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==1:5. PERSONALITY OF THE UNIVERSAL FATHER==

==1:5. PERSONALITY OF THE UNIVERSAL FATHER==

1:5.1 Do not permit the magnitude of God, his infinity, either to obscure or eclipse his personality. "He who planned the ear, shall he not hear? He who formed the eye, shall he not see?" The Universal Father is the acme of divine personality; he is the origin and destiny of personality throughout all creation. God is both infinite and personal; he is an infinite personality. The Father is truly a personality, notwithstanding that the infinity of his person places him forever beyond the full comprehension of material and finite beings.

1:5.1 Do not permit the magnitude of [[God]], his infinity, either to obscure or [[eclipse]] his [[personality]]. "He who planned the ear, shall he not hear? He who formed the eye, shall he not see?" The Universal Father is the [[acme]] of [[divine]] personality; he is the [[origin]] and [[destiny]] of personality throughout all [[creation]]. God is both [[infinite]] and [[personal]]; he is an infinite personality. The Father is truly a personality, notwithstanding that the infinity of his person places him forever beyond the full [[comprehension]] of [[material]] and [[finite]] [[beings]].

1:5.2 God is much more than a personality as personality is understood by the human mind; he is even far more than any possible concept of a superpersonality. But it is utterly futile to discuss such incomprehensible concepts of divine personality with the minds of material creatures whose maximum concept of the reality of being consists in the idea and ideal of personality. The material creature's highest possible concept of the Universal Creator is embraced within the spiritual ideals of the exalted idea of divine personality. Therefore, although you may know that God must be much more than the human conception of personality, you equally well know that the Universal Father cannot possibly be anything less than an eternal, infinite, true, good, and beautiful personality.

1:5.2 God is much more than a personality as personality is understood by the human mind; he is even far more than any possible concept of a superpersonality. But it is utterly futile to [[discuss]] such incomprehensible [[concepts]] of divine personality with the minds of material [[creatures]] whose maximum concept of the [[reality]] of being consists in the [[idea]] and [[ideal]] of [[personality]]. The material creature's highest possible concept of the Universal Creator is [[embraced]] within the spiritual ideals of the exalted idea of divine personality. Therefore, although you may know that God must be much more than the [[human]] conception of personality, you equally well know that the Universal Father cannot possibly be anything less than an eternal, infinite, true, good, and beautiful personality.

1:5.3 God is not hiding from any of his creatures. He is unapproachable to so many orders of beings only because he "dwells in a light which no material creature can approach." The immensity and grandeur of the divine personality is beyond the grasp of the unperfected mind of evolutionary mortals. He "measures the waters in the hollow of his hand, measures a universe with the span of his hand. It is he who sits on the circle of the earth, who stretches out the heavens as a curtain and spreads them out as a universe to dwell in." "Lift up your eyes on high and behold who has created all these things, who brings out their worlds by number and calls them all by their names"; and so it is true that "the invisible things of God are partially understood by the things which are made." Today, and as you are, you must discern the invisible Maker through his manifold and diverse creation, as well as through the revelation and ministration of his Sons and their numerous subordinates.

1:5.3 God is not hiding from any of his creatures. He is unapproachable to so many orders of beings only because he "dwells in a [[light]] which no material creature can approach." The immensity and grandeur of the divine personality is beyond the grasp of the unperfected mind of [[evolutionary]] [[mortals]]. He "measures the waters in the hollow of his hand, measures a universe with the span of his hand. It is he who sits on the circle of the earth, who stretches out the heavens as a curtain and spreads them out as a universe to dwell in." "Lift up your eyes on high and behold who has created all these [[things]], who brings out their worlds by [[number]] and calls them all by their [[names]]"; and so it is true that "the invisible [[things]] of God are partially [[understood]] by the things which are made." Today, and as you are, you must [[discern]] the invisible Maker through his manifold and [[diverse]] [[creation]], as well as through the [[revelation]] and ministration of [[Paper 20 - The Paradise Sons of God|his Sons and their numerous subordinates]].

