Part 70

b. There is absolute religious knowledge:

1. Its record in history: Moses, Jesus, etc.

2. Its testimony in our own selves:

(What do we know?)

c. In a democracy every one must attain this knowledge; each must be initiated; every man shall be a prophet.

IV. WHAT DOES EACH ONE BELIEVE CONCERNING GOD?

(Question for next week.)

SECOND MEETING

God, and the Meaning of Progress

I. THE IDEA OF GOD A PERSONAL CONVICTION:

a. A realization to be achieved, but, after that, silence on the subject. Sacredness of the word.

b. Members’ individual ideas of God.

c. My idea stated:

1. God as Self (read from Vedas), as the completion of myself. “I am that I am.”

2. The aspiration toward complete sympathy, consciousness (selfhood) as the aspiration of God, and the aim of progress.

3. The idea of “holiness” meaning “wholeness.”

II. HISTORIC IDEAS OF GOD:

a. The inner meaning of polytheism: many aspects of one God.

b. The inner meaning of trinity: the three as one, as the contrast of life, and its unity. A true paradox. Myself, the other Self, and love, the holy spirit.

c. The inner meaning of dualism: the two are two sides of one thing, the negative and the positive. Light makes darkness.

d. Personal, parental, and all other ideas of God are included in our larger view. The unity embraces all ideas and diversities.

III. PROGRESS AS THE TREND TOWARD COMPLETE SELF:

a. Throughout history the only progress has been toward greater understanding and brotherhood:

1. The value of railroads, telephones, etc.

b. The good is whatever leads toward understanding, sympathy, wholeness.

c. The bad is whatever does not lead thither:

1. The bad is what was once good, and has been passed.

2. Or sometimes it is the necessary result of an experimental progress.