The Principles of Creation Part 3

1. The Principles of CreationPart 3 Growth and the spiritual world

2. Growth and development • Nothing appears fully formed • Everything grows and develops through stages • Growth takes time • Development often has a direction

3. How was the universe created? • There are two creation accounts in Genesis • Six days of creation in Genesis 1 • God created man first and then the universe in Genesis 2

4. How should we understand the Bible? • Literalism • The Bible is the inerrant word of God • The Bible is literally true • Contextually • The meaning of the text depends on its context • Text should be examined rationally • The Bible contains metaphors and symbols

5. Traditional perspective “The Bible itself speaks to us of the origin of the universe and its makeup, not in order to provide us with a scientific treatise, but in order to state the correct relationships of man with God and with the universe.” Pope John Paul II

6. The first day • The word “day” in Hebrew means “age” • So one “age” or day could be millions or billions of years • “There was evening and there was morning, one day.” Genesis 1:5 • Bible - “Let there be light” • Science - Big Bang - an explosion of light

7. The second day • Bible - Let the upper and lower waters be separated • Science - The earth was very hot and so water evaporating forming dense clouds filling the sky

8. Lower water (sea) Earth Sky Upper Water (clouds)

9. The third day • Bible - Let land appear and the land be separated from the sea and let plants appear • Science - The earth was shrinking as it cooled and bubble of land appeared • Plants were first living organisms

10. Let dry land appear Lower water (sea) Land Upper Water (clouds) Atmosphere

11. Gondwanaland

12. And plants

13. The fourth day • Bible - Let the sun and the moon and the stars appear • Science - What seems to be wrong here? • As the earth cooled and plants generated oxygen the atmosphere changed. The sky became visible

14. Let the sun and moon appear Atmosphere

15. The fifth day • Let the fish and birds appear

16. The sixth day • Let the creatures appear

17. And finally

18. What is remarkable is that the order of creation in Genesis 1 is very similar to that suggested by modern science Chronological order

19. The creation story in Genesis 2 • God formed man from the dust of the earth • God breathed into him the breath of life • God planted a Garden • Man put there till and keep it • God formed the animals as ‘helpers’ • God made a woman from the man’s rib • Man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh Teleological order

20. The three stages of growth Completion Stage Growth Stage Formation Stage

21. Physical growth and development Completion Stage Indirect Dominion Growth Stage Growth due to Autonomy Governance Formation Stage “We call it nature because it has developed naturally and spontaneously.” CSG p.874

22. What is the indirect dominion? • God is perfect and can only relate to perfect beings • All beings have to grow to reach completion • They grow autonomously guided by the the Principle (laws of nature) • During this time God governs things indirectly

23. Growth and development Completion Growth Force of the Principle Automatic Growth Principle + Human Responsibility Things People

24. What is completion? • Maturity, integrity, wholesomeness, oneness • Achievement of full potential • Fulfilment of purpose

25. Spiritual growth Parental love Joy from giving Mutual love Joy from sharing Children’s love Joy from receiving

26. Aspects of spiritual growth • Development of awareness of others and the needs of others • Development of conscience • Maturity of ability to give and receive love • Growth of sensitivity to God

27. Human growth in indirect dominion God 100% effort to fulfill the Three Blessings Everything needed to fulfill the Three Blessings Indirect dominionthrough the Principle Follow the moral law Reveal the moral law Man Divine responsibility Human responsibility

28. God’s effort Fulfilment of God’s will Human responsibility

29. Human responsibility in the Bible Divine grace + Human will → God’s will • “Your faith has made you well.” Mark 5:34 • “The prayer of faith will save the sick man.” James 5:15 • “Behold I stand at the door and knock.” Revelation 3:20 • “Ask and you will receive.” Matthew 7:8

30. Freedom and responsibility “Behold I set before you this day, a blessing and a curse: the blessing if you hearken to the commandments of the Lord your God . . . And the curse, if you do not give heed to the commandments of the Lord your God . . .” Deuteronomy 11:26-28 God never interferes in human responsibility

31. Why did God give human beings responsibility? • So that we could inherit God’s creativity and participate in the work of creation • By doing so, man can earn the position of owner and thus be worthy to be lord of creation

32. Examples of freedom • If Adam and Eve had not eaten the fruit there would be no sin • If Abraham had not been willing to sacrifice Isaac . . . . • If the people of Ninevah had not repented • If Jesus had been accepted . . . .

