LESSON 1: Wrong Ideas of Jesus and His Religion

Jesus did not attack the teachings of the Hebrew prophets or the Greek moralists. The Master
recognized the many good things which these great teachers stood for, but he had come down to
earth to teach something additional 'the voluntary conformity of man's will to God's will.' Jesus
did not want simply to produce a religious man, a mortal wholly occupied with religious feelings
and actuated only by spiritual impulses. Could you have had but one look at him, you would
have known that Jesus was a real man of great experience in the things of this world.

The teachings of Jesus in this respect have been grossly perverted and much misrepresented all down
through the centuries of the Christian era; you have also held perverted ideas about the Master's
meekness and humility. What he aimed at in his life appears to have been a superb self-respect.
He only advised man to humble himself that he might become truly exalted; what he really
aimed at was true humility toward God. He placed great value upon sincerity—a pure heart.

Fidelity was a cardinal virtue in his estimate of character, while courage was the very heart of his
teachings. ‘Fear not' was his watchword, and patient endurance his ideal of strength of character.
The teachings of Jesus constitute a religion of valor, courage, and heroism. And this is just why
he chose as his personal representatives twelve commonplace men, the majority of whom were
rugged, virile, and manly fishermen.” 140:8.20

PROBLEMS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Man cannot cause growth, but he can supply favorable conditions. Growth is always
unconscious, be it physical, intellectual, or spiritual. Love thus grows; it cannot be created,
manufactured, or purchased; it must grow. Evolution is a cosmic technique of growth. Social
growth cannot be secured by legislation, and moral growth is not had by improved
administration. Man may manufacture a machine, but its real value must be derived from human
culture and personal appreciation. Man's sole contribution to growth is the mobilization of the
total powers of his personality—living faith.

Religious living is devoted living, and devoted living is creative living, original and
spontaneous. New religious insights arise out of conflicts which initiate the choosing of new and
better reaction habits in the place of older and inferior reaction patterns. New meanings only
emerge amid conflict; and conflict persists only in the face of refusal to espouse the higher
values connoted in superior meanings.

Religious perplexities are inevitable; there can be no growth without psychic conflict and
spiritual agitation. The organization of a philosophic standard of living entails considerable
commotion in the philosophic realms of the mind. Loyalties are not exercised in behalf of the
great, the good, the true, and the noble without a struggle. Effort is attendant upon clarification of
spiritual vision and enhancement of cosmic insight. And the human intellect protests against
being weaned from subsisting upon the nonspiritual energies of temporal existence. The slothful
animal mind rebels at the effort required to wrestle with cosmic problem solving.

But the great problem of religious living consists in the task of unifying the soul powers of the
personality by the dominance of LOVE. Health, mental efficiency, and happiness arise from the
unification of physical systems, mind systems, and spirit systems. Of health and sanity man
understands much, but of happiness he has truly realized very little. The highest happiness is
indissolubly linked with spiritual progress. Spiritual growth yields lasting joy, peace which
passes all understanding.” 100:3.7

WARNING AGAINST RELIGION ABOUT JESUS

Jesus endeavored to make clear to his apostles the difference between his teachings and his life
among them and the teachings which might subsequently spring up about him. Said Jesus: 'My
kingdom and the gospel related thereto shall be the burden of your message. Be not sidetracked
into preaching about me and about my teachings. Proclaim the gospel of the kingdom and
portray my revelation of the Father in heaven but do not be misled into the bypaths of creating
legends and building up a cult having to do with beliefs and teachings about my beliefs and
teachings.' But again they did not understand why he thus spoke, and no man dared to ask why
he so taught them. 138:6.3