1:5.4 Even though material mortals cannot see the person of God, they should rejoice in the assurance that he is a person; by faith accept the truth which portrays that the Universal Father so loved the world as to provide for the eternal spiritual progression of its lowly inhabitants; that he "delights in his children." God is lacking in none of those superhuman and divine attributes which constitute a perfect, eternal, loving, and infinite Creator personality.

1:5.4 Even though [[material]] [[mortals]] cannot see the [[person]] of [[God]], they should rejoice in the [[assurance]] that he is a person; by [[faith]] accept the [[truth]] which portrays that the Universal Father so loved the world as to provide for the eternal [[spiritual]] [[progression]] of its lowly inhabitants; that he "delights in his [[children]]." God is lacking in none of those superhuman and divine attributes which constitute a perfect, eternal, loving, and infinite Creator personality.

1:5.5 In the local creations (excepting the personnel of the superuniverses) God has no personal or residential manifestation aside from the Paradise Creator Sons who are the fathers of the inhabited worlds and the sovereigns of the local universes. If the faith of the creature were perfect, he would assuredly know that when he had seen a Creator Son he had seen the Universal Father; in seeking for the Father, he would not ask nor expect to see other than the Son. Mortal man simply cannot see God until he achieves completed spirit transformation and actually attains Paradise.

1:5.5 In the [[Local Universes|local creations]] (excepting the personnel of the [[superuniverses]]) God has no personal or residential [[manifestation]] aside from the Paradise [[Creator Sons]] who are the [[fathers]] of the inhabited worlds and the [[sovereign]]s of the local universes. If the [[faith]] of the creature were perfect, he would assuredly know that when he had seen a Creator Son he had seen the Universal Father; in seeking for the Father, he would not ask nor expect to see other than [[Eternal Son|the Son]]. Mortal man simply cannot see God until he achieves completed spirit [[transformation]] and actually attains [[Paradise]].

1:5.6 The natures of the Paradise Creator Sons do not encompass all the unqualified potentials of the universal absoluteness of the infinite nature of the First Great Source and Center, but the Universal Father is in every way divinely present in the Creator Sons. The Father and his Sons are one. These Paradise Sons of the order of Michael are perfect personalities, even the pattern for all local universe personality from that of the Bright and Morning Star down to the lowest human creature of progressing animal evolution.

1:5.6 The [[natures]] of the Paradise Creator Sons do not [[encompass]] all the unqualified [[potentials]] of the universal absoluteness of the infinite nature of the [[First Source and Center|First Great Source and Center]], but the Universal Father is in every way divinely present in the Creator Sons. The Father and his Sons are one. These Paradise Sons of the order of Michael are [[perfect]] personalities, even the [[pattern]] for all local universe personality from that of the [[Bright and Morning Star]] down to the lowest [[human]] [[creature]] of progressing [[animal]] [[evolution]].

1:5.7 Without God and except for his great and central person, there would be no personality throughout all the vast universe of universes. God is personality.

1:5.7 Without God and except for his great and central person, there would be no personality throughout all the vast [[universe of universes]]. God is [[personality]].

1:5.8 Notwithstanding that God is an eternal power, a majestic presence, a transcendent ideal, and a glorious spirit, though he is all these and infinitely more, nonetheless, he is truly and everlastingly a perfect Creator personality, a person who can "know and be known," who can "love and be loved," and one who can befriend us; while you can be known, as other humans have been known, as the friend of God. He is a real spirit and a spiritual reality.

1:5.8 Notwithstanding that God is an eternal [[power]], a [[majestic]] [[presence]], a [[transcendent]] [[ideal]], and a [[glorious]] [[spirit]], though he is all these and infinitely more, nonetheless, he is truly and everlastingly a perfect Creator personality, a person who can "know and be known," who can "[[love]] and be loved," and one who can [[Friendship|befriend]] us; while you can be known, as other humans have been known, as the friend of God. He is a real spirit and a spiritual reality.

1:5.9 As we see the Universal Father revealed throughout his universe; as we discern him indwelling his myriads of creatures; as we behold him in the persons of his Sovereign Sons; as we continue to sense his divine presence here and there, near and afar, let us not doubt nor question his personality primacy. Notwithstanding all these far-flung distributions, he remains a true person and everlastingly maintains personal connection with the countless hosts of his creatures scattered throughout the universe of universes.

