Changes

===Lesson===

===Lesson===

===='''''[[Character]]'''''====

===='''''[[Character]]'''''====

[[Character]] evolves [[fruits of the spirit]], but also is more concerned or central to the trunk and branches of the tree that hold the fruits. Character must [[grow]] in [[strength]] along with [[wisdom]] that your fruits can be upheld in the world and not pull you into areas of [[confusion]] such as we have [[witnessed]] in the recent [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_(religious_group)#Mass_suicide_and_aftermath mass suicides in San Diego].

[[Character]] evolves [[fruits of the spirit]], but also is more concerned or central to the trunk and branches of the tree that hold the fruits. Character must [[grow]] in [[strength]] along with [[wisdom]] that your fruits can be upheld in the world and not pull you into areas of [[confusion]] such as we have [[witnessed]] in the recent [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_(religious_group)#Mass_suicide_and_aftermath mass suicides in San Diego].

[[Character]] involves [[courage]], and courage requires the [[thinking]] mortal to bravely [[listen]] to opposing view points, accepting that others who don't necessarily ascribe to your own [[view point]]s are not in [[error]]. Courage involves [[exploring]] different views and [[attitudes]] and [[information]], and from these constructing your own code of life. [[Courage]] involves allowing your own code of life to be [[unique]] and special.

[[Character]] involves [[courage]], and courage requires the [[thinking]] mortal to bravely [[listen]] to opposing view points, accepting that others who don't necessarily ascribe to your own [[view point]]s are not in [[error]]. Courage involves [[exploring]] different views and [[attitudes]] and [[information]], and from these constructing your own code of life. [[Courage]] involves allowing your own code of life to be [[unique]] and special.

Ham: Yes, as long as you know the [[difference]]. One is always striving for righteousness and so of course there are times when you can do things that astonish you by there sheer [[unselfishness]], but [[gradually]] each person becomes a little less [[selfish]], a little less self-absorbed only over time. The occasional [[dramatic]] act does not alter this gradual [[process]].

Ham: Yes, as long as you know the [[difference]]. One is always striving for righteousness and so of course there are times when you can do things that astonish you by there sheer [[unselfishness]], but [[gradually]] each person becomes a little less [[selfish]], a little less self-absorbed only over time. The occasional [[dramatic]] act does not alter this gradual [[process]].

===='''''[[Socialization]]'''''====

===='''''[[Socialization]]'''''====

Q: The thing that bothered me the most about [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_%28religious_group%29 San Diego tragedy] was the [[faith]] and [[sincerity]] of those people and even some reasonably correct [[beliefs]] mixed in with [[error]] and [[confusion]]. How do we guard ourselves against this, against [[embracing]] [[confusion]] with great [[faith]] and [[sincerity]], without losing faith or becoming cynical?

Q: The thing that bothered me the most about [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_%28religious_group%29 San Diego tragedy] was the [[faith]] and [[sincerity]] of those people and even some reasonably correct [[beliefs]] mixed in with [[error]] and [[confusion]]. How do we guard ourselves against this, against [[embracing]] [[confusion]] with great [[faith]] and [[sincerity]], without losing faith or becoming cynical?

Ham: The most sure way of protecting yourself against this kind of [[confusion]] is to maintain wide social [[interaction]]. People who are [[isolated]] can easily reinforce each other in erroneous [[thinking]]. So, maintaining wide [[intellectual]] interests and [[understandings]] and wide social interaction guards quite effectively against that kind of thing.

Ham: The most sure way of protecting yourself against this kind of [[confusion]] is to maintain wide social [[interaction]]. People who are [[isolated]] can easily reinforce each other in erroneous [[thinking]]. So, maintaining wide [[intellectual]] interests and [[understandings]] and wide social interaction guards quite effectively against that kind of thing.

Q: Regarding the tragedy in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_%28religious_group%29 San Diego], is there some [[truth]] that the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Hale%E2%80%93Bopp comet Hale- Bopp] will bring dramatic [[changes]] to [[Urantia]]?

Q: Regarding the tragedy in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven%27s_Gate_%28religious_group%29 San Diego], is there some [[truth]] that the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Hale%E2%80%93Bopp comet Hale- Bopp] will bring dramatic [[changes]] to [[Urantia]]?

Ham: No. It is not likely that this body can [[change]] or [[influence]] any thing dramatically on [[Urantia]] at this time. Probably my understanding is that the coming of the millennium has many implications which are very real and some which are [[confusion]] and will not likely be [[manifest]] in [[reality]]. There are not likely to be more serious [[calamities]] occurring in the next three years as have occurred in the past three years.

Ham: No. It is not likely that this body can [[change]] or [[influence]] any thing dramatically on [[Urantia]] at this time. Probably my understanding is that the coming of the millennium has many implications which are very real and some which are [[confusion]] and will not likely be [[manifest]] in [[reality]]. There are not likely to be more serious [[calamities]] occurring in the next three years as have occurred in the past three years.

Ham: Yes, I am here, but I am not in her [[body]] per se. I am just close, [[soul]] to soul.

Ham: Yes, I am here, but I am not in her [[body]] per se. I am just close, [[soul]] to soul.

===='''''[[Thinking]]''''', '''''[[Belief]]'''''====

===='''''[[Thinking]]''''', '''''[[Belief]]'''''====

Q: Earlier you said, "[[Courage]] involves exploring [[different]] views and [[attitudes]] and [[information]], and from these constructing your own code of life". I was [[wondering]] if I [[interpret]] this to mean we need to engage in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking critical thinking], to carefully [[evaluate]] all the [[information]] we get, am I interpreting this correctly?

Q: Earlier you said, "[[Courage]] involves exploring [[different]] views and [[attitudes]] and [[information]], and from these constructing your own code of life". I was [[wondering]] if I [[interpret]] this to mean we need to engage in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking critical thinking], to carefully [[evaluate]] all the [[information]] we get, am I interpreting this correctly?

Ham: Yes, its partially correct. I would also say it is correct to be open to [[truth]] no matter how it is clothed. Sometimes the [[semantic]] clothing of a [[idea]] can be an [[obstacle]] to understanding the idea.

Ham: Yes, its partially correct. I would also say it is correct to be open to [[truth]] no matter how it is clothed. Sometimes the [[semantic]] clothing of a [[idea]] can be an [[obstacle]] to understanding the idea.