Pornography and Unbridled Sex

• Every second - 28,258 internet users are viewing pornography.
• Every 39 minutes: a new pornographic video is being created in the United States
• The United States has one of the highest sex-offense rates in the world.

 Child Abuse

• 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet.
• Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults occur to children ages 17 and under.
• An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today.

 Illiteracy

• Functional illiteracy - incompetence in such basic functions as reading, writing, and mathematics-plagues 24 million Americans. Approximately thirteen percent of American seventeen-year-olds are illiterate; the estimate for minority youth is an astonishing forty percent. Every year, at least a million of these functional illiterates graduate from America’s high schools, the proud owners of meaningless diplomas.

 Obesity

•  There are 58 million overweight in the United States; 40 million obese; 3 million morbidly obese
• Eight out of 10 people over 25 are overweight
• There has been a 76% increase in Type II diabetes in adults 30-40 yrs old since 1990

While these statistics may seem to be totally unrelated, they reflect a growing lack of respect for the human body and mind. This in turn reflects an unprecedented spiritual stagnation brought about by the indifference to God as a Universal Parent, ignorance of the soul as an evolving entity, and unawareness of the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God in the human mind; we are surrounded by spiritual confusion.  According to Durant Drake, in Problems of Conduct, “What stands in the way is partly our apathy and indifference, partly our incontinent appetites, partly the unwholesome and deadening social influences in which we find ourselves enmeshed.”

As a youngster, I heard that the body is a temple of God. But those words never meant much to me. How could God be inside of me? I took care of my body because I knew it was good for me. However, when I grasped the significance of the Indwelling Spirit and acquired a fuller understanding of God (shared in greater detail in my book Heaven Is Not the Last Stop), there emerged a new and deeper appreciation for the magnificence of our Universal Parent and a heightened sense of humility as I realized that my body housed the spirit of God that guides me. I felt a new urgency in the duty to treat my body with respect and to extend that respect to others. The maxim, “The human body is a temple of divinity” took on new meaning.

 A true recognition of the divinity within is best reflected in our efforts to develop a well-balanced, God-knowing personality. Desecration of the body - disrespect - shows a low appreciation and shallow understanding of the complex relationships between the soul, spirit, and personality and the incredible opportunity humans have to become spirit beings.  Such conscious and meaningful realizations bring a benevolent attitude upgrade in the way we view ourselves and others. We access higher insight into the sacred duty to respect each other and keep our physical bodies and minds healthy. Vibrant health contributes to the intrinsic value of life and allows us to appreciate the beauty around us and taste the joys of life, which in turn expands the arena of our life experience.

 Knowing the reality of the Indwelling Spirit invigorates our relationships and motivates us to be of greater service by engaging the enthusiastic pursuit of worthy goals. It serves us to remember that health, sanity, and happiness are integrations of truth, beauty, and goodness as they are blended in human experience.

 There are many physical and environmental factors that influence our state of balance, including diet, activities, lifestyle, emotions, stress, attitude, age, pollution, and even weather. It is our responsibility to understand how these factors affect us and to develop a plan that contributes to the maintenance of a temple fit for the indwelling God-presence. Some steps that can be taken in this regard include:

•  Maintain a healthy attitude toward food.
• Be cognizant of the proper combination of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
• Favor organic foods.
• Sustain a healthy weight.
• Be cognizant of the nutritional requirements that may help you fight illness and disease.
• Maintain a sensible exercise plan.
• Occasionally detoxify the body to revitalize the tissues and organs.
• Stop smoking and curb alcohol consumption.
• Avoid recreational drugs.
• Maintain an effective dental hygiene protocol.
• Develop a healthy and respectful sense of humor and a positive attitude.

 Our commitment to excellence is reflected by an increased mastery of the art of living. Vitality of body, mind, and spirit support this quest, and rest on a foundation of personal health that radiates out to home and workplace, building a balance of wholesomeness, sanity, and happiness.

