Changes

Prolotheos: “[[Religion]], defined in terms of [[evolution]], came into [[existence]] together with [[the primates]]’ attainment of [[personality]] will. [[Free will|Will]] came to human beings concomitantly with the [[function]] of the last two [[Adjutant Mind Spirits]], [[wisdom]] and [[worship]]. And being the last, they opened way for the appearance of religion in human life. Religion is the capacity to believe in the [[transcendental]], even if the object of this belief is not accurate. Exercising this new faculty, which may be called [[faith]], makes man a religious being. Today we are going to [[study]] the [[manifestation]] of religion in human life. Here are its major aspects:

Prolotheos: “[[Religion]], defined in terms of [[evolution]], came into [[existence]] together with [[the primates]]’ attainment of [[personality]] will. [[Free will|Will]] came to human beings concomitantly with the [[function]] of the last two [[Adjutant Mind Spirits]], [[wisdom]] and [[worship]]. And being the last, they opened way for the appearance of religion in human life. Religion is the capacity to believe in the [[transcendental]], even if the object of this belief is not accurate. Exercising this new faculty, which may be called [[faith]], makes man a religious being. Today we are going to [[study]] the [[manifestation]] of religion in human life. Here are its major aspects:

“[[Institutional Religion]]: Here, religion becomes an [[organization]], reaching social and [[political]] arenas. It not only regulates religion, but also social life and politics, becoming even a [[state religion]], as was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_church_of_the_Roman_Empire Imperial Roman religion] and its successor, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholic Church of today] — the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_City Vatican State]. Religion, then, is a means to [[control]] and it has little to do with real [[faith]] and [[devotion]]. It occupies itself with [[creeds]], written confessions, [[dogmas]], encyclicals, and more. Institutional religion is a [[scaffolding]] necessity in human development, but the day will come when ‘you won’t [[worship]] God neither in [[Jerusalem]] nor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerasim Gerasim], but in Spirit and Truth.’

“[[Institutional Religion]]: Here, religion becomes an [[organization]], reaching social and [[political]] arenas. It not only regulates religion, but also social life and politics, becoming even a [[state religion]], as was the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_church_of_the_Roman_Empire Imperial Roman religion] and its successor, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholic Church of today] — the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_City Vatican State]. Religion, then, is a means to [[control]] and it has little to do with real [[faith]] and [[devotion]]. It occupies itself with [[creeds]], written confessions, [[dogmas]], encyclicals, and more. Institutional religion is a [[scaffolding]] necessity in human development, but the day will come when ‘you won’t [[worship]] God neither in [[Jerusalem]] nor [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerasim Gerasim], but in Spirit and Truth.’

“[[Ritual|Ceremonial]] Religion: Ritual in religion serves to compensate for lack of [[spirituality]], to [[uniform]] and [[control]] people — usually by a [[priest]]ly [[hierarchy]]. [[Evolutionary religion]] inherited its rituals from the [[ghost cults]]. The living feared the dead, molding their [[lifestyle]] by copying their lives and ritualizing them. Ceremonial religion tends to become meaningless when the ritual is [[performed]] for its own sake, without spiritual power. Ceremonial religion sometimes becomes a misguided religious [[duty]] the religionist believes to be owing to [[Deity]] as an offering, usually in trying not incur its [[wrath]]. Little or no spirituality can be manifested through stylized religious [[rituals]].

“[[Ritual|Ceremonial]] Religion: Ritual in religion serves to compensate for lack of [[spirituality]], to [[uniform]] and [[control]] people — usually by a [[priest]]ly [[hierarchy]]. [[Evolutionary religion]] inherited its rituals from the [[ghost cults]]. The living feared the dead, molding their [[lifestyle]] by copying their lives and ritualizing them. Ceremonial religion tends to become meaningless when the ritual is [[performed]] for its own sake, without spiritual power. Ceremonial religion sometimes becomes a misguided religious [[duty]] the religionist believes to be owing to [[Deity]] as an offering, usually in trying not incur its [[wrath]]. Little or no spirituality can be manifested through stylized religious [[rituals]].