Dynamics for LivingCharles Fillmore 3
Independent ThoughtTo think in an independent, untrammeled wayabout anything is foreign to the habit of the racesof the Occident. Our lines of thought and act are based upon precedent and arbitrary authority. We boast much of our freedom and independence, but the facts are that we defer to custom andtradition. Our whole civilization is based uponmanmade opinions. We have never thought for ourselves in religion, consequently we do notknow how to think accurately and consecutivelyupon any proposition. We have not been trainedto draw conclusions each for himself from auniversal pivotal truth. Consequently, we are notcompetent to pass judgment upon any statementso predicated. Our manner of deciding whether or not certain statements are true or false is toapply the mental bias with which heredity,religion, or social custom has environed us, or else fly to some manmade record as authority.In the study of practical Christianity all suchtemporary proofs of Truth are swept aside aschaff. We entertain nothing in our statements of Truth that does not stand the most searchinganalysis, nothing that cannot be practicallydemonstrated.Starting PointIn order to carry on an intelligent, rational line of argument it is necessary to find a mutual starting point which is universally accepted as true.There may be many pivotal points chosen froman intellectual standpoint that would doubtless beaccepted as reasonably true. Upon close analysisthey will usually be found resting upon another and anterior so-called truth. For instance, wemight agree that ponderable objects always falltoward the earth. Yet, the question quickly arises,"What causes them to fall?" The ready answer is,"Gravity, of course." "But what is gravity?"Thus, we are led back and back until lost in FirstCause, or God.In agreement upon a statement as the basis of anargument of universal nature, we must be carefulto get one that has no anterior. There can be butone basis of being, and consequently but one basis of being's movements and forms. When wehave fully agreed that everything of which weare cognizant can be traced in its last analysis toGod, and no further, we have a basis upon whichto rest a doctrine that cannot be successfullyopposed, if its deductions are logical and can bedemonstrated. This is exactly what is claimed for this science of Christ. It is not only a system of philosophy which cannot be disputed by therational mind, but it also demonstrates in theworld of phenomena that its conclusions are true.Primal CauseHaving decided upon God, or Primal Cause, asthe basis of our system, the next step is to decideupon the nature of this Primal Cause. It is safe toassert that in all the world not a single person of intelligence can be found who would say thatGod is anything but good. It requires noexhaustive reasoning to arrive at this conclusion,for it is the ready response of the intuitive facultyof all mankind, which it is always safe to countas correct.Having agreed that God, or the Primal Cause of all things, is the only safe basis on which to predicate an argument that deals with life in allits sinuous windings, and that the nature of thatFirst Cause must necessarily be only Good, wecan by logical deduction evolve a doctrine thatmust of necessity be universal in its application.It is sometimes thought by certain people thatman should not attempt to find out the nature of God because He is so far above and beyond thecomprehension of the finite that such attemptsare sacrilegious folly. Yet when carefullyanalyzed it is found that the one aim and end of man's existence is to find God. The source of lifeis the great mystery which has commanded theclosest attention and study of men in all ages,and as that source must be the Infinite, it is thusever inviting man to comprehend it. The Biblesays, "No man has ever seen God," and our physical scientists all agree that primordial life,or First Cause, is invisible or spiritual, exhibitingitself as an intelligent force. Hence, as corollaryto the statement that God, or First Cause, isgood, we assert that He is also Spirit.Value to ManHaving established a basis grounded inirrefutable truth, from which deductions may bedrawn in an infinite number of directions, thenext very natural question that presents itself is,"What good can come to man from a study of God?"
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