Religion from A Melchizedek Viewpoint—Pt 21: Ideals & Philosophic Co-ordination

We go on with our study of religion with the fifth of the "religion papers, The Reality of Religious Experience with sections 5 & 6, The Origin of Ideals and Philosophic Coordination.

This idea-ideal of doing good to others — the impulse to deny the ego something for the benefit of one’s neighbor — is very circumscribed at first. Primitive man regards as neighbor only those very close to him, those who treat him neighborly; as religious civilization advances, one’s neighbor expands in concept to embrace the clan, the tribe, the nation. And then Jesus enlarged the neighbor scope to embrace the whole of humanity, even that we should love our enemies. And there is something inside of every normal human being that tells him this teaching is moral — right. Even those who practice this ideal least, admit that it is right in theory. 

All men [and women] recognize the morality of this universal human urge to be unselfish and altruistic. The humanist ascribes the origin of this urge to the natural working of the material mind; the religionist more correctly recognizes that the truly unselfish drive of mortal mind is in response to the inner spirit leadings of the Thought Adjuster.  (1133.7,1134.1) 103:5.2,3

Theology is the study of the actions and reactions of the human spirit; it can never become a science since it must always be combined more or less with psychology in its personal expression and with philosophy in its systematic portrayal. Theology is always the study of your religion; the study of another’s religion is psychology. (1135.3) 103:6.1

Join us as we continue this splendid exploration on how The Urantia Book defines the meaning, purpose and value of true religion. We'll have many great cross references and commentary enhancing our study.  http://tobtr.com/11676822