____________________________________________________________ «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥« ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ *** The Little Worker's Newsletter *** Issue of November 2006 Published by CDTTT - The Committee for the Difussion of The Third Testament _________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS: - First Word - The Religions - The Doctrine - Atheism - Final Word ____________________________________________________________ «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥« ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ - First Word In this issue, we will make a quick overview on the difference between a religion and a doctrine, and as a topic related to those, we will comment about atheists. I hope that you find this issue intersting enough so you can share it with your beloved ones. ____________________________________________________________ «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥« ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ - The Religions The word 'religion' comes either from the Latin terms 'religo' which means something like 'faith again' or from 'religare' which means 'to tie fast' or 'to tie again'. Stablished religions are quite confusing. Yes, we can find some parallels among them — none of them teach their followers to fall into what they consider to be wrongdoings, and of all them believe in a supreme power —, yet there are some major differences. Some religions, for example, are considered to be uplifting while others are considered purveyors of guilt. Some religions accept that God is a benevolent father who is complete love, forgiveness and acceptance, while others instill in their followers the notion that God is like a dreadful lord of war, vengeful, capable of wrath and unstoppable destruction. Other religions believe humans are sinners who must repent in order to achieve salvation from doom and hell. Western religions teach a firm belief in eternal damnation and some of them, affirm that there is a powerful and perpetual perpetrator who they call 'devil' or 'satan'which opposes God, and who, for some reason, is completely and unavoidably excluded from salvation. And there are schools of tought that believe that sin is just an error in one's spiritual profile. Furthermore, there is a concept that have been circulating since the apparition of relativism — that way of thinking where nothing is absolute, and that all criteria is only the consequence of certain changeable, personal frames of reference —, that have led to the belief in that there is no right or wrong, nor good of evil. Of course, these religions and many others, tend to clash among them since they are in obvious conflict with the others. Yet, there is one thing over which we all can be absolutely sure: They can't all be right. However, the beliefs and the systems that they generate are so strongly and firmly held, that merciless wars are fought over them. "Behold the religions ignoring one another, professing to be teaching My Doctrine. "Religions slumber in a sleep of centuries of routine and lethargy, while the truth has remained concealed. "Humanity has created religions similar to the pathways leading toward Me; however, I say to you: Stop going by the human interpretation each one gives to My Law. It is about time for all of you to know how to receive My inspiration so that the light be the one to guide you.All the religions will disappear and only the light of the Temple of God will remain shining within and outside of man, in which everyone will render only one worship of obedience, of love, of faith, and good will. "I have seen that your religions do not have the necessary strength to contain your wickedness, nor the sufficient light to touch the conscience and illuminate your reason. And that is because they have departed from the essence of My Doctrine, which is solely for the spirit. "Truly, truly, the doctrines of men are not the ones that will make peace in the world and save mankind from its abyss. "I have not come during this period to seek temples made of stone to appear in them: I come searching for spirits, hearts, and not material splendour. "I will touch with My power and My justice all the rituals which are celebrated in the world, and if their ministers and pastors will not awaken before that warning, I, availing Myself of children, will speak to them. In the same way that the nations are being touched by My justice, thus the different religions will be touched. Every crown, every scepter, every title and hierarchy, will be judged. "I have not come during this period to seek temples made of stone to appear in them: I come searching for spirits, hearts, and not material splendour. "Observe that there are many paths which are open before the spirit of mankind. "Nevertheless, I say to you, that I do not find one single perfect religion in this world, even though some are based on My Doctrine. "Do the religions believe to be complying with the maxim of loving one another, recognizing only their faithful and denying those belonging to another religion? "My Doctrine of the Second Era revealed to men the spiritual life, but instead of analyzing My lessons and complying with My precepts, they created religions around My Doctrine, confining themselves to the compliance of rituals and material ceremonies, which did not enlighten their spirit more, but it did separate them from the path of their fulfillment. "I do not come against the word that I imparted to you during the Second Era; I could not contradict Myself. But I ask you: Where is that Word? That teaching? I seek it within the heart of mankind and I cannot find it. It has been kept in old and dusty books, and there are still some among mankind who have dared to adulterate it. "That is why I say to you, that I cannot find among you a perfect religion, because instead of love and charity, humility and justice, I only find rituals, traditions and vanities, lots of suffering and ignorance. But these are errors that do not reach Me. What reaches Me only is love, humility, justice, and patience. "As long as the religions remain submerged in their sleep and do not break their routine, there will not be an awakening of the spirit, nor a knowledge of spiritual ideals; and, therefore, there will be no peace among men, nor will charity be manifested, and the light which resolves grave human conflicts, will not shine." The Third Testament This is why we started by saying that religions are confusing, although if asked, all of the followers of a given religion, will sincerely insist and assert that their religion is the only true one. James, our Lord's eldest brother, said it beautifully, almost 2000 years ago: "Pure religion and undefiled before Godand the Father is this, To visit thefatherless and widows in their affliction,[and] to keep himself unspotted fromthe world." ____________________________________________________________ «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥« ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ - The Doctrine But there exists something over which theologians of all religions agree: If there is the one and only true God, He (or She) must be irradiating just one truth, which must be absolute and universal. Funny thing, though, that if we follow to the end this line of thought, we will get to the point in which that one and only God must be the Creator, in perfection, of everything and everyone. Thus, it seems that by including some and excluding others from His/Hers divine plans, He or She falls immediately in contradiction with Himself/Herself. And