The West is proud of its religious and spiritual freedom, but when we look around we see growing indifference between individuals, violence in our workplace, and corrupt government officials and business administrators. The world now has more sex-slave trafficking than at any other period in our history. In the United States our children are in crisis:

• The proportion of students injured by a weapon at school has not declined since 1993. [Youth and Violence: A Report of the Surgeon General]
• In 2004, 5,292 young people ages 10 to 24 were murdered — an average of 15 each day [Youth Violence Facts at a Glance, Summer 2007, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)]
• Among boys, 42% of high schoolers and 32% of middle schoolers believe it is okay to hit or threaten a person who makes them angry. One in five (20%) of the girls agrees. [Josephson Institute, 2006 Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth]

It is evident that we are losing our moral compass - our diverse worldviews are not sustaining a growing spirituality.  Religious and spiritual teachers continue to preach recycled perspectives that massage the souls of their followers and bring wealth and fame to themselves, but do not have the spiritual power to transform societies.

It has become critical that new meaning is discovered in religion; that we begin to embrace its true definition: the experience of finding and knowing God with the goal to become Godlike. To unleash the passion for developing a majestic and well-balanced personality that is instinctively inclusive, moral, loving, and selfless, requires that we discover a new revelation of Jesus; that we attain an expanded understanding of his life and gospel of eternal salvation as it is offered in the fifth epochal revelation.  This is the challenge that is facing every religious and spiritual person today. 

In all our efforts to stabilize society and facilitate the solution of its problems it is our duty to “seek first the realities of heaven.” We find God through the leadings of spiritual insight, but we approach this insight of the soul through love of the beautiful, the pursuit of truth, loyalty to duty, and the worship of divine goodness.  When we fearlessly commit ourselves to this approach there is no place for sectarian rivalry, group bitterness, or assertions of moral superiority and spiritual infallibility. Societies will flourish because the decisions and actions of their citizens will be a profound demonstration of the truth of the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.

Aided by archaeology, historical records, and astronomy, the emerging facts are provocative but inconclusive, leaving us with lots of unresolved mystery. But our world is now in possession of an epic text that gives greater clarity and significance to all the Jesus information that is available and/or being discovered and researched.  In chapter eleven of my book, Heaven Is Not the Last Stop, I explored my beliefs about Jesus with historical, archaeological, and astronomic records and discoveries, and then reconciled this understanding with the sweeping account of Jesus’ life presented in The Urantia Book. Before writing my book, I was skeptical of this revelatory text but willing to consider its information as part of my research.  As I reconciled and synthesized theology and science with revelation there was greater clarity and depth in my understanding.  A passion emerged for becoming the very best I could be for the sake of others; I am sure this was experienced by Jesus’ followers before and after his death. This urgency for spiritual growth and loving service is energized after discovering a more replete knowledge of Jesus. 

I have one heartfelt desire for all my readers in the New Year: that in their reading and reflection of Heaven Is Not the Last Stop they discover new and higher spiritual meanings in their beliefs about Jesus, God and the universe. In the coming years this expanded worldview will help humanity advance toward greater spiritual unity and social progress.

First, I had never seen so many people of various traditions and cultures in one place.  This diversity of people came together for the touching purposes of finding ways to heal the earth and hear each other.  I enjoyed attending many of the diverse programs and speaking with participants - there is so much to learn from one another, if only we take the time to listen and reflect!!!My own presentation, “Cultivating Universal Intelligence,” was well attended and received. I received various invitations to present my workshop at universities, spiritual retreats, and associations.  My thanks to the many friends who attended the presentation and made the whole experience that much more meaningful. 

It was at the Parliament that my book, Heaven Is Not the Last Stop, made its first appearance;  everyone’s response has been very touching and validating. I truly appreciate the many emails I have been receiving from readers from all walks of life and religious backgrounds.  I am still in a daze!  After so many years in the creation  process, it is so exciting to know that there are people from all over the world reading Heaven Is Not the Last Stop.  It is my greatest desire that every reader discover new meanings and values to inspire them.

