NOTES FOR LECTURE ONE

Introduction - From the Power of Now to A New Earth - ‘One-ness’ with the ‘divine’ will be discussed in more detail this semester - For the benefit of new-comers: short overview of past material.

Distinction between Religion and Spirituality - Necessary since it is a basic principle of the course material - Religion and ‘believing’ - Spirituality does not flow from formal religion, but was part of the ‘human’ since ancient times - Religion: generated by ‘wisdom of culture’ - Spirituality: ‘inborn gift’, not to be acquired, but to become aware of.

Where ‘religion’ might have failed us - Religion as God-connectedness can become Church-connectedness.

Purpose of the Spirituality course - Not to teach: how to be spiritual, but to enhance the meaning and essence of spirituality, and to offer means to discover ‘deeper spirituality’.

The God (concept) Question - Tolle and Fowler’s quotes - We might need to ‘update’ our God-concept.

Thoughts from Armstrong - Religion of the ancients - Development of - god-concept - It was not ‘visual’, rather ‘internal’ - Rites and their place - Respect for the ‘spirit’ - Meaning of the ‘sacrifice’ - The sacrifice as ‘creative’ - Important observation: “The prophets, mystics, philosophers, and poets of ancient times, were só advanced, and their vision was só radical, that later generations by applying these teachings, tended to dilute the 'vision' of the ancients, because it was just too radical.” - No ‘doctrine’ involved in the god-concept - Pressing toward ‘human consciousness’, a ‘transcendent dimension in the core of the being’ (not supernatural).

Does God have a future? - Which God? - Theistic God - Atheism.

– Exercise –

Truth, relative or absolute - Some practical thoughts - Jesus about the ‘Truth’ - How to apply - Truth vs Law and commandments - The One Absolute Truth.

God-connection, self-connection -