33. Why did God give people free will? • God is the source of love • He made love the centre of human life • Love has to be freely given and received

34. Robot Person ProgrammedNo potential for love and creativity Free WillPotential for love and creativity

35. God’s direct and indirect dominion God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. I Jn. 4:16 Direct dominion of oneness of heart through love God Man Love Indirect dominion through the Principle Man

36. What is the direct dominion? • A perfected couple are the substantial object to God and one with God • Feels how God feels, thinks how God thinks • Living in oneness with God’s heart lead a life of goodness carrying out God’s will Just as every part of the body spontaneously moves in response to the subtle directions of the mind, people will spontaneously carry out the will of God in accord with the deeply felt intentions of his heart. EUT, 45

37. Direct dominion and creation • A perfect person is Lord of Creation, resonating with the heart of God • Lead the natural world in free flowing sharing of love and beauty

38. “According to the Principle of Creation, we are created to attain perfection by fulfilling our responsibility of our own free will, without God's direct assistance. We are then to attain oneness with God and acquire true autonomy. Therefore, it is the calling of our original nature to pursue freedom and autonomy. A person of perfect character understands the will of God and puts it into practice through his own insight and reason, without the need to rely on revelations from God. Hence, it is only natural that we pursue reason and understanding.” EUT

39. Is there life after death? • God is an eternal being who loves us as his children • If there is no life after death everyday would be the worst day of God’s life • God wants to have an eternal relationship with us and so God created us with a soul that lives forever in the spiritual world

40. Physical self Spiritual self Physical mind Instinctive mind maintaining functions of existence Spiritual mind Invisible dwelling place of God Physical body Spiritual body or soul Physical senses Spiritual senses

41. What is the difference between the spiritual and physical worlds? Spiritual World Physical World • Beyond time & space • No reproduction • Cause • Within time & space • Reproduction • Effect

42. Examples of spiritual phenomena • ESP – Extra-sensory perception • Telepathy • Clairvoyance • Psychic healing • Mind over matter • Mediums/Channeling • “Remote viewing”

43. Writings on the spiritual realm 1. Life after Life Raymond H. Moody, MD. 2. Death and Dying Elizabeth Kubler Ross, MD. 3. Life in the World Unseen Anthony Borgia 4. Heaven and Its Wonders and Hell and others Emmanuel Swedenborg 5. Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain Sheila Ostrander and Lynn Schroeder 6. The Unquiet Dead Edith Fiore, Ph.D.

44. Elements common to manynear death experiences • Feeling of peace • Loud sounds • Movement through a tunnel • Sensation of being outside the physical self • Meeting other spirit beings • Encountering a loving being of light • Moral reflection on earthly life • Returning to the physical self Raymond A. Moody, Jr. M.D. American Physician Life after Life, 1975

45. We relate to both worlds Physical World Spiritual World Animal Angel

46. What is our position in the cosmos? • Ruler of the universe • The universe is not internally sensitive to God • God does not govern the universe directly • We have potential to govern both • Mediator and centre of harmony of the cosmos • Like a radio able to ‘pick up’ spiritual ‘waves’ • Microcosm of the universe

47. Humans are a microcosm of the cosmos Human beings Men, Masculinity Animals Spiritual aspect Male Plants Minerals Instinct Internalnature Inherent directive nature God’s Nature Molecules, atoms, particles Cellular body Body Female Physical aspect Woman, Femininity

48. Womb Preparation of the physical self Earth Preparation of the spirit self Spiritual world Final destination What are the stages of life? Mind Spirit self Spiritual mind Unborn child Like dying Like dying It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. I Cor.15:44 Placenta Spiritual body Body Physical self 40 weeks 80 years Eternity

49. How does spiritual growth take place?

50. What is the relationship between spiritual and physical body? God Truth Light Love Spirit elements Warmth + + + Life elements Air - Atmosphere of freedom Vitality elements Food, water ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me.’ John 4:34 SpiritualSelf PhysicalSelf - Good or evil in the conduct of the physical self is the main determinant of whether the spirit self becomes good or evil. EDP, 48