My roommate at the Parliament gave me a most unexpected experience - a voice to listen to at 5:30 in the morning!  Since childhood I have always been the earliest to start the day!  While it took a few days for my nervous system to adjust, it was a joy listening and learning from this remarkable woman, who influenced my life in more ways than one.

At the Parliament I also experienced great generosity and kindness which caused me to reflect on the quality of my own interactions with others and inspired me to continue developing my ability to serve others lovingly and selflessly.

My experience at the Parliament was inspiring and spiritually stimulating.  Now the challenge that faces each participant is to continue expressing in all our interactions with others, the goodwill that was experienced at such a remarkable event.

I am especially excited for three reasons:

First, ten years ago my mother expressed her desire to visit Australia. Unfortunately she passed away before she had an opportunity to travel there. This trip is dedicated to her memory.

Next, the first time I heard of the Parliament of the World’s Religions was when I was doing research for my book, Heaven Is Not the Last Stop and I discovered that Swami Vivekananda, who establisherd Vedanta societies in America and England, addressed the Parliament at their first event in 1893.  Little did I know that I would be presenting my workshop at their fifth conference since then.

Finally, I am honored that the Council selected Cultivating Universal Intelligence as a presentation that offers solutions to the great challenges of our times.  To cultivate universal intelligence is to develop the cosmic insight, moral awareness, and spiritual perception that can truly sustain a growing spirituality among all peoples.  When we commit to the harmonious development of consciousness, we gradually come to the realization that the goal of developing human consciousness is not to become enlightened or survive physical death.  The true purpose of developing consciousness is to be fully empowered to contribute one’s best to the advancement of civilization.  This is the responsibility and privilege of every spiritually progressive person in every generation.

 When we cultivate universal intelligence we expand the accuracy of our worldview - factually and philosophically; our reasoning becomes increasingly more objective, inclusive, moral, loving, and selfless.  As a result decisions become more effective, socially progressive, and peace enhancing.

 The Cultivating Universal Intelligence workshop is powerful and transforming and I look forward to sharing it with participants.

      To build character is to increase our reasoning ability, emotional maturity, self-control, and moral standards. Humankind is prone to egotism, prejudice, self-justification, and self-deception, but these attitude flaws are simply the rough edges that call out for self-development. Our active and deliberate efforts to build a noble character lead to improved interactions with others through enhancement of positive traits such as kindness, honesty, reliability, loyalty, empathy, fairness, tolerance, respect, generosity, and forgiveness.

     What does it mean to discover new and higher spiritual meanings and values? It means that we refine our worldview, factually and philosophically. This results in reasoning and behavior that can create and support useful, durable, and sustainable transformation. Our worldview represents our general outlook on life-our personal perspective and interpretation of society, the world, and our place in it. It answers questions such as: Who are we? Why is the world the way it is? Where do we come from? Where are we going?

      As we reflect on the answers to these questions, we gain insight into cosmic relationships that can transform our lives. The power to transform societies, however, is directly related to the truth content in our conclusions. To the degree that our worldview is accurate, factually and philosophically, so are our decisions and behavior likely to be effective at advancing spiritual unity and social progress. “And this intense striving for the attainment of supermortal ideals is always characterized by increasing patience, forbearance, fortitude, and tolerance.”[1]

     The harmonious development and integration of cosmic insight, moral awareness, and spiritual perception are halted if we cling to beliefs that are rigid, incomplete, or outright flawed. Decisions and actions based on such beliefs are likely to manifest flawed results. We may feel spiritual, but are we growing spiritually?  Are we more tolerant and forgiving than we were five years ago? We profess love, but are we growing in our love for God and our fellow human beings?  Is our main motivation in life to become enlightened or to worship God by lovingly serving others?

      If we truly want to grow spiritually and advance our civilization, we must discover new meanings in our philosophic concepts and theological definitions. We must also be willing to subject our beliefs to intelligent criticism and reasonable philosophic assessment.

