RELIGION PAR EXCELLENCE

PART ONE
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SIX OF THE SEVEN STOREYS
OF HUMAN NATURE

The Summary

     In the summary as in the main body of his treatise we will discuss each of the seven "foldments" separately. The writer's conclusion will follow. Each element of the seven-fold nature of man has its own specificity.

Physical Man
     Man is an animal and desire the lofty place he commanded in Creation, with no credit to his own doing, and subsequent arrogance he remains a member of the animal kingdom. And, he is not distinguished because of his achievement or because of his appearance. From a physical standpoint if there is any single thing which gives man any superior place among animals it is that his physical body "houses" the soul, in the sense that the soul, no less than the mind, operates within and through the physical body as far as man the being is concerned. Yet, without an attraction and life-affirming engagement of the soul man is, or settles to be, only an animal, wand much too often a beast, at that.
      A healthy physical body can be achieved and maintained by following natural laws. This includes eating appropriate food, in adequate but not extravagant amouts, proper exercise, a spiritual action plan which includes meditation, prayer and sufficient rest.  However, there is no single program that is universally good for every individual. Even an individual may do well to alter his program or lifestyle during different stages of his life in order to maintain his present level of health or to improve it. ... But health,...can never be fully achieved when only the physicality is considered. Man is more, as his nature declares, much ore, than a body.

Mental Man

          From a human point of view nothing distinguishes and underscores man's superiority like his mind. No other creature, from a mental perspective, rivals man. Even though more hopeless than other creatures and remaining that way following birth for a longer period of  time than other creatures, having a tremendous capacity for learning, imaging, analyzing and reasoning, he is able to imagine a city and build it, modify, develop, and manipulate the given in such a way that it becomes a work of art or something of a new creation or an instrument for universal good.
     Just as we indicated earlier that physical health requires nurturing, it is equally true that mental health requires nurturing. A mind is a terrible thing to lose or abuse....The mind needs positive information, problem-solving experiences, relaxation, openness to experience the new and creative challenges and opportunities to express itself and to learn by doing from what is often but erroneously called mistakes. The only mistake there is, from the mind point of view, is a mental engagement from which the person learns nothing. Mind power is stronger than physical power in the same sense that mental pain can be more excruciating than physical pain. What is mind power? This poem responds with an answer to that question.
              What is Mind Power?
          Mind power is the ability
               to know without believing,
          To realize that in the final
               analysis there is no
               final analysis:
          To be fully aware that "what
               is, is."
          And also be aware at the same time
               that the mind may have mirrored
               an illusion rather than reality.
          Ultimately, we are in control of
               the mind only when we never
               mind the mind.

Emotional Man

Man has feelings. The primary reference here is not to instinct or the mere involuntary moods of an emotional nature. As an emotional being a person can determine or choose his feelings or emotional states. And, even though a person may not be aware of it nearly always he chooses his emotions.
     Vales, beliefs, attitudes, ideas, even words, may cause a person to experience myriad feelings alone the continuum of the emotion gamut ranging from sorrow to joy and from agony to ecstasy. Upon the hearing of a certain word a person may literally become moody and upon seeing blood he may faint. The question may be asked "Is it natural for a person to feel that way or ways?"  The answer is probably, "no," not necessarily. However, he is born an emotional being, and that means he is born to feel. Even before enculturation a baby may respond joyfully to that which he finds satisfying and be frightened by that which he perceives to be unpleasant.
     Feelings are the seasoning of life. They enable a person to expand and to experience full life--act for no other reason than that he feels like acting like that. Although it is a man's nature to feel he may suppress his feelings, in his attempt to lessen or avoid pain. When this is done frequently and  consistently it may cause the individual to develop and aberration in the form of psychosis, neurosis or other forms of emotional disturbances such as depression, self-pity, anxiety and paranoia may occur.
     Attitudes are important in the development and maintenance of an healthy emotional state. They are more important than facts or what appears to be reality. Attitudes may have a chilling effect on beliefs. Th emotional healthy person takes a healthy attitude toward each situation he encounters.
      The healthy emotional person is able to express both his negative and positive feelings, hate as well as love and anger as well as compassion.... It is well to keep in mind that man is emotional by nature and that the most profound and noblest state for him, at any given moment, notwithstanding that there are times when he is in pain or stress, is not the "conscious" or the "unconscious," but the "enjoyed," which is a way of being for a person living in the flow.

