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This is the sixth 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 V: MATURITY AND UNITY

Stage five is Spiritually oriented.  It is the normal cognitive level that all men and women were meant to reach.  It's tragic that only those few who are strong enough and determined enough to overcome the opposition ever get there.  Those who do, tend to have a deep universal faith and an unprejudiced altruistic outlook.  They are able to establish their own standards and live by their own values.

Civilization as a whole has not reached this stage.  The attitudes and priorities of people at this level are too diverse and idealistic to be reduced to creeds or organized into institutions.  This explains such phenomena as: occasional "saints" in every religion; unselfish martyrs and spiritual mystics.

Within the Judeo-Christian framework, Jesus may have been the first example of a "Stage Five" person.  In that sense he was indeed the "first born of many brethren."  (See Rom.  8:29b).

The strength of stage five includes it's wisdom and tolerance and integration of ideas.  The only weakness of stage five is its rarity and tendency to confuse those at other levels.

The "Stage Five" viewpoint is reflected in Scriptures such as these: "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift" (Matt.  5:23-24).

When Jesus offered this unusual advice he elevated human relationships above worship practices.  That is essential!  Since you and your brother are one, forgiveness must take place before you are in a position to experience God.

"When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words" (Matt.  6:7).
Here, prayer is redefined and hypocrisy is ridiculed.

"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27).
This momentous statement tells us once and for all, that human worth is infinite and must take precedence over any traditions or rules or doctrines.

"Love your enemies, do good to them . . . and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (Luke 6:35).

This description of God's nature is drastically different from older beliefs.  He's not a God of wrath and punishment.  He is love!  We can "love our enemy" because the sin we condemn is really in us.  It's only when we accept our shadow, that we can accept them.
"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).

This command is so totally abstract that it moves religion into an entirely new realm.  Spirit and truth are beyond definitions and rituals and times and places.  They allow us to experience a synchronicity with the Creator and all creation. 

"Stage Five" with maturity and unity has to be made up of special persons.  There are no "whole congregations" of abstract thinkers.  Those who operate at this level are able to live with paradoxes.  They know that God can't be contained and neatly defined.  They are also moving away from self-centeredness.  Their circle of "those who matter" expands from family and friends, to kindred souls who share their values until it finally includes all humankind, and indeed, all Beings.  Ordinarily a person has to be middle aged to reach this point.  The only exceptions may be certain younger people who have had unusual early experiences or traumas which caused them to "age" prematurely.   When a crises occurs, it forces the individual to reevaluate his entire life and admit his mistakes.  In any case, this stage has to be "earned" by trial and error and grief, and often results in a "cosmic loneliness."

Persons at this stage recognize that we don't have to choose between absolute literalism or total disbelief as the only two alternatives for dealing with the Biblical stories of creation and miraculous events.  For them, meaning is what's important.  They know that valid principles can be separated from the outmoded mythical world views that contain them.  Persons operating here are not likely to be "true believers," in the sense of having an uncritical devotion to one ideology.  They will not engage in holy crusades.  They know that the line between right and wrong goes through the heart of each individual, rather than between "me" and "you" or "us" and "them."
Those at this level have few personal needs.  They tend to invest their lives in vocations that have universal significance.  They commit their time and energy to values that have ultimate worth.  They participate in the Kingdom as God would.  They are beginning to  love others as God does.  They are becoming as detached from personal ego-centricism as God is. 

John said, "There is no fear in love . . ." (I John 4:18).  This means there is no defensiveness, no discord about getting credit, and no worry about achieving results.  Mature Christians know that as long as the motive is pure, the goal is worthwhile, the means are legitimate, and things will "come out right" in the end.

Some of the rare individuals who exemplify evidence of this final stage might include: St. Frances of Assisi, Mahatma Gandhi and Albert Schweitzer.  These have moved beyond ordinary human needs and concerns.  For example they don't have to have a Santa Claus in a red suit in order understand generosity.  They don't have to read a list of rules in order to behave properly.  They don't have to follow public opinion in order to be accountable.  They don't have to reduce everything to a formula with empirical evidence in order to accept its reality.

This stage doesn't build its ideology around any one level of beliefs.  Instead it integrates the feelings and imagination of stage one with its expression of emotionality.  Next, it integrates the discipline and dutifulness of stage two with its expression of morality.  Then it integrates the cooperation and ministry of stage three with its expression of sociality.  Finally, it integrates the logic and analysis of stage four with its expression of intellectuality.  By combining the strengths of each level, a "holistic" philosophy is created.
At "Stage Five" interpretation of the major doctrines is very individualized and abstract.

GOD is encountered as a spirit within.  The names and definitions are unimportant.  This "One" may be called "First Cause," Cosmic Energy," "Life Force," or the "Dynamics of the Universe."

PRAYER includes: thinking, feeling and meditating.  Self-examination, analytical processes and the observation of nature are all considered to be legitimate forms of prayer.

SALVATION means wholeness.  Common phrases used to describe this state are: "reaching our potential" or "achieving self-actualization."  As the truth of each person is salvaged, the kingdom is being completed.

SIN and VIRTUE are not rule based.  Inner attitudes are as important as outer deeds.  In fact, sin is not emphasized because it's seen as just part of the process.  We learn from our mistakes.  Unconditional love, reverence for life and overall long-term concerns are crucial elements of righteousness.

IMMORTALITY is usually regarded as "oneness with God" and "unity with all."  The survival of the intact ego-preoccupied self is not necessarily desired or expected.

Our leaders and mentors should come from this group because they are the only ones who have attained self-awareness and homeostasis.  Therefore, they are the only ones with enough understanding, tolerance and vision to develop and maintain the diversity suitable for all stages.

Such mature individuals can provide the care and support necessary for stage transitions.  They can help seekers reintegrate life on a higher level.   They can protect the fragile new "self" against the powerful pull of old patterns. 

In order to minister to those who operate at this level, churches must:
1.  Emphasize unity of spirit;
2.  Develop a non-judgmental attitude;
3.  Encourage honesty and openness;
4.  Use philosophically based material;
5.  Provide opportunities for spiritual ministry.

*****
(Word Count 1330)
  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. 

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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. 

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