Personal insights can be meaningful to scores of individuals or people of like mind, but they may not contain enough creative and spiritual impetus or universal values to advance religious unity, or uplift society or nations.  Why?  It is possible for people of all faiths to effect cooperation on the basis of unity of ideals and purposes - love, respect, tolerance, forgiveness, mercy, human rights, peace, brotherhood, and freedom are the fundamental ideals exalted by all religions. However, to advance collective peace requires that we understand where each religious perspective fits into the Big Picture of Existence, and this necessitates that we expand the truth in our beliefs - that we expand our concept of God.  This brings us to public revelation.

Public or epochal revelation is the technique that helps us to sort and sift “. . . the errors of evolution from the truths of spirit acquirement” which would otherwise take us ages upon ages of time to do. The purpose of epochal revelation is to advance human wisdom and alleviate confusion.

I came across The Urantia Book, a text that claims to be an epochal revelation at a time when I was looking for answers to fill-in the missing pieces in my spiritual understanding.  I approached the tome with caution, but as I reconciled my beliefs with this revelatory knowledge, I realized that it expanded upon virtually all gospels.  Also, I could not deny the personal transformation that it was effecting. My book, Heaven Is Not the Last Stop, documents this journey of reconciliation.  Through this process I gained a deeper appreciation of public revelation, and it is these insights that I am sharing with you in this blog.

Public revelation progressively reveals God to all of humankind and assists them in the long journey of knowing and finding God, and becoming Godlike. It is imparted by celestial beings to expand the factual and philosophical accuracy of humanity’s religious worldviews , enabling decisions and actions to increasingly generate the spiritual power necessary to transform societies.

Revelation has been operative in our world since deep prehistoric times, with epochal revelation imparted as humanity developed the capacity to assimilate spiritual information. With the passage of time these revelations commingled with the beliefs and practices of the era, influencing creation of the world’s major religions. But belief systems evolve as they appropriate philosophies and practices of other belief systems.  For example, the functional levels of Deity are well depicted in Hinduism but underwent further changes in response to Buddhism, Jainism, and later Islam and Christianity. The revealed teachings of the Seven Master Spirits are best represented in the Zoroastrian concept of the seven supreme gods, which had a major impact on the later Levantine religions including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Current understanding of public revelation reflects the limited understanding of humanity’s concept of God. For example, those who perceive God as synonymous with Jesus Christ, tend to believe that public revelation ended with his bestowal on Earth and with the New Testament. Similarly, those who ignore or reject the personality of God, call God an impersonal “reality,” and relegate him to such things as “nature” and “the universe.” When matter, energy, and consciousness are perceived as one ongoing and unfolding process that connects us all, that which is revealed about the nature of reality through the discoveries of science, becomes public revelation.

World conditions confirm that existing religious worldviews are unable to sustain a growing spiritual nature or foster a reasoning that is increasingly more objective, inclusive, moral, loving, and selfless. For example, the Christian perspective mentioned above promotes intolerance and divisiveness, and also obscures the saving message Jesus brought for all humanity.  The perspective that ignores or rejects a personal God tends to foster a solipsistic attitude (”My mind is all that there is”), nurturing a sense of entitlement - a lack of obligation to anything but the whims of oneself.

Confusion in our religious understanding arises when information is not clear, incomplete, or erroneous. While we may not recognize this confusion, it is often reflected in the quality of our decisions and actions: the Muslim extremist who becomes a suicide bomber thinking it pleases Allah, or the Christians who kill abortion doctors because they feel God has called them to protect the defenseless. The greater the accuracy of our religious worldview, the more sound, compassionate, selfless, and effective our decisions and actions become.

I discovered that the fifth and latest epochal revelation found in The Urantia Book, validates the truths in all religions; it then synthesizes and expands them to create a more logical and consistent philosophic concept of the universe. This unbroken explanation of both science and religion harmonizes the mind and satisfies the spirit in a unique way. Such an enlightened philosophy provides an intelligent explanation of the nature and content of religious experience that can serve as a springboard for the further advancement of humanity and our religious institutions.

