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Religions
of The Mind
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Are upheld by
Ecclesiastical authority.
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Have their base
as the intellectual theology and authority of established
religious traditions.
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Require only
intellectual assent thus affording ready refuge for souls harassed
by fear and uncertainty, the price paid being conformity.
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Compromise the
sovereignty of personality; debase the dignity of self-respect.
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Require little
or no self exertion, offering a safe refuge and easy pathway to
those who shun the spirit struggles associated with the daring
adventure of the struggle for truth.
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Are the systems
of established intellectual and theological beliefs upheld through
ecclesiastical authority such that the appeal of this type of
religion is virtually solely to the mind.
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May provide a
feeling of settled security but at the price of a loss of
religious freedom and liberty.
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The religions
of authority can only divide mankind, hence have the inherent
potential to bring people into conflict with one another.
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Require
uniformity of belief among their adherents - an impossibility of
realization in the present state of the world.
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Naturally
crystallize into lifeless systems of creed.
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Religions of
The Spirit
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Leaves you free
to follow the truth, wherever the indwelling spirit of the Father
takes you.
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Is wholly based
on human experience - the revelation of supernatural values,
partial insight into eternal realities, a glimpse of the goodness
and beauty of the infinite character of the Father.
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Requires active
participation of the mind and soul in the faith adventure of
grappling with the rigorous realities of progressive human
experience.
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Accepts the
most thrilling and inspiring of all possible human experience -
the personal quest for truth.
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Its means are
effort, conflict, faith, loyalty to purpose, determination, love,
and dedication in the struggle for spiritual progress.
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Is not a
religion in the present-day meaning of the word, making its chief
appeal to the divine spirit of the Father which resides in the
mind of man. It derives its authenticity from the fruits of the
spirit that will so certainly appear in the personal experience of
all who become believers in the truth of this higher form of
spiritual communion of the individual and his/her Father-God.
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Brings to the
individual the supreme experience of human existence:
finding God for yourself and knowing him in your own soul.
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The religion of
the Spirit progressively draws mankind together, causing them to
become understandingly sympathetic with one another.
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Requires only uniformity
of experience - uniformity of destiny - making full
allowance for diversity of belief.
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Naturally grows
into the increasing joy and liberty of ennobling deeds of loving
service and merciful ministry.
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At its best the religion
of the spirit is an intimate partnership involving actively sharing every
moment of our existence with the indwelling spirit of God while voluntarily
seeking to make all of life's decisions in full accord with the will of the
Father. At the present level of development of mortal beings on Urantia, the
will of God under various circumstances is often best discovered with
reference to the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth who always
functioned in accord with God's will. Hence if we are thoroughly familiar
with Jesus life, at any moment of time and in any circumstance, we can ask
ourselves, "What would Jesus have done?" - while at the same time
striving to be in accord with the spirit within. Experience will teach us to
recognize the state of mental peace, assurance, and confidence that
accompanies sincerity in our decision making.
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