religions, per se, separate one group of people, theirs, regardless of its number, from the rest. Religions, by definition, are excluding. Therefore, none of them, although based on the belief of that Supreme Being or Power, could come from a God of perfection that created everything. So, we then must decide, within ourselves, if we embrace a religion that separates us from the rest of Humankind, or if we may take another route for our spiritual growth and wellbeing. Behold the Doctrine. The word 'doctrine' comes from the Greek word 'didaskolos', which basically means "teaching." So to speak, a doctrine is a body of teachings. And the Divine Doctrine is precisely that, the body of teachings that emanate from the Divine: God. It doesn't matter what name you prefer to refer to God, as is totally irrelevant how you imagine Him or Her. Your particular concept of God doesn't affect Him/Her, nor does mine or the neighbor's. And I guess you might agree that there is not 'my' god nor 'your' god. Instead, if there is a God, being the Supreme Being, He or She is above all of us. The Doctrine, the Divine Doctrine that is, should have the same attributes we usually think God has: it should be perfect, eternal, universal, immutable... and infinite. If infinite, no religion or creed could successfully sustain that all knowledge or wisdom has been delivered only to it. Like the sun shines upon all of us, the Divine Presence manifests everywhere, in everything and everybody. The Divine Doctrine must have also the likeness of a eternal source, always flowing with a never ending stream of knowledge and wisdom, of spiritual gifts and abundance of blessings. And its has nothing to do with religions or philosophies of any sort, even though most of them are inspired in it. "My Doctrine is based on reality, on the truth. "During this era I come to bring you a pure and perfect teaching, wherefore I say to you that at the end of your journey, only what you have done with true love during your lifetime will be taken into account, because it will show that you recognized the truth. "I will inspire in everyone the true form of worshipping God, and also to live in accordance with the Divine Law, whose compliance is the only one that the Father will acknowledge from each one of you. "You will finally know the contents or essence of My Word, O Humanity! Then you will find that My Doctrine is not only the Divine voice which speaks to men, but also the expression for all the spirits. "It is My Word the voice that animates, the cry for freedom, the anchor of salvation. "My Doctrine is free from all ritualism; if it were not so, it would lose its essence." The Third Testament ____________________________________________________________ «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥« ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ - Atheism "All men believe in Me, even when not everyone confess it openly, nor not all of them love me. Do not believe in the atheist, since I do not see atheists nor they could exist. "Could a man deny his father in the flesh, even when he never met him? Nor the spirit can deny his spiritual Father, even if he thinks that does not know Him. Could a fruit be that has never been in the tree before?" "How wrongfully have represented Me those who say they know Me, and this is the reason why many had turned their back on Me. To those who claim to be atheists, I will not reprehend for throwing me out of their heart. Instead, I will reproach those who, by misrepresenting the truth, have shown a God that many just cannot accept."[/cita]I have never met a true atheist. Sure, I have known a lot of folks that boast that they don't believe in God, any god. And (this never fails), as we start having a good conversation, we always reach to the point in which they, emphatically, declare that they believe in justice, in beauty, in love, in human solidarity and in the quest for the truth... but not in God. And I always, as candidly as I can, ask them why do they believe all that, when it is a fact that we are surrounded by a reality which lacks of all that things. That's nonsense! And they, always, start defending their previous statements, and always end up saying: "No, no, I have it clear. Of course that there are wars, and hunger, and unjustice but also, there are those ideals I am talking you about, which are everlasting." "Ideals? What everlasting ideals?" - I fire back. "You know, the ideals I just told you: Justice for all, compassion, etc. That ideas worth our best efforts and devotion." "Aha!" - I tell them -"then you believe in the supreme power of love, of goodness, of justice. You believe in God, only you refuse to call Him or Her that. You are in battle with a word, my friend." "Uh?" - some of them say. Others just say: "Not a chance! There is no god, no supreme being. There are only ideals, beautiful ideals and then there is reality, the ugly reality of the world." The latter take a little longer to realize that what they are really denying is not the true concept of God, but rather, the interpretation of God that religions have imposed over people for eons, interpretation that they find, as I do too, bizarre and flawed. And I have found that the atheists, while apparently fierce enemies of God, having the advantage of their mind being a clean slate free from prejudices and religious bias, are the ones that are more eager to embrace the essence of spirituality at full and understand the light that the Divine Doctrine has, compared to those that are so chained up by their religious creed, that makes them fall in blind dogmas and the stigmatization of any diverge point of view. Those are the real though cookies. ____________________________________________________________ «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥« ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ - Final Word We are approaching the end of this year of 2006. And things still look a lot messy in many parts of the world, our world. We all have the responsibility to at least try to makes things better for all of us, regardless of nationality, creed or race. And what better way than focusing our spiritual attention if all that matters that need to be attended to, as poverty, unjustice, sickness and war? True prayer do that, it focus our spirit into things that are relevant and important. The power of prayer supercedes all other ways of trying to improve our world, because it goes to the root, to the core of the real problem: The lack of love from one another that we, Humanity, suffer. Although prayer starts with petition, it goes way far than that: it has to do with sincere involvement, with compassion, with charity, intercession and awareness, both in the heart and in the mind. So, let's pray with all our faith and might. May the peace of my Father be with all my brothers Your brother in the Lord The Little Worker ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ - Past Topics ** The Power of One http://www.144000.net/newindex/topics/0/the_power_of_one.htm ** The Gifts Within Part V http://www.144000.net/newindex/topics/2004/07/the_gifts_within_part_v.htm ** The Original Sin http://www.144000.net/newindex/topics/0/the_original_sin.htm ************************************************************* Join as an spiritual volunteer to the Spiritual Corps of Workers http://www.144000.net/cuerpo/ ************************************************************* PASS THE WORD: If you find this humble newsletter interesting enough, feel free to copy it and send it to your friends, family and colleagues... and why not? 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