Post on 09-May-2015
The Principles of Creation
Part 3Growth and the spiritual world
Growth and development
• Nothing appears fully formedNothing appears fully formed
• Everything grows and develops Everything grows and develops through stagesthrough stages
• Growth takes timeGrowth takes time
• Development often has a directionDevelopment often has a direction
How was the universe created?
• There are two creation accounts in Genesis
– Six days of creation in Genesis 1
– God created man first and then the universe in Genesis 2
How should we understand the Bible?
• Literalism– The Bible is the inerrant word of God– The Bible is literally true
• Contextually– The meaning of the text depends on its
context– Text should be examined rationally– The Bible contains metaphors and symbols
Traditional perspective
“The Bible itself speaks to us of the origin of the universe and its makeup, not in order to provide us with a scientific treatise, but in order to state the correct relationships of man with God and with the universe.”
Pope John Paul II
The first day
• The word “day” in Hebrew means “age”
• So one “age” or day could be millions or billions of years
• “There was evening and there was morning, one day.” Genesis 1:5
• Bible - “Let there be light”
• Science - Big Bang - an explosion of light
The second day
• Bible - Let the upper and lower waters be separated
• Science - The earth was very hot and so water evaporating forming dense clouds filling the sky
EarthLower water(sea)
Sky UpperWater(clouds)
The third day
• Bible - Let land appear and the land be separated from the sea and let plants appear
• Science - The earth was shrinking as it cooled and bubble of land appeared
• Plants were first living organisms
LandLower water(sea)
Atmosphere UpperWater(clouds)
Let dry land appear
Gondwanaland
And plants
The fourth day
• Bible - Let the sun and the moon and the stars appear
• Science - What seems to be wrong here?• As the earth cooled and plants generated
oxygen the atmosphere changed. The sky became visible
Let the sun and moon appear
Atmosphere
The fifth day
• Let the fish and birds appear
The sixth day
• Let the creatures appear
And finally
What is remarkable is that the order of creation in Genesis 1 is very similar to that suggested by modern science
Chronological order
The creation story in Genesis 2
• God formed man from the dust of the earth• God breathed into him the breath of life• God planted a Garden• Man put there till and keep it• God formed the animals as ‘helpers’• God made a woman from the man’s rib• Man leaves his father and his mother and
cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh
Teleological order
The three stages of growth
FormationStage
GrowthStage
CompletionStage
Physical growth and development
CompletionStage
GrowthStage
FormationStage
IndirectDominion
Growth due toAutonomy
Governance
“We call it nature because it has developed naturally and spontaneously.”CSG p.874
What is the indirect dominion?
• God is perfect and can only relate to God is perfect and can only relate to perfect beingsperfect beings
• All beings have to grow to reach All beings have to grow to reach completioncompletion
• They grow autonomously guided by the They grow autonomously guided by the the Principle (laws of nature)the Principle (laws of nature)
• During this time God governs things During this time God governs things indirectlyindirectly
Growth and developmentCompletionCompletion
ThingsThings PeoplePeople
GrowthGrowth
Force of the Force of the PrinciplePrinciple
AutomaticAutomatic
GrowthGrowth
PrinciplePrinciple
++Human Human
ResponsibilityResponsibility
What is completion?
1.1. Maturity, integrity, Maturity, integrity, wholesomeness, onenesswholesomeness, oneness
2.2. Achievement of fullAchievement of full potential potential
3.3. Fulfilment of purposeFulfilment of purpose
Spiritual growth
Children’s love Joy from receiving
Mutual love Joy from sharing
Parental love Joy from giving
Aspects of spiritual growth
► Development of awareness of Development of awareness of others and the needs of othersothers and the needs of others
► Development of conscienceDevelopment of conscience
► Maturity of ability to give and Maturity of ability to give and receive lovereceive love
► Growth of sensitivity to GodGrowth of sensitivity to God
Human growth in indirect dominion
Indirect dominionthrough the Principle
GoGodd
MaMann
100% effortto fulfill the
Three Blessings
Follow themoral law
Everything neededto fulfill the
Three Blessings
Reveal the moral law
Humanresponsibility
Divineresponsibility
Fulfilment of God’s will
Human responsibility
God’s effortGod’s effort
Human responsibility in the Bible
• “Your faith has made you well.” Mark 5:34
• “The prayer of faith will save the sick man.” James
5:15
• “Behold I stand at the door and knock.” Revelation 3:20
• “Ask and you will receive.” Matthew 7:8
Divine grace + Human will → God’s will
Freedom and responsibility
“Behold I set before you this day, a blessing and a curse: the blessing if you hearken to the commandments of the Lord your God . . . And the curse, if you do not give heed to the commandments of the Lord your God . . .”
