Changes

==100:3. CONCEPTS OF SUPREME VALUE==

==100:3. CONCEPTS OF SUPREME VALUE==

100:3.1 Religion is not a technique for attaining a static and blissful peace of mind; it is an impulse for organizing the soul for dynamic service. It is the enlistment of the totality of selfhood in the loyal service of loving God and serving man. Religion pays any price essential to the attainment of the supreme goal, the eternal prize. There is a consecrated completeness in religious loyalty which is superbly sublime. And these loyalties are socially effective and spiritually progressive.

100:3.1 [[Religion]] is not a [[technique]] for attaining a [[static]] and [[blissful]] [[peace]] of [[mind]]; it is an [[impulse]] for [[organizing]] the [[soul]] for [[dynamic]] [[service]]. It is the enlistment of the [[totality]] of [[selfhood]] in the [[loyal]] [[service]] of [[loving]] [[God]] and serving [[man]]. [[Religion]] pays any price [[essential]] to the [[attainment]] of the [[supreme]] goal, the [[eternal]] prize. There is a [[consecrated]] completeness in [[religious]] [[loyalty]] which is superbly [[sublime]]. And these [[loyalties]] are [[socially]] [[effective]] and [[spiritually]] [[progressive]].

100:3.2 To the religionist the word God becomes a symbol signifying the approach to supreme reality and the recognition of divine value. Human likes and dislikes do not determine good and evil; moral values do not grow out of wish fulfillment or emotional frustration.

100:3.2 To the religionist the [[word]] [[God]] becomes a [[symbol]] signifying the approach to [[supreme]] [[reality]] and the [[recognition]] of [[divine]] [[value]]. [[Human]] likes and dislikes do not determine [[good]] and [[evil]]; [[moral]] [[values]] do not [[grow]] out of [[wish]] fulfillment or [[emotional]] frustration.

100:3.3 In the contemplation of values you must distinguish between that which is value and that which has value. You must recognize the relation between pleasurable activities and their meaningful integration and enhanced realization on ever progressively higher and higher levels of human experience.

100:3.3 In the [[contemplation]] of [[values]] you must distinguish between that which ''is'' [[value]] and that which ''has'' value. You must [[recognize]] the relation between pleasurable [[activities]] and their [[meaningful]] [[integration]] and enhanced [[realization]] on ever progressively higher and higher [[levels]] of [[human]] [[experience]].

100:3.4 Meaning is something which experience adds to value; it is the appreciative consciousness of values. An isolated and purely selfish pleasure may connote a virtual devaluation of meanings, a meaningless enjoyment bordering on relative evil. Values are experiential when realities are meaningful and mentally associated, when such relationships are recognized and appreciated by mind.

100:3.4 [[Meaning]] is something which [[experience]] adds to [[value]]; it is the appreciative [[consciousness]] of [[values]]. An [[isolated]] and purely [[selfish]] [[pleasure]] may connote a [[virtual]] devaluation of [[meanings]], a meaningless [[enjoyment]] bordering on [[relative]] [[evil]]. [[Values]] are [[experiential]] when [[realities]] are [[meaningful]] and mentally [[associated]], when such [[relationships]] are [[recognized]] and [[appreciated]] by [[mind]].

100:3.5 Values can never be static; reality signifies change, growth. Change without growth, expansion of meaning and exaltation of value, is valueless—is potential evil. The greater the quality of cosmic adaptation, the more of meaning any experience possesses. Values are not conceptual illusions; they are real, but always they depend on the fact of relationships. Values are always both actual and potential—not what was, but what is and is to be.

100:3.5 [[Values]] can never be [[static]]; [[reality]] signifies [[change]], [[growth]]. [[Change]] without [[growth]], expansion of [[meaning]] and exaltation of [[value]], is valueless—is [[potential]] [[evil]]. The greater the [[quality]] of [[cosmic]] [[adaptation]], the more of [[meaning]] any [[experience]] [[possesses]]. [[Values]] are not [[conceptual]] [[illusions]]; they are real, but always they depend on the [[fact]] of [[relationships]]. [[Values]] are always both [[actual]] and [[potential]]—not what was, but what is and is to be.

100:3.6 The association of actuals and potentials equals growth, the experiential realization of values. But growth is not mere progress. Progress is always meaningful, but it is relatively valueless without growth. The supreme value of human life consists in growth of values, progress in meanings, and realization of the cosmic interrelatedness of both of these experiences. And such an experience is the equivalent of God-consciousness. Such a mortal, while not supernatural, is truly becoming superhuman; an immortal soul is evolving.

100:3.6 The [[association]] of [[actuals]] and [[potentials]] [[equals]] [[growth]], the [[experiential]] [[realization]] of [[values]]. But [[growth]] is not mere [[progress]]. [[Progress]] is always [[meaningful]], but it is [[relatively]] valueless without [[growth]]. The [[supreme]] [[value]] of [[human]] life consists in [[growth]] of [[values]], [[progress]] in [[meanings]], and [[realization]] of the [[cosmic]] interrelatedness of both of these [[experiences]]. And such an [[experience]] is the equivalent of [[God-consciousness]]. Such a [[mortal]], while not [[supernatural]], is truly becoming [[superhuman]]; an [[immortal]] [[soul]] is evolving.

100:3.7 Man cannot cause growth, but he can supply favorable conditions. Growth is always unconscious, be it physical, intellectual, or spiritual. Love thus grows; it cannot be created, manufactured, or purchased; it must grow. Evolution is a cosmic technique of growth. Social growth cannot be secured by legislation, and moral growth is not had by improved administration. Man may manufacture a machine, but its real value must be derived from human culture and personal appreciation. Man's sole contribution to growth is the mobilization of the total powers of his personality—living faith.

100:3.7 [[Man]] cannot [[cause]] [[growth]], but he can supply favorable conditions. [[Growth]] is always [[unconscious]], be it [[physical]], [[intellectual]], or [[spiritual]]. [[Love]] thus grows; it cannot be [[created]], [[manufactured]], or purchased; it must [[grow]]. [[Evolution]] is a [[cosmic]] [[technique]] of [[growth]]. [[Social]] growth cannot be secured by [[legislation]], and [[moral]] [[growth]] is not had by improved [[administration]]. [[Man]] may [[manufacture]] a [[machine]], but its real [[value]] must be derived from [[human]] [[culture]] and [[personal]] [[appreciation]]. Man's sole contribution to [[growth]] is the mobilization of the [[total]] [[powers]] of his [[personality]]—living [[faith]].

==100:4. PROBLEMS OF GROWTH==

==100:4. PROBLEMS OF GROWTH==