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, 12:50, 18 July 2011Created page with 'File:lighterstill.jpgright|frame 99:2.1 Institutional religion cannot afford inspiration and provide leadership in this ...'
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99:2.1 [[Institutional]] [[religion]] cannot afford [[inspiration]] and [[provide]] [[leadership]] in this impending world-wide [[social]] reconstruction and [[economic]] reorganization because it has unfortunately become more or less of an [[organic]] part of the [[social]] order and the [[economic]] [[system]] which is destined to undergo reconstruction. Only the real [[religion]] of [[personal]] [[spiritual]] [[experience]] can [[function]] helpfully and [[creatively]] in the [[present]] [[crisis]] of [[civilization]].
99:2.2 [[Institutional]] [[religion]] is now caught in the [[stalemate]] of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtuous_circle_and_vicious_circle#Vicious_circle vicious circle]. It cannot reconstruct [[society]] without first reconstructing itself; and being so much an integral part of the [[established]] order, it cannot reconstruct itself until [[society]] has been [[radically]] reconstructed.
99:2.3 Religionists must [[function]] in [[society]], in [[industry]], and in [[politics]] as [[individuals]], not as [[groups]], parties, or [[institutions]]. A religious [[group]] which presumes to [[function]] as such, apart from religious activities, [[immediately]] becomes a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_party political party], an [[economic]] [[organization]], or a [[social]] [[institution]]. Religious [[collectivism]] must confine its efforts to the furtherance of [[religious]] causes.
99:2.4 Religionists are of no more [[value]] in the tasks of social reconstruction than nonreligionists except in so far as their [[religion]] has conferred upon them enhanced [[cosmic]] [[foresight]] and [[endowed]] them with that superior social [[wisdom]] which is born of the [[sincere]] [[desire]] to [[love]] [[God]] supremely and to love every man as a [[brother]] in the heavenly kingdom. An [[ideal]] [[social]] order is that in which every man loves his [[neighbor]] as he loves himself.
99:2.5 The [[institutionalized]] church may have appeared to serve [[society]] in the past by [[glorifying]] the [[established]] [[political]] and [[economic]] orders, but it must speedily cease such [[action]] if it is to [[survive]]. Its only proper [[attitude]] consists in the teaching of [[nonviolence]], the doctrine of [[peaceful]] [[evolution]] in the place of [[violent]] [[revolution]]—peace on earth and good will among all men.
99:2.6 [[Modern]] [[religion]] finds it [[difficult]] to [[adjust]] its [[attitude]] toward the rapidly shifting [[social]] [[changes]] only because it has permitted itself to become so thoroughly [[traditionalized]], [[dogmatized]], and [[institutionalized]]. The religion of living [[experience]] finds no [[difficulty]] in keeping ahead of all these social [[developments]] and economic upheavals, amid which it ever [[functions]] as a [[moral]] stabilizer, [[social]] guide, and [[spiritual]] pilot. True [[religion]] carries over from one age to another the [[worth]]-while [[culture]] and that [[wisdom]] which is born of the [[experience]] of knowing [[God]] and striving to be like him.
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_99 Go to Paper 99]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 99 - The Social Problems of Religion]]
99:2.1 [[Institutional]] [[religion]] cannot afford [[inspiration]] and [[provide]] [[leadership]] in this impending world-wide [[social]] reconstruction and [[economic]] reorganization because it has unfortunately become more or less of an [[organic]] part of the [[social]] order and the [[economic]] [[system]] which is destined to undergo reconstruction. Only the real [[religion]] of [[personal]] [[spiritual]] [[experience]] can [[function]] helpfully and [[creatively]] in the [[present]] [[crisis]] of [[civilization]].
99:2.2 [[Institutional]] [[religion]] is now caught in the [[stalemate]] of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtuous_circle_and_vicious_circle#Vicious_circle vicious circle]. It cannot reconstruct [[society]] without first reconstructing itself; and being so much an integral part of the [[established]] order, it cannot reconstruct itself until [[society]] has been [[radically]] reconstructed.
99:2.3 Religionists must [[function]] in [[society]], in [[industry]], and in [[politics]] as [[individuals]], not as [[groups]], parties, or [[institutions]]. A religious [[group]] which presumes to [[function]] as such, apart from religious activities, [[immediately]] becomes a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_party political party], an [[economic]] [[organization]], or a [[social]] [[institution]]. Religious [[collectivism]] must confine its efforts to the furtherance of [[religious]] causes.
99:2.4 Religionists are of no more [[value]] in the tasks of social reconstruction than nonreligionists except in so far as their [[religion]] has conferred upon them enhanced [[cosmic]] [[foresight]] and [[endowed]] them with that superior social [[wisdom]] which is born of the [[sincere]] [[desire]] to [[love]] [[God]] supremely and to love every man as a [[brother]] in the heavenly kingdom. An [[ideal]] [[social]] order is that in which every man loves his [[neighbor]] as he loves himself.
99:2.5 The [[institutionalized]] church may have appeared to serve [[society]] in the past by [[glorifying]] the [[established]] [[political]] and [[economic]] orders, but it must speedily cease such [[action]] if it is to [[survive]]. Its only proper [[attitude]] consists in the teaching of [[nonviolence]], the doctrine of [[peaceful]] [[evolution]] in the place of [[violent]] [[revolution]]—peace on earth and good will among all men.
99:2.6 [[Modern]] [[religion]] finds it [[difficult]] to [[adjust]] its [[attitude]] toward the rapidly shifting [[social]] [[changes]] only because it has permitted itself to become so thoroughly [[traditionalized]], [[dogmatized]], and [[institutionalized]]. The religion of living [[experience]] finds no [[difficulty]] in keeping ahead of all these social [[developments]] and economic upheavals, amid which it ever [[functions]] as a [[moral]] stabilizer, [[social]] guide, and [[spiritual]] pilot. True [[religion]] carries over from one age to another the [[worth]]-while [[culture]] and that [[wisdom]] which is born of the [[experience]] of knowing [[God]] and striving to be like him.
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Paper_99 Go to Paper 99]</center>
<center>[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=The_Urantia_Text_-_Contents Go to Table of Contents]</center>
[[Category:Paper 99 - The Social Problems of Religion]]
