Difference between revisions of "133:6 At Ephesus—Discourse on the Soul"
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| − | 133:6.1 On leaving [ | + | 133:6.1 On leaving [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Athens Athens], the travelers went by way of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troad Troas] to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus Ephesus], the [[capital]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_%28Roman_province%29 Roman province of Asia]. They made many trips out to the famous [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Artemis temple of Artemis] of the Ephesians, about two miles from the [[city]]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis Artemis] was the most famous [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goddess goddess] of all [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_Minor Asia Minor] and a perpetuation of the still earlier [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_goddess mother goddess] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Anatolia ancient Anatolian] times. The crude [[idol]] exhibited in the enormous [[temple]] [[dedicated]] to her [[worship]] was reputed to have fallen from [[heaven]]. Not all of Ganid's early [[training]] to respect images as [[symbols]] of [[divinity]] had been eradicated, and he [[thought]] it best to purchase a little silver [[shrine]] in [[honor]] of this [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertility_goddess fertility goddess] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_Minor Asia Minor]. That night they talked at great length about the [[worship]] of [[things]] made with human hands. |
| − | 133:6.2 On the third day of their stay they walked down by the [[river]] to observe the dredging of the [[harbor]]'s mouth. At noon they talked with a young [ | + | 133:6.2 On the third day of their stay they walked down by the [[river]] to observe the dredging of the [[harbor]]'s mouth. At noon they talked with a young [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenicia Phoenician] who was homesick and much discouraged; but most of all he was envious of a certain young man who had received promotion over his head. [[Jesus]] spoke comforting [[words]] to him and quoted the olden [[Hebrew]] proverb: " A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. "[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Proverbs#Proverb_.18] |
| − | 133:6.3 Of all the large [[cities]] they visited on this tour of the [[Mediterranean]], they here accomplished the least of [[value]] to the subsequent [[work]] of the [[Christian]] [[mission]]aries. Christianity secured its start in [ | + | 133:6.3 Of all the large [[cities]] they visited on this tour of the [[Mediterranean]], they here accomplished the least of [[value]] to the subsequent [[work]] of the [[Christian]] [[mission]]aries. Christianity secured its start in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus Ephesus] largely through the [[efforts]] of [[Paul, the Apostle|Paul]], who resided here more than two years, making tents for a living and conducting [[lecture]]s on [[religion]] and [[philosophy]] each night in the main [[audience]] chamber of the [https://www.israeljerusalem.com/school-of-tyrannus.htm school of Tyrannus]. |
133:6.4 There was a [[progressive]] [[thinker]] connected with this local [[school]] of [[philosophy]], and [[Jesus]] had several profitable sessions with him. In the [[course]] of these talks [[Jesus]] had repeatedly used the word " [[soul]]. " This learned [[Greek]] finally asked him what he meant by " [[soul]], " and he replied: | 133:6.4 There was a [[progressive]] [[thinker]] connected with this local [[school]] of [[philosophy]], and [[Jesus]] had several profitable sessions with him. In the [[course]] of these talks [[Jesus]] had repeatedly used the word " [[soul]]. " This learned [[Greek]] finally asked him what he meant by " [[soul]], " and he replied: | ||
| − | 133:6.5 " The [[soul]] is the [[self]]-[[reflective]], [[truth]]-[[discerning]], and [[spirit]]-[[perceiving]] part of man which forever elevates the [[human being]] above the level of the [[animal]] world. [[Self-consciousness]], in and of itself, is not the [[soul]]. [[Moral]] [[self-consciousness]] is true [[human]] [[self-realization]] and constitutes the [[foundation]] of the [ | + | 133:6.5 " The [[soul]] is the [[self]]-[[reflective]], [[truth]]-[[discerning]], and [[spirit]]-[[perceiving]] part of man which forever elevates the [[human being]] above the level of the [[animal]] world. [[Self-consciousness]], in and of itself, is not the [[soul]]. [[Moral]] [[self-consciousness]] is true [[human]] [[self-realization]] and constitutes the [[foundation]] of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_111#111:2._NATURE_OF_THE_SOUL human soul], and the [[soul]] is that part of man which [[represents]] the [[potential]] [[survival]] [[value]] of human [[experience]]. [[Moral]] [[choice]] and [[spiritual]] [[attainment]], the [[ability]] to know God and the urge to be like him, are the characteristics of the [[soul]]. The [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_111#111:3._THE_EVOLVING_SOUL soul of man] cannot exist apart from [[moral]] [[thinking]] and spiritual [[activity]]. A stagnant [[soul]] is a dying soul. But the soul of man is distinct from the [[Thought Adjuster|divine spirit]] which dwells within the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_111#111:1._THE_MIND_ARENA_OF_CHOICE mind]. The [[Thought Adjuster|divine spirit]] arrives ''simultaneously'' with the first [[moral]] [[activity]] of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_42#10._UNIVERSAL_NONSPIRITUAL_ENERGY_SYSTEMS_.28MATERIAL_MIND_SYSTEMS.29 human mind], and that is the occasion of the [[birth]] of the [[soul]]. |
