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The History of New Thought & Unity HST 140

Dive into the history of New Thought & Unity teachings and their impact on understanding the connection between God and humanity. Explore the nature of God and humanity, the importance of prayer, intuition, and mysticism. Uncover the essence of true prayer and the power of affirmative prayer in spiritual growth.

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The History of New Thought & Unity HST 140

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  1. The History of New Thought & Unity HST 140

  2. Five-Step Prayer Process Relaxation – body Concentration – mind Meditation – listening Realization – conscious awareness Appreciation - gratitude

  3. AgendaSession 7 • Review: The Relationship Between • God & Humanity • Discussion: Prayer, Intuition, Mysticism • Assignments for this session • Plan for next session

  4. “True Goal” of Religion • “Self-Centered” • - goal = self actualization [Maslow] • - method = withdraw from the world to focus on spiritual development • - result = lift consciousness of the world • “Service” • - goal = make the world a better place for all • - method = be involved in the community [role models] • - let faith lead the mission • - result = ensure basic human needs so all can focus on spirituality

  5. Into Great Silence Carthusian monks Grande Chartreuse French Alps Mother Teresa Roman Catholic nun Missionaries of Charity India

  6. Review:The Relationship BetweenGod & Humanity

  7. The Nature of God • Omni4: omnipresence, omnipotence, omniscience, omniaction • Emerson: found in nature • Origen: preexistence, reincarnation • Hegel: dimension beyond appearances • Philo: absolutely transcendent • Absolute Good • Plato: God is where forms [perfection] exist • Hegel: Absolute Consciousness, Universal Love • Emerson: our birth right is universal good

  8. The Nature of God • Principle [even as we have a personal relationship] • Philo: source and standard not only of religious truth but of all truth • Source, Supply, underlying cause of all • Origen: eternally generates souls • Eckhart: all of creation exists in God • Unchanging, alpha-omega • Hegel: Love, Harmony, Wisdom converge in one consciousness

  9. The Nature of Humanity • Inherently Divine • Origen: Christ consciousness is attained, not ordained • some may fall but all can be restored to their divinity • Emerson: essential nature of humanity is good • therefore our birth right is universal good • Eckhart: spark of the soul • Free Choice • Swedenborg: discover Truth through intuition & reason • Emerson: man is free thinker

  10. The Nature of Humanity • Self-knowledge & self-responsibility • Hegel: evolution of consciousness • we must learn to love everyone • 3-fold nature [body, mind/ego/soul, spirit/soul] • Emerson: universe circulates through humans • 3 phases of mind [subcon, con, Superconscious] • Eckhart: we know God in three ways: • sensibly, rationally, super-rationally • Hegel: we must help all reach a higher consciousness

  11. The Relationship BetweenGod & Humanity • Oneness always exists[even if we don’t recognize it] • Mesmer: cosmic fluid • Eckhart: panentheism [unity of all things] • Hegel: Universal Harmony • Christ within us • Origen: Christ consciousness is attained, not ordained • Eckhart: spark of the soul • Emerson: we receive revelations of Spirit

  12. The Relationship BetweenGod & Humanity • Our connection w/ God is through the mind • Quimby: cause of all illness is error belief • Emerson: supremacy of the mind over matter • We are co-creators • Origen: God is teacher, humans are students • Jesus is the Way-Shower • Origen: seeing Jesus is equivalent to seeing God • Evans: Jesus’ miracles weren’t miraculous • - followed universal law

  13. Prayer,Intuition,Mysticism

  14. Necessary Conditions for True Prayer • Oneness with God should be acknowledged. • Prayer must be made within, in “the secret place” [Psalms 91:1] • The door must be closedon all thoughts and interests of the outer world. • The one who prays must believe that he has received. • The kingdom of God must be desired above all things, and sought first. • The mind must let goof every unforgiving thought. • The Revealing Word

  15. Key Elements of New Thought prayer • It’s an experience, not a recitation • - Charles Fillmore: “communion with God” • Affirmative • -“live in the answer,” not the question [Moncrief p 63] • declare the Truth • usually need to release first [denial] • Pray in private • - “The Secret Place of the Most High” [Psalms 91:1] • Be as little children • - “Pray without Ceasing.” [1 Thess 5:17]

  16. Affirmative Prayer • “recognition of Spirit’s • Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence, and • a realization of humanity’s unity with Spirit…” • Ernest Holmes • Science of Mind

  17. ComparisonUnity 5-Step Prayer ProcessReligious Science Spiritual Mind Treatment

  18. The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven,    Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come,    Thy will be done,  in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.    And forgive us our debts    as we also have forgiven our debtors. And leave us not in temptation,    but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,    and the power,    and the glory forever. Amen.

