Changes

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[[91:1|91:1.4]]  [[Prayer]] is only monologuous in the most [[primitive]] type of [[mind]]. It early becomes a [[dialogue]] and rapidly expands to the level of [[group]] [[worship]]. Prayer signifies that the premagical [[incantations]] of [[primitive religion]] have evolved to that level where the [[human mind]] recognizes the [[reality]] of beneficent powers or beings who are able to enhance [[social]] [[values]] and to augment [[moral]] [[ideals]], and further, that these influences are [[superhuman]] and distinct from the [[ego]] of the [[self-conscious]] human and his fellow [[mortals]]. '''''True prayer''''' does not, therefore, appear until the agency of religious ministry is visualized as [[personal]].

[[91:1|91:1.4]]  [[Prayer]] is only monologuous in the most [[primitive]] type of [[mind]]. It early becomes a [[dialogue]] and rapidly expands to the level of [[group]] [[worship]]. Prayer signifies that the premagical [[incantations]] of [[primitive religion]] have evolved to that level where the [[human mind]] recognizes the [[reality]] of beneficent powers or beings who are able to enhance [[social]] [[values]] and to augment [[moral]] [[ideals]], and further, that these influences are [[superhuman]] and distinct from the [[ego]] of the [[self-conscious]] human and his fellow [[mortals]]. ''True prayer'' does not, therefore, appear until the agency of religious ministry is visualized as [[personal]].

[[91:2|91:2.2]]  Both [[prayer]] and [[magic]] arose as a result of man’s adjustive [[reactions]] to Urantian [[environment]]. But aside from this generalized [[relationship]], they have little in common. Prayer has always indicated [[positive]] [[action]] by the praying [[ego]]; it has been always [[psychic]] and sometimes [[spiritual]]. [[Magic]] has usually [[signified]] an attempt to [[manipulate]] [[reality]] without affecting the [[ego]] of the manipulator, the practitioner of magic. Despite their independent [[origins]], [[magic]] and [[prayer]] often have been interrelated in their later [[stages]] of [[development]]. Magic has sometimes [[ascended]] by goal elevation from [[formulas]] through [[rituals]] and [[incantations]] to the [[threshold]] of '''''true prayer'''''. Prayer has sometimes become so [[materialistic]] that it has [[degenerated]] into a pseudomagical [[technique]] of avoiding the expenditure of that [[effort]] which is requisite for the solution of [[Urantia]]n problems.

[[91:2|91:2.2]]  Both [[prayer]] and [[magic]] arose as a result of man’s adjustive [[reactions]] to Urantian [[environment]]. But aside from this generalized [[relationship]], they have little in common. Prayer has always indicated [[positive]] [[action]] by the praying [[ego]]; it has been always [[psychic]] and sometimes [[spiritual]]. [[Magic]] has usually [[signified]] an attempt to [[manipulate]] [[reality]] without affecting the [[ego]] of the manipulator, the practitioner of magic. Despite their independent [[origins]], [[magic]] and [[prayer]] often have been interrelated in their later [[stages]] of [[development]]. Magic has sometimes [[ascended]] by goal elevation from [[formulas]] through [[rituals]] and [[incantations]] to the [[threshold]] of ''true prayer''. Prayer has sometimes become so [[materialistic]] that it has [[degenerated]] into a pseudomagical [[technique]] of avoiding the expenditure of that [[effort]] which is requisite for the solution of [[Urantia]]n problems.

[[91:2|91:2.4]]  The appearance of the [[sacrifice]] idea in any [[religion]] unfailingly detracts from the higher efficacy of '''''true prayer''''' in that men seek to [[substitute]] the offerings of [[material]] possessions for the offering of their own [[consecrated]] wills to the [[doing of the will of God]].

[[91:2|91:2.4]]  The appearance of the [[sacrifice]] idea in any [[religion]] unfailingly detracts from the higher efficacy of ''true prayer'' in that men seek to [[substitute]] the offerings of [[material]] possessions for the offering of their own [[consecrated]] wills to the [[doing of the will of God]].

[[91:2|91:2.5]]  When [[religion]] is divested of a [[personal]] [[God]], its prayers [[translate]] to the levels of [[theology]] and [[philosophy]]. When the highest [[God]] concept of a religion is that of an [[impersonal]] [[Deity]], such as in [[pantheistic]] [[idealism]], although affording the basis for certain forms of [[mystic]] [[communion]], it proves fatal to the [[potency]] of '''''true prayer''''', which always stands for man’s [[communion]] with a [[personal]] and superior [[being]].

[[91:2|91:2.5]]  When [[religion]] is divested of a [[personal]] [[God]], its prayers [[translate]] to the levels of [[theology]] and [[philosophy]]. When the highest [[God]] concept of a religion is that of an [[impersonal]] [[Deity]], such as in [[pantheistic]] [[idealism]], although affording the basis for certain forms of [[mystic]] [[communion]], it proves fatal to the [[potency]] of ''true prayer'', which always stands for man’s [[communion]] with a [[personal]] and superior [[being]].

[[91:2|91:2.6]]  During the earlier times of racial [[evolution]] and even at the present time, in the day-by-day [[experience]] of the [[average]] [[mortal]], prayer is very much a [[phenomenon]] of man’s [[intercourse]] with his own [[subconscious]]. But there is also a [[domain]] of prayer wherein the [[intellectually]] alert and spiritually [[progressing]] individual [[attains]] more or less [[contact]] with the [[superconscious]] levels of the [[human mind]], the domain of the indwelling [[Thought Adjuster]]. In addition, there is a definite spiritual [[phase]] of '''''true prayer''''' which concerns its [[reception]] and [[recognition]] by the spiritual [[forces]] of [[the universe]], and which is entirely distinct from all [[human]] and [[intellectual]] [[association]].

[[91:2|91:2.6]]  During the earlier times of racial [[evolution]] and even at the present time, in the day-by-day [[experience]] of the [[average]] [[mortal]], prayer is very much a [[phenomenon]] of man’s [[intercourse]] with his own [[subconscious]]. But there is also a [[domain]] of prayer wherein the [[intellectually]] alert and spiritually [[progressing]] individual [[attains]] more or less [[contact]] with the [[superconscious]] levels of the [[human mind]], the domain of the indwelling [[Thought Adjuster]]. In addition, there is a definite spiritual [[phase]] of ''true prayer'' which concerns its [[reception]] and [[recognition]] by the spiritual [[forces]] of [[the universe]], and which is entirely distinct from all [[human]] and [[intellectual]] [[association]].

[[91:8|91:8.2]]  Prayer is not an [[evolution]] of [[magic]]; they each arose [[independently]]. Magic was an attempt to [[adjust]] [[Deity]] to conditions; [[prayer]] is the effort to adjust the [[personality]] to the will of Deity. '''''True prayer''''' is both [[moral]] and [[religious]]; [[magic]] is neither.

[[91:8|91:8.2]]  Prayer is not an [[evolution]] of [[magic]]; they each arose [[independently]]. Magic was an attempt to [[adjust]] [[Deity]] to conditions; [[prayer]] is the effort to adjust the [[personality]] to the will of Deity. ''True prayer'' is both [[moral]] and [[religious]]; [[magic]] is neither.

 

[[Category: Religion]]

[[Category: Religion]]