Hopelessly Lost

[Jim Spencer]

If one studies the history of religion on Earth, they can see that even today, there are all forms of worship. Today still, there are primitive tribes worshipping animal spirits. There are peoples advocating everything from aceticism to violence. And yet---if you talk with the proponent of any religion---they are totally invested. They "believe" that their understanding is the "only true" understanding of God and the Universe. Fast forward to the religion that the Western World has embraced---Christianity. Within Christianity, can be found many ways of worshipping the same God. Some Christians believe that by handling snakes, they edify their faith. Some wave flags and dance. Some believe you have to go to church wearing a shirt and tie and some, special underwear. Some Christians believe in only The King James Bible; and some; other versions of the Bible. But each proponent of his particular version of Christianity believes that they hold the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. In the Unification Church; members believe that the promise of the Bible has been fulfilled; Christ has returned to this earth and is inhabiting the body of Rev. Moon. They believe that a sinless family has been created; an ideal family has been established; the fulfillment of history has been achieved. Now, all one must do, to become part of God's lineage, is to give 100% of our faith, loyalty, and service to him and to his family. Unification Church members believe that because they are not in God's direct lineage, they must have a mediator that will vouch for them, and change their blood lineage from Satan's lineage to God's lineage.

I have been there, done that. I had faith; left my first wife; sold my belongings and gave the proceeds to the church; drank the wine; and went through the "Blessing" cermony 30 years ago. I am still happily married to the woman I was blessed with. I am still totally committed to God, and to many of the higher values of the Unification Church--purity, loyalty, fidelity, traditional family values, and a life dedicated to service. Not that it has been easy. My path has been a path of victory and accomplishment---and a whole lot of failure and suffering; not unlike Rev. Moon's family----right? We have all had our challenges.

I believe, that there are two aspects to spiritual growth----knowledge and experience. Knowledge and Experience equal wisdom---you can't have wisdom without both. There are also other important requirements in order to grow the "spiritual heart of love and understanding"---the part that is able to communicate with God. These include genetics, innate character, life exposure(the environment we grow up in, and even geography (where we are born).  All of these form who we are, and how we view reality. 

Each person has only a tiny fragment of truth---like the blind men and the elephant--although--it makes us feel secure that whatever we are currently experiencing---we believe to be the absolute truth.

One of the biggest problems of mankind, which causes dis-unity---is the human condition which causes us to reject anything we don't or don't want to, understand. And, many religions have a convenient scapegoat---Satan---a dark angel that they believe follows every person in the world, infiltrating their minds and taking them away from whatever particular brand of religion that is not mainstream to them.

While "Satan" does surely exist, and evil exists-----the larger "Satan" (as Father said that man is more dangerous than Satan)---is actions that are motivated by that ancient emotion of protection----FEAR.

Fear---is the driving force behind so much evil, even within our most intimate relationship---our own family.

One of the most important jobs that Jesus effected through Pentecost, and the bequeathing of the Spirit of Truth from Him and the Holy Spirit--a Motherly nurturing spirit---was the Salvation from fear. That is why Jesus said, "fear not". Fear---is paralyzing; leads to dis-unity; mistrust; hatred; and violence.

Regardless of the belief structure that this worlds' inhabitants follow---if they could learn to escape the heritage of our animal FEAR----the unification of civilization could occur. As long as our fear causes us to place ourselves above other people---believing us to be superior in Faith----world unity can not come.

God has never used force because one of the ultimate truths of the universe is God's gift of Free Will.

God will triumph. His prime energy is LOVE and He rules through love. That is why the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man is the highest concept of God.