There is a challenge facing each of us: Are we willing to move beyond our skepticism and explore our beliefs in the light of the latest epochal revelation  . . . to discover higher meanings and values to live by?  As I wrote Heaven Is Not the Last Stop over many years, I gained a deeper appreciation of what it means to be a true member of the family of God.  This achievement accomplished one person at a time and manifested in our society as growing peace and progress, will bring clarity to our understanding of public revelation and testify to its value in the generations to come.  Soon after my book is published I will be giving web seminars on different topics to assist those picking up the challenge in their own reconciliation process. Keep checking my website www.heavenisnotthelaststop.com for seminar schedules.

At that time I did not know that I had a fragment of God guiding me in my spiritual journey, enlivening my curiosity about God and continuously leading me toward greater understanding of my place in the universe. I also did not know that through the influence of this ministering spirit, I was retaining - with each exposure to increasingly higher levels of truth - that which is eternal in what I learned and explored. Far from needing to jettison everything from within a particular teaching or path, I was beginning to see how I could incorporate the wisdom from each to forge an expanded and more complete worldview.

Along the spirit path in my search for truth I had been exposed to multiple definitions for terms such as “spiritual experience,” “spiritual transformation,” “self-mastery,” “God-consciousness,” “self-realization,” and “enlightenment.” The many different explanations seemed incomplete, sometimes even contradictory. The insights I gained in my reconciliation process brought new meaning to these terms, revealing a clearer picture of my journey in the pursuit of God.  

This blog will explore the terms “spiritual experience” and “spirituality” because the current definition and usage of these terms is confusing to many seekers. Reconciling these concepts has been very useful to me and I hope you find this article enlightening. I am sharing some excerpts with you from my forthcoming book, Heaven Is Not the Last Stop.

I would love to have feedback from readers. Let me know what you liked about this article. Are there terms that you would like me to explain better? Is there a particular thought or concept that you would like me to write about?  Is there a concern? Blogs are meant to be interactive so that we can all learn from each other.

Spiritual experiences are usually considered hallmarks of spiritual growth, but what classifies an experience as spiritual? We tend to call an experience spiritual when it is unexplainable, especially when it is associated with a spiritual or religious practice. Spiritual practices bridge the gap between acquired theoretical knowledge and direct experience. For example, the inner experience of light or feeling of universal love during the practice of meditation or prayer may be associated with an acquired knowledge of God or spirit, and therefore is considered to be a spiritual experience.

From a cosmic perspective, however, every experience has the potential to be spiritual - to be influenced by spirit. But the spiritual power in an experience remains latent until it is activated by the response of the individual. In other words, a particular experience is not spiritual because it is perceived as such; it is spiritual because the subsequent decisions and actions reflect an expanding worldview and increasing sensitivity to spiritual guidance.

True spiritual experiences emanate from the inner ministry of the spirit, usually reflected in a great outward calm and almost perfect emotional control. They foster humility, balance, growth, and progress, and they empower the individual to:

• Enjoy more complete physical health.
• Mentally function more efficiently.
• Socialize the spiritual/religious experience more fully and joyfully.
• Spiritualize daily living more completely while faithfully performing the routine duties of human existence.
• Enhance life with a deeper appreciation of truth, beauty, and goodness.
• Conserve important social, moral, ethical, and spiritual values.
• Increase spiritual perception (awareness).

 Spiritual experiences are usually driven by the personal desire and effort to find and know God, and are often encountered during prayer and meditation. However, if our concept of God is not evolving or if personal identification with the Father is lacking, spiritual practices can lead to a preoccupation with oneself and one’s own level of attainment. It can also distort our perception of the experiences we are having. The static and blissful peace of mind experienced in mystic communion, for example, may be a result of physical fatigue, psychic dissociation, profound aesthetic experiences, or other interior impulses, rather than emanating from the superconscious realm of spirit.  Likewise, a vivid and intense emotional experience is not necessarily a divine revelation or a spiritual insight.

