Changes

103:5.7 The pursuit of the [[ideal]]—the striving to be Godlike—is a [[continuous]] [[effort]] before [[death]] and [[Afterlife|after]]. The [[Afterlife|life after death]] is no [[different]] in the [[essentials]] than the [[mortal]] [[existence]]. Everything we do in this life which is [[good]] contributes directly to the enhancement of the [[future]] life. Real [[religion]] does not foster [[moral]] [[indolence]] and [[spiritual]] [[laziness]] by encouraging the vain [[hope]] of having all the [[virtues]] of a [[noble]] [[character]] [[bestowed]] upon one as a result of passing through the [[portals]] of natural [[death]]. True [[religion]] does not belittle man's [[efforts]] to [[progress]] during the [[mortal]] lease on life. Every [[mortal]] gain is a direct [[contribution]] to the enrichment of the first [[stages]] of the [[immortal]] [[survival]] [[experience]].

103:5.7 The pursuit of the [[ideal]]—the striving to be Godlike—is a [[continuous]] [[effort]] before [[death]] and [[Afterlife|after]]. The [[Afterlife|life after death]] is no [[different]] in the [[essentials]] than the [[mortal]] [[existence]]. Everything we do in this life which is [[good]] contributes directly to the enhancement of the [[future]] life. Real [[religion]] does not foster [[moral]] [[indolence]] and [[spiritual]] [[laziness]] by encouraging the vain [[hope]] of having all the [[virtues]] of a [[noble]] [[character]] [[bestowed]] upon one as a result of passing through the [[portals]] of natural [[death]]. True [[religion]] does not belittle man's [[efforts]] to [[progress]] during the [[mortal]] lease on life. Every [[mortal]] gain is a direct [[contribution]] to the enrichment of the first [[stages]] of the [[immortal]] [[survival]] [[experience]].

103:5.8 It is fatal to man's [[idealism]] when he is taught that all of his [[altruistic]] [[impulses]] are merely the [[development]] of his natural [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd herd] [[instincts]]. But he is [[ennobled]] and mightily [[energized]] when he learns that these higher urges of his [[soul]] [[emanate]] from the [[spiritual]] [[forces]] that indwell his [[mortal]] [[mind]].

103:5.8 It is fatal to man's [[idealism]] when he is taught that all of his [[altruistic]] [[impulses]] are merely the [[development]] of his natural [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd herd] [[instincts]]. But he is [[ennobled]] and mightily [[energized]] when he learns that these higher urges of his [[soul]] [[emanate]] from the [[spiritual]] [[forces]] that indwell his [[mortal]] [[mind]].

103:5.9 It lifts man out of himself and beyond himself when he once fully [[realizes]] that there lives and strives within him something which is [[eternal]] and [[divine]]. And so it is that a living [[faith]] in the [[superhuman]] [[origin]] of our [[ideals]] [[validates]] our [[belief]] that we are the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_30 sons of God] and makes real our [[altruistic]] [[convictions]], the [[feelings]] of the [[brotherhood]] of [[man]].

103:5.9 It lifts man out of himself and beyond himself when he once fully [[realizes]] that there lives and strives within him something which is [[eternal]] and [[divine]]. And so it is that a living [[faith]] in the [[superhuman]] [[origin]] of our [[ideals]] [[validates]] our [[belief]] that we are the [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_30 sons of God] and makes real our [[altruistic]] [[convictions]], the [[feelings]] of the [[brotherhood]] of [[man]].

103:5.10 Man, in his [[spiritual]] [[domain]], does have a [[free will]]. [[Mortal]] man is neither a helpless [[slave]] of the inflexible [[sovereignty]] of an [[all-powerful]] [[God]] nor the [[victim]] of the hopeless fatality of a [[mechanistic]] [[cosmic]] [[determinism]]. Man is most truly the [[architect]] of his own [[Ascension Career|eternal destiny]].

103:5.10 Man, in his [[spiritual]] [[domain]], does have a [[free will]]. [[Mortal]] man is neither a helpless [[slave]] of the inflexible [[sovereignty]] of an [[all-powerful]] [[God]] nor the [[victim]] of the hopeless fatality of a [[mechanistic]] [[cosmic]] [[determinism]]. Man is most truly the [[architect]] of his own [[Ascension Career|eternal destiny]].

103:5.11 But man is not saved or [[ennobled]] by [[pressure]]. [[Spirit]] [[growth]] springs from within the [[evolving]] [[soul]]. [[Pressure]] may [[deform]] the [[personality]], but it never [[stimulates]] [[growth]]. Even [[educational]] [[pressure]] is only [[negatively]] helpful in that it may aid in the prevention of [[disastrous]] [[experiences]]. [[Spiritual]] [[growth]] is greatest where all [[external]] [[pressures]] are at a minimum. "Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=2nd_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians#2nd_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians.2C_III] Man [[develops]] best when the [[pressures]] of [[home]], [[community]], [[church]], and [[state]] are least. But this must not be construed as [[meaning]] that there is no place in a [[progressive]] [[society]] for [[home]], [[social]] [[institutions]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state church, and state].

103:5.11 But man is not saved or [[ennobled]] by [[pressure]]. [[Spirit]] [[growth]] springs from within the [[evolving]] [[soul]]. [[Pressure]] may [[deform]] the [[personality]], but it never [[stimulates]] [[growth]]. Even [[educational]] [[pressure]] is only [[negatively]] helpful in that it may aid in the prevention of [[disastrous]] [[experiences]]. [[Spiritual]] [[growth]] is greatest where all [[external]] [[pressures]] are at a minimum. "Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=2nd_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians#2nd_Letter_of_Paul_to_the_Corinthians.2C_III] Man [[develops]] best when the [[pressures]] of [[home]], [[community]], [[church]], and [[state]] are least. But this must not be construed as [[meaning]] that there is no place in a [[progressive]] [[society]] for [[home]], [[social]] [[institutions]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state church, and state].

103:5.12 When a member of a [[social]] religious [[group]] has complied with the requirements of such a [[group]], he should be [[encouraged]] to [[enjoy]] religious [[liberty]] in the full [[expression]] of his own [[personal]] [[interpretation]] of the [[truths]] of religious [[belief]] and the [[facts]] of religious [[experience]]. The [[security]] of a [[religious]] [[group]] depends on [[spiritual]] [[unity]], not on [[theological]] [[uniformity]]. A religious [[group]] should be able to [[enjoy]] the [[liberty]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_thought freethinking] without having to become "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brethren_of_the_Free_Spirit freethinkers]"[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brights]. There is great [[hope]] for any church that [[worships]] the living [[God]], [[validates]] the [[brotherhood]] of [[man]], and dares to remove all creedal [[pressure]] from its members.

103:5.12 When a member of a [[social]] religious [[group]] has complied with the requirements of such a [[group]], he should be [[encouraged]] to [[enjoy]] religious [[liberty]] in the full [[expression]] of his own [[personal]] [[interpretation]] of the [[truths]] of religious [[belief]] and the [[facts]] of religious [[experience]]. The [[security]] of a [[religious]] [[group]] depends on [[spiritual]] [[unity]], not on [[theological]] [[uniformity]]. A religious [[group]] should be able to [[enjoy]] the [[liberty]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_thought freethinking] without having to become "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brethren_of_the_Free_Spirit freethinkers]"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brights]. There is great [[hope]] for any church that [[worships]] the living [[God]], [[validates]] the [[brotherhood]] of [[man]], and dares to remove all creedal [[pressure]] from its members.

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_103 Go to Paper 103]</center>

<center>[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_103 Go to Paper 103]</center>