Economic Man

On the purely economic level nothing enables man to survive like economics, the milk of life for the new born baby, and later his bread, butter and meat; things which keep the body alive and, to that degree, body, mind and soul together, have to be ranked a the top of the list of essentials. Economics can and should be more than an animal-survival matter. Economics is a human science which deals with the means and substances necessary for meeting basic needs and wants, both individually and collectively. Economics is one of the foundations in the creation of community, which is the condition man is meant to live in.
      Earlier we staed that there are three major components of economics, namely, production, consumption and distribution. To emphasize this point we need to say the obvious, i.e., people naturally are consumers. They have been created with a unique and superior ability that allows them to create or produce. Man has demonstrated remarkably well his ability to produce and whether it be in agriculture or manufacturing factories he has done a masterful, certainly a voluminous job. Over-production and surpluses of products that were scarce, even in insufficient amounts to meet human needs just pror to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, are today available in quantity  on the open marketplace where competitors clamor for the customer's dolar. Warehoses in America, are bulging at the seams with surpluses and excesses. These are sometimes surpluses purchased from producers by the government for the purpose of keeping prices inflated on the open market. This is all too often done by politicians to payoff some political debt without aay regard for the citizenry as a whole. ...
      In spite of this enormous wealth, the high level of productivity, extravagance, waste and hoarding many people in our society go lacking for basic necessities, including adequate food, clothing and shelter to say nothing about safety and medicine. At the root of the problem is greed. Few people have too much and most have too little, especially that significant group at the bottom, constituting nearly twenty percent of the population. Ours is a system which encourages a few people to become millionaires while the homeless population increases. The rich continues to get richer while the poor becomes poorer. It is designed this way by those who control and exploit those who have less power. Laws are instituted to extend more privileges to those who have power. The message that comes through loud and clear is, "If you are rich there's help on the way; if you are poor that's just too bad."  Or, may be it's all right to have the poor because the poor will always be with us. "With us." That's worth repeating.
     Inequality in distribution is responsible for the problem. Producing more will not solve the problem of denials and inadequacies experienced by many people in our society. If that was was the case there would not be a problem of poverty and homelessness, both of which are increasing.
     We cannot over-emphasize the point that other freedoms, such as intellectual, moral and spiritual freedoms, rest with economic freedom. Survival itself is an economic matter and the cause for every human need, be it great or small.

Social Man

      Man has a basic need for togetherness and belongingness. He finds his greatest satisfaction in communicating with other humans. And, whether the interaction is primary or secondary, casual or intimate, man delights in and expresses his uniqueness, most pronouncedly, when relating with other humans. Being unable to share with other people is one of life's most painful or horrifying experiences. ...
     No aspect of man's nature more strongly suggests that he was created to practice community than his social nature. Without greed and power cravings, both of which are acquired rather than inherited, it would not only be nature for man to practice community but it would be his lifestyle. It is at the point of man's social nature that he is connected relationally. How can he communicate when he is separated one from the other?  The answer is he cannot. This poem illustrates the point being made:
            Individual man has no authentic
            and meaningful existence
            apart from collective man;
            Birth itself is the first indication
            that a person is a part of another human being.
            Cutting the umbilical cord
            does not change this fact.
            People are connected at all
            points, not just by the
            umbilical cord.
            They are inextricably caught-up
            in the network of sociality.
            When this results from higher
            consciousness there is "Mutuality."
      Because man is social by nature any attempt to separate himself from others, whether it be by geographical boundaries, class, race, or other superficial concoctions, diminishes his opportunity to live effectively. Alienation, loneliness and abandonment, at least the feelings thereof, lurk over those who attempt such risky business. These are some of the symptoms and consequences which plague those who seek to escape socializing with other people. In our present technological and gadget-prone society there is a tendency for people to be spectators rather than participants and to be entertained rather than share their own talents with others. This too constitutes an attempt to separate. But the social nature of man says he cannot separate and at the same time find meaning and happiness which he desires and pursues, often fleeing from what he longs for.