  19. Intuition • “The natural knowing capacity. Inner knowing; the immediate apprehension of spiritual Truth without resort to intellectual means. The wisdom of the heart. • When one trusts Spirit and looks to it for understanding, a certain confidence in the invisible good develops. This faith awakens the so-called sixth sense, intuition, or divine knowing. • Through the power of intuition, man has direct accessto all knowledge and the wisdom of God.” • The Revealing Word

  20. Ways to Access Intuition • Be open to new ideas • Listen to your heart & your gut • - the gut is our second brain • Follow the principles of “Ockham’s razor” • – choose the path of least resistance • - the simpler explanation is usually preferred • Don’t just listen to your guidance, take action! • - even with the little things William of Ockham c1287–1347

  21. Mysticism • “The practice of the presence of God; the life of prayer that results in intuitive knowledge and experience of God. • Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. It is necessary to call on one's own spiritual light to enter into the deep mysticism of the Bible.” • “mystic: One who has intimate, firsthand acquaintance with God; a man of prayer. Jesus was the greatest mystic of all ages.” • The Revealing Word

  22. “Jesus was the greatest mystic of all ages.” The Christ “Christ in You, the Hope of Glory” [Col 1:27] - our spiritual potential - universal principle - indwelling divinity Jesus Christ - Son of God - Way-Shower Jesus - son of man - historical man

  23. Oneness • One • - it’s as simple as that • - although we aren’t always consciously aware • - no need for atonement • Any separation comes from humanity • - our walls, issues, fears • - we use prayer & meditation to remind us of Oneness • Not just One with God • - One within ourselves • - One with others • - One with all of creation

  24. The Teaching of Children Myrtle Fillmore Humanity is coming intellectually to recognize and claim an omnipresent God. But the individual concept of the omnipresence of God does not enable man to make practical use of his great light. The understanding and realization of God being the very mind and life and substance of man's earthly existence must be as much a part of man's consciousness as are the human relationships. We must learn to know that God is spirit and that his spirit within us is a motive power which carries us forward in every department of our daily living. Children should be taught that God is spirit and that the purpose of their being is to express God. They should be trained in the faith and understanding which makes them to know that they express the spirit of God in every thought and desire and act. The child's mind accords perfectly with true ideas and it is easy to rear children in conscious unity with God when they are encouraged through their faith to claim their sonship. Teach them to pray this prayer of faith:

  25. The Prayer of Faith by Hannah More Kohaus God is my help in every need; God does my every hunger feed; God walks beside me, guides my way Through every moment of the day. I now am wise, I now am true, Patient, kind, and loving, too; All things I am, can do, and be, Through Christ the Truth, that is in me. God is my health, I can't be sick; God is my strength, unfailing, quick; God is my all, I know no fear, Since God and Love and Truth are here. Amen.

  26. Next Session The Mission of Unity To help and serve through prayer, [education], publishing, and community.

  27. Reading for Session 8The Mission of Unity: prayer, publication & education, part 1 • Readings • Vahle: 4: [Lowell, 95-110, 153-166] • 7: [Rickert, 181-189] • 8: [Royal, 201-204] • 9: [Silent Unity, 207-212, 227-237] • 10: [education, 256-263, 269-275, 279-288]

  28. Session 7 Assignment • What role does intuition and/or mysticism • play in your life? • Your reply is due __________

  29. Session 7 Assignment: test • Write a short prayer on a subject of your choice. • Using the readings for this course, identify and explain the New Thought principles that are embedded in your prayer. • Note: you are not expected to include and/or discuss every principle; discuss only those principles that directly relate to the prayer you wrote. • 20 pts • due: _______________

  30. A time of prayer

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