1:5.9 As we see the Universal Father [[revealed]] throughout his universe; as we [[discern]] him indwelling his myriads of [[creatures]]; as we behold him in the persons of his [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_21#21:5._RELATION_OF_MASTER_SONS_TO_THE_UNIVERSE Sovereign Sons]; as we continue to [[sense]] his divine presence here and there, near and afar, let us not [[doubt]] nor question his personality primacy. Notwithstanding all these far-flung distributions, he remains a true person and everlastingly maintains personal connection with the countless hosts of his creatures scattered throughout the [[universe of universes]].

1:5.10 The idea of the personality of the Universal Father is an enlarged and truer concept of God which has come to mankind chiefly through revelation. Reason, wisdom, and religious experience all infer and imply the personality of God, but they do not altogether validate it. Even the indwelling Thought Adjuster is prepersonal. The truth and maturity of any religion is directly proportional to its concept of the infinite personality of God and to its grasp of the absolute unity of Deity. The idea of a personal Deity becomes, then, the measure of religious maturity after religion has first formulated the concept of the unity of God.

1:5.10 The [[idea]] of the personality of the Universal Father is an enlarged and truer [[concept]] of [[God]] which has come to mankind chiefly through [[revelation]]. [[Reason]], [[wisdom]], and religious [[experience]] all [[infer]] and imply the personality of God, but they do not altogether [[Proof|validate]] it. Even the indwelling [[Thought Adjuster]] is prepersonal. The truth and [[maturity]] of any [[religion]] is directly proportional to its concept of the infinite personality of God and to its grasp of the [[absolute]] [[unity]] of [[Deity]]. The idea of a [[personal]] Deity becomes, then, the [[measure]] of religious maturity after religion has first formulated the concept of the unity of God.

1:5.11 Primitive religion had many personal gods, and they were fashioned in the image of man. Revelation affirms the validity of the personality concept of God which is merely possible in the scientific postulate of a First Cause and is only provisionally suggested in the philosophic idea of Universal Unity. Only by personality approach can any person begin to comprehend the unity of God. To deny the personality of the First Source and Center leaves one only the choice of two philosophic dilemmas: materialism or pantheism.

1:5.11 [[Paper 86 - Early Evolution of Religion|Primitive religion]] had many [[personal]] gods, and they were [[fashion]]ed in the image of [[man]]. [[Revelation]] affirms the validity of the personality concept of God which is merely possible in the [[scientific]] postulate of a First Cause and is only provisionally suggested in the philosophic idea of [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_105#105:4._UNITY.2C_DUALITY.2C_AND_TRIUNITY Universal Unity]. Only by personality approach can any person begin to comprehend the [[unity]] of [[God]]. To deny the personality of the First Source and Center leaves one only the choice of two philosophic [[dilemmas]]: [[materialism]] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheism pantheism].

1:5.12 In the contemplation of Deity, the concept of personality must be divested of the idea of corporeality. A material body is not indispensable to personality in either man or God. The corporeality error is shown in both extremes of human philosophy. In materialism, since man loses his body at death, he ceases to exist as a personality; in pantheism, since God has no body, he is not, therefore, a person. The superhuman type of progressing personality functions in a union of mind and spirit.

1:5.12 In the contemplation of Deity, the [[concept]] of [[personality]] must be divested of the idea of corporeality. A [[material]] [[body]] is not indispensable to personality in either [[man]] or [[God]]. The corporeality error is shown in both extremes of human [[philosophy]]. In materialism, since man loses his body at [[death]], he ceases to exist as a personality; in pantheism, since God has no body, he is not, therefore, a person. The superhuman type of [[progressing]] personality [[function]]s in a union of [[mind]] and [[spirit]].

1:5.13 Personality is not simply an attribute of God; it rather stands for the totality of the co-ordinated infinite nature and the unified divine will which is exhibited in eternity and universality of perfect expression. Personality, in the supreme sense, is the revelation of God to the universe of universes.

1:5.13 Personality is not simply an attribute of God; it rather stands for the totality of the co-ordinated infinite nature and the unified divine will which is exhibited in eternity and universality of perfect expression. Personality, in the supreme sense, is the revelation of God to the universe of universes.