Political Man

     The will to power is innate and while there are two kinds of power, namely, political and spiritual, the former being the weaker of the two but, nonetheless, strong and often ruthless, corrupted and a tour de force of evil.
     However, the political aspect of human nature defines law and order, the nature of relationships, and prescribes, if not mandates, contingencies--rewards for compliance with, and punishment for violation of the enforced law. It should be emphasized that the law, even when supported by politics, is not absolute. It is often nothing more than doings and often misdoings of people who have power to enforce the law. Oftentimes laws are unnatural or in conflict with the natural order of things. Man needs laws and government in order to function as a society. His political nature causes him to become exploiters of others. But it is also the political nature of man which causes him to respond positively to needs of the exploited and weak, sometimes motivating him to give others assurance, usually in rhetoric but also at times in deeds, reaffirming that they too are entitled to freedom and respect. ...
    Political systems are established to give some stability to man's relating. The three major political systems in our world today are Capitalism, Communism and Socialism. While it would be correct to call these economic systems, they are fundamentally political systems. Politics, not economics, control people. Political decisions determine the nature of our existence from the cradle--even before--the grave and even after the grave. It is felt most directly in the area of economics. A political decision may determine whether or not a person will be born, as we see in China today where people are required to have one child per family, whether a farmer is to be paid to not plant while another farmer who plants, cultivates and harvests  his crop go uncompensated. Let us reiterate, politics is power.
    While politics serves a needed purpose, and man cannot be nonpolitical, history reveals that much of the destructiveness in the world can be directly attributed to politics. Politics appears to be a "catch twenty-two" and is often evil. But the alternative is not to be non-political. We do not have that choice. Obviously, when the exercise of political power is not under the subjection of spiritual power the consequences will be those we are all too familiar with in our experience, such as poverty, disease, racism, war and general human misery. When we say that the political power should be in subjection to spiritual power it does not mean that the two are similar in content or function. Whenever the religious attempts to be political there are dire consequences. One only needs to take a look at history to be reminded of this fact. Just as the eyes may assist the feet in their movement but not do the work of the feet, religion can, indeed must, be the moral heart, but not the function of politics. And, just as the feet have no eyes but have need of eyes, politics has no heart but needs a heart to be "human-worthy." ...
    "I don't get involved in politics," {someone muses.} When others do politically for you that which rightly was yours to do, especially independently of you, it is not generally in your interest and may even be fatal.
     The good news is politics can contribute immeasurably to the quality of life lived and in the creation of society which has neither victims or victors, only people who care about themselves and each other. Politics is the basis for creating and maintaining community and community is the basis for applied politics.

PART TWO
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THE SEVENTH STOREY
OF HUMAN NATURE

Introduction

     Before presenting the summary on "Religious Man" a word about religion in general is in order. By nature, man is a religious being. Wen we refer to religion in its broadest sense, i.e., as a system of orientation and an object of devotion, then, ideally, every human being is religious. There has never been any people yet disclosed in history, whether they were primitive or modern, loutish or sophisticated, who did not have some form of religion. An understanding of what life is all about, however personal or limited it may be is our religion. Everyone has a "weltanschauung" - a world view. This is and of itself is sufficient evidence that man is a religious being. (p. 72)
     It is not an exaggeration to say that religion has given birth to all that is essential in society. The idea of society, which Jesus referred to as the "Kingdom," is the soul of religion. Perhaps this is the reason Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is within." The real function of religion is to motivate people to act, to aid them, as nothing else can, to live fulfilling and actualizing lives. Indeed, it is action that makes religion something more han belief. The Apostle Paul declared. "We walk by faith not by sight." The religious funtion can be described as the "relgious experience." In religion, as in life in general, it is experience which is the test of reality and milieu where meanng is engendered in living.( p. 76)
     {Now, we shall mention, but not discuss in detail, three forms of religion before giving a summary on the fourth form of religion which is the form of religion man was created to experience in life. The three forms of religion are (1) A Religion of Acceptance, (2) A Religion of Conformity and (3) A Religion of Rejection. A detail discussion of these "forms of religion" is presented in "Religion Par Excellence." Now, we will give a summary of the fourth form of religion, "A Religion of Transcendence" which is tantamount to and synonymous with "Religion Par Excellence."}