Deuteronomy 11:26-28
God never interferes in human responsibility
► So that we could inherit God’s So that we could inherit God’s creativity and participate in the creativity and participate in the work of creationwork of creation
► By doing so, man can earn the By doing so, man can earn the position of owner and thus be position of owner and thus be worthy to be lord of creationworthy to be lord of creation
Why did God give human beings responsibility?
Examples of freedom
• If Adam and Eve had not eaten the fruit If Adam and Eve had not eaten the fruit there would be no sinthere would be no sin
• If Abraham had not been willing to If Abraham had not been willing to sacrifice Isaac . . . .sacrifice Isaac . . . .
• If the people of Ninevah had not If the people of Ninevah had not repentedrepented
• If Jesus had been accepted . . . . If Jesus had been accepted . . . .
Why did God give people free will?
►God is the source of love
►He made love the centre of human life
► Love has to be freely given and received
RobotRobot
Programmed
No potential for love and creativity
PersonPerson
Free Will
Potential for love and creativity
God’s direct and indirect dominion
Indirect dominion Indirect dominion through the Principlethrough the Principle
GoGodd
MaMann
Love
Direct dominion of oneness
of heart through love
MaMann
God is love, and he who abides in loveabides in God, and Godabides in him. I Jn. 4:16
What is the direct dominion?• A perfected couple are the substantial
object to God and one with God– Feels how God feels, thinks how God thinks
• Living in oneness with God’s heart lead a life of goodness carrying out God’s will
Just as every part of the body spontaneously moves in response to the subtle directions of the mind, people will spontaneously carry out the will of God in accord with the deeply felt intentions of his heart.
EUT, 45
Direct dominion and creation• A perfect person is Lord of Creation,
resonating with the heart of God
• Lead the natural world in free flowing sharing of love and beauty
“According to the Principle of Creation, we are created to attain perfection by fulfilling our responsibility of our own free will, without God's direct assistance. We are then to attain oneness with God and acquire true autonomy. Therefore, it is the calling of our original nature to pursue freedom and autonomy. A person of perfect character understands the will of God and puts it into practice through his own insight and reason, without the need to rely on revelations from God. Hence, it is only natural that we pursue reason and understanding.” EUT
Is there life after death?
• God is an eternal being who loves us as his children
• If there is no life after death everyday would be the worst day of God’s life
• God wants to have an eternal relationship with us and so God created us with a soul that lives forever in the spiritual world
Spiritual selfPhysical self
Spiritual mind Invisible dwelling place of God
Physical mind Instinctive mind maintaining functions of existence
Physical body Spiritual body or soul
Physical senses Spiritual senses
• Beyond time & space
• No reproduction
• Cause
What is the difference between the spiritual and physical worlds?
Spiritual World
Physical World
• Within time & space
• Reproduction
• Effect
1.1. ESP – Extra-sensory perception
2. Telepathy
3. Clairvoyance
4. Psychic healing
5. Mind over matter
6. Mediums/Channeling
7. “Remote viewing”
Examples of spiritual phenomena
1. Life after Life Raymond H. Moody, MD.2. Death and Dying Elizabeth Kubler Ross, MD.3. Life in the World Unseen Anthony Borgia4. Heaven and Its Wonders and Hell and
others Emmanuel Swedenborg5. Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron
Curtain Sheila Ostrander and Lynn Schroeder6. The Unquiet Dead Edith Fiore, Ph.D.