This is perhaps not difficult to understand intellectually, but many seekers become easily attached to the feelings associated with the meditative state, especially if they identify these experiences with a growing spirituality.  This understanding helps us to redefine the broad term “spirituality” in a manner that reflects a more precise meaning than is generally used.

Spirituality is the progressive revelation of the qualities of divinity in everything we think, say, and do. A growing spirituality is reflected when we consistently treat others as we would like to be treated in the same circumstances, and ultimately when our decisions and actions reflect the selfless attitude of a wise and loving parent. This spirituality is the goal of the ongoing process of spiritual growth on Earth.

Growing up, religion seemed almost like a dirty word.  I associated religion with bloodshed, scandal, and corruption, and the word “God” had little meaning.  I referred to God as Nature and I thought of myself as an eternal spirit, proudly making the distinction when the occasion arose that I was “spiritual” and not “religious.”  Then came the moment I questioned my spirituality and my whole perspective of existance crumbled.  Uncomfortable as it was, putting it back together has been, and it still is, one of the most fulfilling activities that I am involved in.   In my blogs I will share with you the insights that I have gained and explore them in relation to current events.   In this blog I will share with you my thoughts on rediscovering the true meaning of religion.

True religion is the progressive experience of finding and knowing God, with the goal of becoming Godlike. Growth in God-consciousness through the harmonious development of cosmic insight, moral awareness, and spiritual perception, is the purpose of religion. Growth in God-consciousness is reflected in the quality of our decisions and interactions with one another.

The detrimental effects of forgetting the true meaning of religion are clearly evident throughout history.  When religion is perceived as a belief, institution, or system, it becomes fertile soil for corruption, manipulation, and divisiveness, and that is what leads to conflict.  Religious conflict is the eight-hundred pound gorilla sitting squarely in the middle of so many of history’s most horrific acts on humanity.  Kenneth C. Davis, author of America’s Hidden History explains that the underlying lesson that history has taught us is that people fear what they do not know, understand, or what is different.  This fear moves in tandem with the arrogant superiority that comes from the notion of possessing the exclusive truth.  Davis states that the presence of these volatile dynamics allows one group to demonize or dehumanize the other.  Firmly established, it becomes easy to hang people as heretics, burn them at the stake or in ovens, fly jetliners into their buildings, and bomb their railway stations.

When the true meaning of religion is forgotten or ignored, its institutions become inflexible and excluding, beliefs rigid and dividing, and its practices conditioned.   Decisions influenced by myopic and inaccurate beliefs are unable to garnish the power to transform or to advance spiritual unity and social progress.

Our society is currently staggering under the guilt of tolerating politics without principles, pleasure without self-control, wealth without work, knowledge without character, power without conscience, and industry without morality.  Our world is in crisis and in dire need of the progressive new and higher thinking that can successfully address the complex problems it faces.  Joshua Cooper Ramo author of the book The Age of the Unthinkable says of our leaders:  “…whether they are running corporations or foreign ministries or central banks, some of the best minds of our era are still in thrall to an older way of seeing and thinking.  They are making repeated misjudgments about the world.”

This observation is not only relevant in business, finance, and politics, but also in religion. Religious and spiritual leaders today are hanging on to ancient ways of seeing and thinking about our world – ways that hinder the development of a broader worldview able to support a growing spiritual nature. Leaders of all types shape and guide our history.  The soundness of their leadership and the effectiveness of their guidance in advancing peace and social progress is very much influenced by the accuracy of their image of the world– factually and philosophically.  

True religion is the progressive experience of becoming God-conscious, an experience that starts on Earth and continues through the multilevel universe to eternity.  As we grow in God-consciousness we expand the accuracy of our worldview; our reasoning becomes increasingly more objective, inclusive, moral, loving, and selfless.  As a result, decisions become more effective, socially progressive, and peace enhancing.  

The crisis in our world today makes it imperative for all of us, regardless of spiritual or religious orientation, to be open to expanding our understanding  of religion and making adjustments to our philosophy of living.  Social progress and advancement in peace will be the fruits of our courageous efforts.  To refuse this opportunity is to leave the task to the next generation.