Religious Man

      We end this summary, as we began, with religion. Religion is the connector and/or conduit by which man discovers and maintains centeredness. It is the God-consciousness process which engenders meaning in man's life and provides a moral or ethical basis for human existence. Both meaning and morality are necessary for man because he has a soul. He is in fact, the only soul-being in the universe. Although the soul is eternal, as emphasized earlier in this volume, it is sustained through nurturing. Without nurturing it dies a spiritual death. For the living death of the soul is more like being comatose than being physical dead. It is existence in contrast to living. A prime   function of religion is to nurture the soul and,  of course, in that process, contribute to soul-completion. ...
      Our focus here is on the viable alternative form of religion, which actually transcends form and religion because it is the essence of spirituality. We call it a "religion of transcendence." A religion of transcendence has nothing to do with faiths, such as Christianity and Buddhism, or with denominations such as Catholic and Protestant, or whether a person belongs to a sect or an organized religious  organization or no religious organization at all. An adherent of a religion of transcendence maybe affiliated with any of the above religious groups or he may not even belong to any religious organization. He may, in fact, be an atheist, in the classic sense of the term. The atheist is religious whether he admits it or not. He is capable of lying and of seeking truth at the same time. This is not to suggest that the atheist is a transcendent being. However, because of his honest skepticism and search for truth he may discover God who is always near him--closer than breath and nearer than the heartbeat. The point we are endeavoring to make is that being a member of a religious organization or not being connected with a religious organization does not necessarily determine whether or not a person is or may become a religious transcendentalist. Conceivably, religious faiths and organizational connections may make it more difficult for a person to become a religious transcendentalist than it would be for him if he had not no such connection. But such affiliations may also contribute to a person becoming a religious transcendentalist. This is another way of saying the religious label or organizational connection is not the same as the transcendent experience. Whether a person becomes a religious transendentalist or not depends on the personal response, not proxy response, he makes to existence and the God-consciousness of his election--sensing the presence of God, not just intellectually, but spiritually. God-consciousness is a soul rather than mind perception.
    A religion of transcendence is not geared to heredity and environment or cause and effect, as is the case with other forms of religion. It transcends form and religion, as well as those factors and forces which we hold to be supernatural by redefining them and disregarding illusions about them. In a religion of transcendence doing is manifested becoming and simultaneously in being becoming ceases, at least for the moment.
    The morality-mandate which summons man to potential living and creation of a loving society is the essence of religion. Questions of right and wrong, justice and injustice, good and evil, meaning and meaninglessness, and life and death, cannot be answered apart from religion. But religion, limited to lower consciousness as express in destructive forms of religion is not capable of providing answers, at least not correct answers to these questions.
    Only religion of higher consciousness--a religion of transcendence--can provide correct answers to these questions and direct man toward paths of health and salvation.
     A religion of transcendence enables the adherent to live all he can now, abide in the full life process, be unattached, and free of goals as he abides in the cosmic flow. Pursuing, striving, believing and working at are not necessary or of value in the acquisition of or maintenance of a religion of transcendence. Working at a religion of transcendence simply does not work. Rather it is achieved through the exercise of personal faith. The Apostle Paul was speaking in this vain when he said, "The just shall live by faith. Faith, unlike believing, assent, and knowing, is a transcendent quality which, without ignoring or disregarding the environment and the psychic state, supersedes these factors and operating from the spiritual dimension responds to the ultimate need to be one with God. Faith is manifested in a religion of transcendence ii truth and love and because a religion of transcendence is a matter of faith which by nature claims ultimacy. It is the only practical and ultimate solution to the problem of existence, of fulfillment and the cosmic union of man and God.
                      Faith Can Do It
        What experience, skill and persecution
             cannot do, faith can do it;
        What wisdom, knowledge and understanding
             cannot do, faith can do it;
        What popularity, connection and privilege
             cannot do, faith can do it;
       What wealth, power and possessions
            cannot do, faith can do it;
       What love, hope and truth
           cannot do, faith can do it;
       Faith is the principal thing to be
          applied in achieving that which
          appears to be impossible.
      Nothing is more idiosyncratic and strictly
          personal than a person's faith.
      It's your faith.
      Faith can do it.

In Conclusion

   By nature man, as we have emphasized throughout this book, was created by God a seven-faceted being and he is endowed with power of choice and delivered out of the earth-womb into the earth with power. He is endowed with power of choice possessses a capacity that enables him to do good or evil. He has a natural ability which allows him to take responsibility for himself, his own thoughts, feelings and behavior. His nature, as described earlier, is physical, mental, emotional, economic, social, political and religious. And because this is his nature he cannot anymoe reject it than he can reject the existence of the see sun. He may deny that the sun exists or that he has a seven-faceted nature but just as he is unable to alter the sun he cannot change his nature.
    Denial of the truth about human nature or failure to respond naturally to one's authentic nature which dictates the course his life will take rather than attempting to superimpose attributes upon his nature can only contribute to a freakish human existence, emptiness, disillusionment, frustration, hopelessness and hasten death. Hope for a full life cannot be achieved without acceptance of the truth about human nature. Man has to make a commitment to live as his nature prescribes in order for him to function as a full person. It is worth reiterating, the fact that man's existence and function are prescribed absolutely and with finality by his nature. ...
      Since this conclusion is not the usual conclusion, but a revelation continuing to unfold we end it with a question the Psalmist wanted answered, "What is man?" As the journey continues the reader is encouraged to answer this question for himself. If you cannot answer it satisfactorily go back to the beginning of this book and lift from each page the message presented. Go one step further and visualize yourself as being that message. Allow the message and the messenger to become one--that one being yourself. When you return to this point in the book you will have an answer to the question. In substance that answer will be similar to the one the Psalmist discovered. But your answer will not be the Psalmist's answer. It will be your answer. You will discover that, more than  knowing yourself you have chosen yourself...that you have chosen life rather than death. Then, these words spoken by Jesus, "I have come that men may have life, and have it in all its fullness" - full life -, will cease to be for you just an intellectual fact but it will be a personal incarnation of an eternal truth manifesting itself perpetually in the eternal now.
 

The Prognostication