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==103:9. THE ESSENCE OF RELIGION==

==103:9. THE ESSENCE OF RELIGION==

103:9.1 Theology deals with the intellectual content of religion, metaphysics (revelation) with the philosophic aspects. Religious experience is the spiritual content of religion. Notwithstanding the mythologic vagaries and the psychologic illusions of the intellectual content of religion, the metaphysical assumptions of error and the techniques of self-deception, the political distortions and the socioeconomic perversions of the philosophic content of religion, the spiritual experience of personal religion remains genuine and valid.

103:9.1 [[Theology]] deals with the [[intellectual]] [[content]] of [[religion]], [[metaphysics]] ([[revelation]]) with the philosophic aspects. Religious [[experience]] is the spiritual [[content]] of [[religion]]. Notwithstanding the [[mythologic]] vagaries and the [[psychologic]] [[illusions]] of the [[intellectual]] [[content]] of [[religion]], the [[metaphysical]] [[assumptions]] of [[error]] and the ''techniques'' of [[self]]-[[deception]], the [[political]] [[distortions]] and the socioeconomic [[perversions]] of the philosophic [[content]] of [[religion]], the [[spiritual]] [[experience]] of [[personal]] religion remains [[genuine]] and valid.

103:9.2 Religion has to do with feeling, acting, and living, not merely with thinking. Thinking is more closely related to the material life and should be in the main, but not altogether, dominated by reason and the facts of science and, in its nonmaterial reaches toward the spirit realms, by truth. No matter how illusory and erroneous one's theology, one's religion may be wholly genuine and everlastingly true.

103:9.2 [[Religion]] has to do with [[feeling]], [[acting]], and living, not merely with [[thinking]]. [[Thinking]] is more closely related to the [[material]] life and should be in the main, but not altogether, [[dominated]] by [[reason]] and the [[facts]] of [[science]] and, in its nonmaterial reaches toward the [[spirit]] realms, by [[truth]]. No matter how [[illusory]] and [[erroneous]] one's [[theology]], one's [[religion]] may be wholly genuine and everlastingly true.

103:9.3 Buddhism in its original form is one of the best religions without a God which has arisen throughout all the evolutionary history of Urantia, although, as this faith developed, it did not remain godless. Religion without faith is a contradiction; without God, a philosophic inconsistency and an intellectual absurdity.

103:9.3 [[Buddhism]] in its [[original]] form is one of the best religions without a [[God]] which has arisen throughout all the [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents#Part_III._The_History_of_Urantia evolutionary history of Urantia], although, as this [[faith]] developed, it did not remain godless. [[Religion]] without [[faith]] is a [[contradiction]]; without [[God]], a philosophic inconsistency and an [[intellectual]] [[absurdity]].

103:9.4 The magical and mythological parentage of natural religion does not invalidate the reality and truth of the later revelational religions and the consummate saving gospel of the religion of Jesus. Jesus' life and teachings finally divested religion of the superstitions of magic, the illusions of mythology, and the bondage of traditional dogmatism. But this early magic and mythology very effectively prepared the way for later and superior religion by assuming the existence and reality of supermaterial values and beings.

103:9.4 The [[magical]] and [[mythological]] parentage of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_86#86:7._THE_FUNCTION_OF_PRIMITIVE_RELIGION natural religion] does not invalidate the [[reality]] and [[truth]] of the later [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_92#92:4._THE_GIFT_OF_REVELATION revelational religions] and the consummate saving [[gospel]] of the religion of [[Jesus]]. [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents#Part_IV._The_Life_and_Teachings_of_Jesus Jesus' life and teachings] finally divested [[religion]] of the [[superstitions]] of [[magic]], the [[illusions]] of [[mythology]], and the bondage of [[traditional]] [[dogmatism]]. But this early [[magic]] and [[mythology]] very effectively [[prepared]] the way for later and superior [[religion]] by assuming the [[existence]] and [[reality]] of supermaterial [[values]] and [[beings]].

103:9.5 Although religious experience is a purely spiritual subjective phenomenon, such an experience embraces a positive and living faith attitude toward the highest realms of universe objective reality. The ideal of religious philosophy is such a faith-trust as would lead man unqualifiedly to depend upon the absolute love of the infinite Father of the universe of universes. Such a genuine religious experience far transcends the philosophic objectification of idealistic desire; it actually takes salvation for granted and concerns itself only with learning and doing the will of the Father in Paradise. The earmarks of such a religion are: faith in a supreme Deity, hope of eternal survival, and love, especially of one's fellows.

103:9.5 Although [[religious]] [[experience]] is a [[purely]] [[spiritual]] [[subjective]] [[phenomenon]], such an [[experience]] [[embraces]] a [[positive]] and living [[faith]] [[attitude]] toward the highest realms of [[universe]] [[objective]] [[reality]]. The [[ideal]] of [[religious]] [[philosophy]] is such a [[faith]]-[[trust]] as would lead man unqualifiedly to depend upon the [[absolute]] [[love]] of the [[Universal Father|infinite Father]] of the [[universe of universes]]. Such a genuine [[religious]] [[experience]] far [[transcends]] the philosophic objectification of idealistic [[desire]]; it [[actually]] takes [[salvation]] for granted and concerns itself only with learning and [[doing the will of the Father]] in [[Paradise]]. The earmarks of such a [[religion]] are: [[faith]] in a [[supreme]] [[Deity]], [[hope]] of [[eternal]] [[survival]], and [[love]], especially of one's fellows.

103:9.6 When theology masters religion, religion dies; it becomes a doctrine instead of a life. The mission of theology is merely to facilitate the self-consciousness of personal spiritual experience. Theology constitutes the religious effort to define, clarify, expound, and justify the experiential claims of religion, which, in the last analysis, can be validated only by living faith. In the higher philosophy of the universe, wisdom, like reason, becomes allied to faith. Reason, wisdom, and faith are man's highest human attainments. Reason introduces man to the world of facts, to things; wisdom introduces him to a world of truth, to relationships; faith initiates him into a world of divinity, spiritual experience.

103:9.6 When theology masters religion, religion dies; it becomes a doctrine instead of a life. The mission of theology is merely to facilitate the self-consciousness of personal spiritual experience. Theology constitutes the religious effort to define, clarify, expound, and justify the experiential claims of religion, which, in the last analysis, can be validated only by living faith. In the higher philosophy of the universe, wisdom, like reason, becomes allied to faith. Reason, wisdom, and faith are man's highest human attainments. Reason introduces man to the world of facts, to things; wisdom introduces him to a world of truth, to relationships; faith initiates him into a world of divinity, spiritual experience.