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This is the fifth of seven New Perspectives in the series:   THE ROAD "NOT"
TRAVELED!  (Five Stages on the Spiritual Journey).  If you did not receive
the introduction to this series, you need it for the rest to make more
sense.

Introduction.-779 words
STAGE I.  FANTASY AND PERSONIFICATION-1071 WORDS
STAGE II.   LEGALISM AND CONCRETISM-1140 words
STAGE III.  CONFORMITY AND COMPARTMENTALIZATION-822
STAGE IV.  LOGIC AND REASON-1214
STAGE V.  MATURITY AND UNITY-1330
CONCLUSION.-1658

THE ROAD "NOT" TRAVELED!

(Five Stages on the Spiritual Journey)

STAGE IV: LOGIC AND REASON

Stage four is intellectually oriented.  It is the normal cognitive level for
young adults as they move from youth to maturity.  In order to become
autonomous, people must question traditional beliefs, doubt authoritarian
precepts, experiment with various ideologies, and consider every possible
alternative with an open mind.  Entering this stage is like entering a dark,
lonely tunnel.  Job experienced this: " I go to the place of no return, to
the land of gloom and deep shadow, to the land of deepest night, of deep
shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness" (Job 10:21-22).

Rejecting the old conditioned moral code without having yet developed a new
one makes individuals at this stage very vulnerable.  Furthermore, they have
no encouragement or companionship.   Since conformity is a group value, any
deviation threatens the whole.  In fact, individuals who move from stage
three are often ostracized by their family and criticized by their
associates.  Again, Job expressed it well: "He has alienated my brothers
from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.   My kinsmen
have gone away; my friends have forgotten me.  All my intimate friends
detest me; those I love have turned against me." (Job 19: 13-14,19).

All in all, level four represents a difficult transition period.  That's why
most people who begin this venture become so frightened and discouraged that
they retreat to a more familiar level.  If we could just explain that this
is a necessary phase they must go through and assure them that there is
light up ahead, perhaps more would persevere.  Church leaders should be
present at this crucial moment with information and support; but instead,
they usually offer misinformation and condemnation.  They label questioners
as heretics; and instill so much guilt that many seekers feel they have only
two options: They can either go back to stage two or three and remain
immature forever, or else they can stay "stuck in the tunnel" as angry
agnostics and abandon religion altogether.  It's sad that some of our
brightest and best make this latter choice.  The strength of stage four
includes its analytical skills and logical outlook.  The weakness of stage
four is it's tendency toward abstraction and cynicism.

Civilization became "lost" at this stage between the time of the Old
Testament prophets and the coming of Jesus.  Job and Jeremiah, and
especially the writer of Ecclesiastes dealt with these issues.  This
explains such phenomena as: Militant atheism, new-age cults and Secular
Humanism.

The "Stage Four" viewpoint is reflected in Scriptures such as these: "As a
cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to the grave does not
return" (Job 7:9)

A few realists were seeing things "as they are" and expressing their
pessimism and doubt.

"Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?  They see
their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.
Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not upon them.
Their bulls never fail to breed; their cows calve and do not miscarry.  They
send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about.  They
sing to the music of tambourine and harp; they make merry to the sound of
the flute.  They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in
peace" (Job. 21:7-13);

Again, this writer dared to question the old platitudes as he recognized and
admitted the inconsistencies of life.

"Do not trust in deceptive words and say, 'This is the temple of the Lord,
the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!'  But look, you are trusting
in deceptive words that are worthless.  For when I brought your forefathers
out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about
burnt offerings and sacrifices" (Jer.  7:4,8,22);

Here superstition is denounced and the people are warned that "saying pious
words" won't protect them from harm.

"I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are
meaningless, a chasing after the wind" (Ecc.  1:13-14);

This writer didn't advocate "blind faith," or even confident trust.
Instead, his attitude of despair was allowed to surface.

"For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they
have no further reward, and even the memory of them is forgotten . . .in the
grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor
knowledge nor wisdom" (Ecc.  9:5,9-10).

This honest outlook approaches nihilism and closely parallels the "God is
dead" attitude posed by Nietzsche and the "existential dilemma" described by
Sartre.

"Stage Four" with logic and reason does not appeal to many ordinary men and
women.   Most people find it hard to live with uncertainty, doubt and
contradictions.  Only deep minded, scientifically oriented individuals are
willing to give up comfort and reassurance in their search for truth.  Even
so, our modern technological society, as a whole, is grappling with some of
the difficulties and confusion of this transitional stage.

  Those at this level are much more individualistic, independent and
pragmatic than the average person.  They demand the freedom to think for
themselves.  Clashes between these and the first three stages make
co-existence difficult.  Integrating such individuals and providing enough
challenges to hold them through this stage is a major problem.

The tunnel of stage four may be somewhat parallel to what St. John of the
Cross referred to as the "dark night of the soul."  It's significant that
the Israelites spent forty years wandering and Jesus spent forty days in the
wilderness.  These were necessary times of introspection, analysis and
struggle.  No progress is made without such transition periods.

Unfortunately, modern man does not want to experience unpleasant feelings,
and our culture is all too eager to offer drugs, distractions and other
remedies to help us avoid the pain of growth.  But, the "darkness" and
"emptiness" provide a perspective that we can get nowhere else.  They help
us discover unmet needs, deep desires and life purposes.  Such insights,
over a lifetime, produce wisdom.

A few churches allow this stage, but almost none actually promote it.
Elements of this stage can be found in some Episcopal and Unitarian groups.

At "Stage Four" interpretation of the major doctrines is uncertain or
non-existent:

  The idea of GOD is either repudiated or vaguely described.  People at this
stage do not believe in or depend on "something out there."

PRAYER is regarded as a superstition or a childish custom.  It may still be
"used" in emergencies, but without any real expectation of results.

SALVATION only concerns this world.  It usually means a "good life" defined
by personal happiness, social harmony and economic productivity.

SIN and VIRTUE tend to be defined by ethical standards.  Anything that
injures life or property is evil.  Traditional taboos and local mores are
disregarded.

Individual IMMORTALITY is usually rejected.  Only the genetic lineage and
the creative contributions are expected to "live on" into the future.

In order to minister to those who operate at this level, churches must:

1.  Allow freedom of thought;

2.  Provide logical information and intellectual stimulation;

3.  Avoid trivial moral taboos;

4.  Give opportunities for discussion and verbal expression;

5.  Study world religions.

*****
(Word Count 1214)   To be Continued 02-28-05)

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This issue of NEW PERSPECTIVES  is from an unpublished manuscript ©
copyrighted 2005 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK.  PLEASE FEEL FREE
TO USE THEM IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.  The only thing we ask is
that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works.

NEW PERSPECTIVES is a free service from Diversity Press.

Our EMAIL SERMONS SERVICE is another FREE service from Diversity Press is .
This consists of ALL the sermons we will be using this year (about 3 per
month).

You may find other messages and a book list on our Webpage:
www.diversitypress.net or  www.diversitypress.com


I would like to invite you to take advantage of our effort to clear our
storage area.  I have depleted my supply until I only have about 11 books I
can share with you, but I will be happy to send you all the books we have
available at this time.  All you need to do is reimburse me for the postage
which comes to about $3.50 (which is the cost, the last time I mailed them).
Please wait until you receive  your books before remitting.

Even though my stock of some books is rapidly becoming depleted.  I have
most of them on a CD whick I will send with your order.

All I'll need is  your Address and the Word Processing program you use.  I
use Word Perfect, but can supply it in Microsoft Word also.

I don't plan to have any more books printed, unless there is a demand for
them.


Miles E Wesner