Writings on the spiritual realm
1. Feeling of peace2. Loud sounds3. Movement through a tunnel4. Sensation of being outside the physical
self5. Meeting other spirit beings6. Encountering a loving being of light7. Moral reflection on earthly life8. Returning to the physical self
Elements common to manynear death experiences
Raymond A. Moody, Jr. M.D.American PhysicianLife after Life, 1975
We relate to both worlds
Physical Physical WorldWorld
Spiritual Spiritual WorldWorld
AnimalAnimal AngelAngel
What is our position in the cosmos?• Ruler of the universe
– The universe is not internally sensitive to God– God does not govern the universe directly– We have potential to govern both
• Mediator and centre of harmony of the cosmos– Like a radio able to ‘pick up’ spiritual ‘waves’
• Microcosm of the universe
Humans are a microcosm of the cosmos
Inherent directive nature
Molecules, atoms, particles
Cellular body
Instinct
Body
Spiritual aspect
Physical aspect
Men, Masculinity
Woman, Femininity
God’s Nature
MineralsPlants
Animals
Human beings
Internal nature
Male
Female
Like dying Like dying
Spiritual worldSpiritual worldFinal destinationFinal destination
EarthEarthPreparation of Preparation of
the spirit selfthe spirit self
WombWombPreparationPreparation
of the physical selfof the physical self
Placenta
MindSpirit self
BodyPhysical self
Spiritual mind
Spiritual body
40 weeks 80 years Eternity
Unborn child
It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.I Cor.15:44
What are the stages of life?
How does spiritual growth take place?
What is the relationship between spiritual and physical
body?
+
Air
Food, water
-
Vitality elements
Life elements
‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me.’ John 4:34
Light
Warmth
PhysicalSelf
SpiritualSelf
Spirit elements
+
-
Good or evil in the conduct of the physical self is the main determinant of whether the spirit self becomes good or evil. EDP, 48
Love
Truth
+
Atmosphereof freedom
GodGod
What are the principles of spiritual growth?
• Spirit growth through give and receive between between life and vitality elements– Grace from good spirit joy, strength, healing
• Spirit can only grow while in the flesh– Body follows mind which follows good purpose
physical self becomes wholesome
• Put truth into action• Growth takes place in stages
• Conscience is higher than your teacher
• Conscience is higher than your parents
• Conscience is higher than God
By rejecting conscience certain persons have made ship wrecks of their faith. I Timothy 1:19
How important is the conscience?
1. Never go against your conscience - keep a clear conscience2. Make sure your conscience is properly formed - make sure
you have a straight conscience
Good actions
What determines where we go?
Free will
Good vitality
elements
Good person
Evil actions
Evil vitality elements Evil
person
Heaven
Hell
It is not God who decides whether a person enters heaven or hell upon his death; it is the spirit himself
The sheep and the goats
• "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:31-46
Regions in the spiritual world
“In my Father’s house are many rooms.”John 14:2
What is the conscience?
ConsciencConsciencee
Physical Physical mindmind
Spiritual Spiritual mindmind
Personal Personal view of view of truthtruth
CompassCompass
Do goodDo good
Avoid evilAvoid evil
GuiltGuilt UncontrollableUncontrollable
ObeyObey
External, standard of right and wrongExternal, standard of right and wrong
Voice of GodVoice of God
Judges and Judges and accusesaccuses
ParentsParentsSocietySocietyScriptureScriptureExperienceExperienceReasonReasonPrayerPrayer
What is the original mind?
Original Original mindmind
PhysicaPhysical mindl mind
Spiritual Spiritual mindmind
GoGodd
You have made us, O Lord, for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.
St. Augustine
My eyes shed streamsof tears, because mendo not keep thy law.
Psalm 119:136
With my whole heartI seek thee; let me not wander from thycommandments.
Psalm 119:10
I find delight in thycommandments, whichI love, and I will meditateon thy statutes.
Psalm 119:47
Internal, striving for higher standard, pursues absolute goodnessInternal, striving for higher standard, pursues absolute goodness
What is the evil mind?
Evil mindEvil mind
PhysicaPhysical mindl mind
Spiritual Spiritual mindmind
Satan
Enjoys doing evilHappy when people suffer
Physical worldPhysical worldFive physical Five physical sensessenses
Spiritual worldSpiritual worldFive spiritual Five spiritual sensessenses
Physical body
Spiritual body
Spiritual mind
Physicalmind
What is the position of human beings?
Spiritualworld
Physicalworld
AngelsSpiritsAncestors
MineralsPlantsAnimals
Mediator between spiritualand physical worlds
Jesus spoke toElijah and Moses
Human beings Human beings are a microcosm are a microcosm of the cosmosof the cosmos
Lords of Creation
Rulers of the Universe