133:6.6 " The saving or losing of a [[soul]] has to do with whether or not the [[moral]] [[consciousness]] attains [[survival]] [[status]] through [[eternal]] [[alliance]] with its [[associated]] [[immortal]] [[spirit]] [[endowment]]. [[Salvation]] is the spiritualization of the [[self-realization]] of the [[moral]] [[consciousness]], which thereby becomes possessed of [[survival]] [[value]]. All forms of soul [[conflict]] consist in the lack of [[harmony]] between the [[moral]], or [[spiritual]], [[self-consciousness]] and the [[purely]] [[intellectual]] [[self-consciousness]]. | 133:6.6 " The saving or losing of a [[soul]] has to do with whether or not the [[moral]] [[consciousness]] attains [[survival]] [[status]] through [[eternal]] [[alliance]] with its [[associated]] [[immortal]] [[spirit]] [[endowment]]. [[Salvation]] is the spiritualization of the [[self-realization]] of the [[moral]] [[consciousness]], which thereby becomes possessed of [[survival]] [[value]]. All forms of soul [[conflict]] consist in the lack of [[harmony]] between the [[moral]], or [[spiritual]], [[self-consciousness]] and the [[purely]] [[intellectual]] [[self-consciousness]]. | ||
| − | 133:6.7 " The [ | + | 133:6.7 " The [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_111#111:2._NATURE_OF_THE_SOUL human soul], when [[matured]], ennobled, and spiritualized, approaches the heavenly [[status]] in that it comes near to being an [[entity]] [[intervening]] between the [[material]] and the [[spiritual]], the [[material]] [[self]] and the [[Thought Adjuster|divine spirit]]. The [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_111#111:3._THE_EVOLVING_SOUL evolving soul] of a [[human being]] is [[difficult]] of description and more difficult of [[demonstration]] because it is not discoverable by the [[methods]] of either [[material]] [[investigation]] or spiritual [[Proof|proving]]. Material [[science]] cannot [[demonstrate]] the [[existence]] of a [[soul]], neither can [[pure]] spirit-testing. Notwithstanding the failure of both material [[science]] and spiritual [[standards]] to [[discover]] the [[existence]] of the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_111#111:2._NATURE_OF_THE_SOUL human soul], every [[morally]] [[conscious]] [[mortal]] knows of the [[existence]] of his [[soul]] as a real and [[actual]] [[personal]] [[experience]]. " |
| − | <center>[ | + | <center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_133 Go to Paper 133]</center> |
| − | <center>[ | + | <center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center> |
[[Category:Paper 133 - The Return From Rome]] | [[Category:Paper 133 - The Return From Rome]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Soul]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:02, 12 December 2020
133:6.1 On leaving Athens, the travelers went by way of Troas to Ephesus, the capital of the Roman province of Asia. They made many trips out to the famous temple of Artemis of the Ephesians, about two miles from the city. Artemis was the most famous goddess of all Asia Minor and a perpetuation of the still earlier mother goddess of ancient Anatolian times. The crude idol exhibited in the enormous temple dedicated to her worship was reputed to have fallen from heaven. Not all of Ganid's early training to respect images as symbols of divinity had been eradicated, and he thought it best to purchase a little silver shrine in honor of this fertility goddess of Asia Minor. That night they talked at great length about the worship of things made with human hands.
133:6.2 On the third day of their stay they walked down by the river to observe the dredging of the harbor's mouth. At noon they talked with a young Phoenician who was homesick and much discouraged; but most of all he was envious of a certain young man who had received promotion over his head. Jesus spoke comforting words to him and quoted the olden Hebrew proverb: " A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. "[1]
133:6.3 Of all the large cities they visited on this tour of the Mediterranean, they here accomplished the least of value to the subsequent work of the Christian missionaries. Christianity secured its start in Ephesus largely through the efforts of Paul, who resided here more than two years, making tents for a living and conducting lectures on religion and philosophy each night in the main audience chamber of the school of Tyrannus.
133:6.4 There was a progressive thinker connected with this local school of philosophy, and Jesus had several profitable sessions with him. In the course of these talks Jesus had repeatedly used the word " soul. " This learned Greek finally asked him what he meant by " soul, " and he replied:
133:6.5 " The soul is the self-reflective, truth-discerning, and spirit-perceiving part of man which forever elevates the human being above the level of the animal world. Self-consciousness, in and of itself, is not the soul. Moral self-consciousness is true human self-realization and constitutes the foundation of the human soul, and the soul is that part of man which represents the potential survival value of human experience. Moral choice and spiritual attainment, the ability to know God and the urge to be like him, are the characteristics of the soul. The soul of man cannot exist apart from moral thinking and spiritual activity. A stagnant soul is a dying soul. But the soul of man is distinct from the divine spirit which dwells within the mind. The divine spirit arrives simultaneously with the first moral activity of the human mind, and that is the occasion of the birth of the soul.
133:6.6 " The saving or losing of a soul has to do with whether or not the moral consciousness attains survival status through eternal alliance with its associated immortal spirit endowment. Salvation is the spiritualization of the self-realization of the moral consciousness, which thereby becomes possessed of survival value. All forms of soul conflict consist in the lack of harmony between the moral, or spiritual, self-consciousness and the purely intellectual self-consciousness.
133:6.7 " The human soul, when matured, ennobled, and spiritualized, approaches the heavenly status in that it comes near to being an entity intervening between the material and the spiritual, the material self and the divine spirit. The evolving soul of a human being is difficult of description and more difficult of demonstration because it is not discoverable by the methods of either material investigation or spiritual proving. Material science cannot demonstrate the existence of a soul, neither can pure spirit-testing. Notwithstanding the failure of both material science and spiritual standards to discover the existence of the human soul, every morally conscious mortal knows of the existence of his soul as a real and actual personal experience. "
