnership with the eternal God through cooperation with God's indwelling spirit, the Adjuster. All of this is well summarized in a statement in the Papers. (1279, 3) When time-space experience is united with Paradise perfection, the net result is something new in the meanings and values of the levels concerned.

The mechanics of evolution. We speak of evolution and of evolutionary growth, but what are we talking about? just what goes on in this evolutionary process? On the inhabited worlds, evolution starts as a mechanical process that is developing capacity for mind ministry. With the development of human life, this growth technique becomes potentially spiritual in direction. ( 730, 2-6) We are informed that intellectual selfhood originates in cosmic mind, just as nebulae originate in cosmic force. On the human level such evolution may become spiritual through cooperation between the Adjuster and the personality of man. (1216, 4)

''The mechanics of evolution''. We speak of evolution and of evolutionary growth, but what are we talking about? just what goes on in this evolutionary process? On the inhabited worlds, evolution starts as a mechanical process that is developing capacity for mind ministry. With the development of human life, this growth technique becomes potentially spiritual in direction. ( 730, 2-6) We are informed that intellectual selfhood originates in cosmic mind, just as nebulae originate in cosmic force. On the human level such evolution may become spiritual through cooperation between the Adjuster and the personality of man. (1216, 4)

Just how does man evolve? in this life and in the next? We are instructed in the Papers that the "keys of the kingdom" are sincerity plus more sincerity, and we make progress therein by decisions plus more decisions. ( 435, 8) Elsewhere, the Papers say that "action [is the] completion of decisions." (1211, 3) What does this mean? It seems to mean that creature growth has its inception in honesty, is realized by courage, and is consummated by doing something. (Of course, in all this discussion, we are assuming that the decision-action is good; bad or evil decision-action would appear to lead to disintegration.)

Just how does man evolve? in this life and in the next? We are instructed in the Papers that the "keys of the kingdom" are sincerity plus more sincerity, and we make progress therein by decisions plus more decisions. ( 435, 8) Elsewhere, the Papers say that "action [is the] completion of decisions." (1211, 3) What does this mean? It seems to mean that creature growth has its inception in honesty, is realized by courage, and is consummated by doing something. (Of course, in all this discussion, we are assuming that the decision-action is good; bad or evil decision-action would appear to lead to disintegration.)