Episode:Religion in Depth—Human Experience (Part 8)

From Symmetry of Soul


The unfailing kindness of Jesus touched the hearts of men, but his stalwart strength of character amazed his followers. Jesus was truly unafraid. The unique feature of the Master’s personality was its symmetry, its exquisite and balanced unification.

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Keywords: Urantia, Religion, Jesus, Character, Symmetry

Summary by Kermit

Commentary on Review

We discussed how the final two paragraphs of section six serve to transition the reader into the final section of our paper. The revelators acknowledge the genuineness of evolutionary religion with respect to its qualities of loyalty and grandeur by virtue of its being genuine experience. They also emphasize with italics the excellence of revelatory religion. Section seven then proceeds to portray the excellence of the religious life of Jesus and how he lived it. Revelatory religion possesses a new quality of divine wisdom, which complements purely experiential wisdom. We noted how the capacity for the reception of revelatory truth (divine wisdom and cosmic insight) depends on the experience in and with human religions. Each new revelation is predicated on that which has come before and can only be fully understood in the light of that which has come before. It was pointed out that revelatory content often represents answers to questions sparked by grappling with the implications of evolutionary challenges. We invoked an analogy of wisdom as represented by a sphere, the lower hemisphere consisting of wisdom experientially acquired through evolution, and the upper hemisphere being a gift of revelation. These revelatory “answers” are only meaningful to those who have experience with the content of their lower hemisphere.

We also appreciated the necessity and sufficiency of the two consecrations so often referred to on this broadcast. The initiating will to receive revelation while necessary is hardly sufficient to insure such capacity without the effort to supply the conditions which allow growth to occur. Using the Mother’s cosmic endowments, try to reflectively abstract from your religious experience that which is objective from that which is purely subjective.

100:7. The Acme of Religious Living

This is a favorite section for many readers of the revelation. Of greatest practical assistance to us in appreciating Jesus religious life is to note that it is his symmetry of personality rather than his high perfection of character that provides us with an accessible framework for our approach to the development of a strong and unified personality. In parallel with that, it is his divine humanity rather than his creator nature that serves to inspire and inform our quest for God-likeness.

Our Melchizedek author treats us to a thrilling and endearing portrayal of many dimensions of the Master’s character. Citing many of his demonstrations of self-mastery and contrasting them with all too familiar human corruptions thereof, we can readily appreciate Jesus’ symmetry. We explored the precision of language and depth of meaning for selected depictions of the Master and found some delightful insights.

We found repeated references in Jesus’ character to the favorable conditions for being grown to adult of God stature. In consideration of the intriguing term “sanctified common sense” we found the source of genuine human nature to be the encircuitment in the Holy Spirit and the three cosmic intuitions. And further how all three cosmic intuitions must be in harmonious association to prevent fanaticism and foster enthusiasm.

We reflected on some of the contrasting pairs of character traits presented such as “emotionally active, never flighty”, “courageous never reckless”, “prudent but never cowardly”, “sympathetic but not sentimental”, “unique but not eccentric”, “pious but not sanctimonious”. These contrasts serve to define, refine and clarify particulars of the Master’s symmetry.

We conclude this second series in our arc on Religion in Depth, and reiterate of the importance of allowing ourselves to be grown from children of God to adults of God, rather than attempting to attain perfection of character through an act or acts of will.

Notes by Brad

  • This section 7 is a favorite, in terms of soaring prose and masterful use of the language. But try to get past just the poetic feeling...
  • There is much complexity in the cosmos, and we study here to try to understand it more. But we don't study all this complexity to worry about building/growing a better self. For that, focus on favorable conditions for growth. Prayer can help quiet the incessant clamoring of self.
    • "It isn't complicated to be grown into great things."
  • A revelation expect of us to already know what has come before in evolutionary human thought. It is predicated on that.
  • Concerning affectation, be immune to affectation in others. It's all over the place. [Paper 48], morontia mota, says it's the foolish attempt of the ignorant to appear wise.
  • And avoid affectation in all areas of life. Including work life. Can you be refreshingly genuine?
  • Be concentric, not eccentric. An eccentric cannot get to the center of the psychic circles!
  • Being eccentric is often mis-labeled as being original. No. Being truly original has nothing to do with eccentricity.
  • Sentiment is feeling with the addition of rationalization. Sentiment can become an -ism.
  • A sentimentalist is not being objective, they're just being drug about by feelings produced by the external world.
  • Jesus was impervious to persecution not because he was perfect, but because he was symmetric.
  • Symmetry is also how Jesus had insight.
  • "Unshakable confidence in man?" Do we have that? Can you trust the evolutionary process, despite outward appearances? Even if you're living in the midst of a temporary retrogression? Remember, no real harm can befall this world. See man as potential.
  • Uncontrolled enthusiasm is essentially fanaticism. Controlled enthusiasm is still quite dynamic, but it is a bridled energy.
  • Enthusiasm exudes patience. Only fanaticism displays impatience.
  • Parents can help to start children off on a "tempering track" in life. Quality parenting does this.
  • Bravery is more basic than courage; bravery is more animal-origin and genetic. But it can be mastered from the top-down, as well.
  • One way to read section 7 is read all of these attributes and find the ones you disagree with, or know you struggle with. And then work on those. Even pick just one at a time.