Contents Preface Invocation
xi
1
Part One: God and Creation Chapter 1: God
5
Knowledge of God ❄ 5 The One God ❄ 10 Formless, Invisible, Mystery ❄ 13 Transcendent Reality ❄ 17 Sovereign and Omnipotent ❄ 20 Omniscient and Omnipresent ❄ 25 Immanent and Dwelling within the Heart Unchanging and Eternal ❄ 30 The Original Cause ❄ 34 God’s Goodness ❄ 36 Divine Love and Compassion ❄ 41 The Creator ❄ 46 Heavenly Father and Mother ❄ 53
❄
27
112
The Sanctity of Nature ❄ 129 Reverence for Life ❄ 136 Nature as Teacher ❄ 141 Microcosm and Macrocosm ❄ 142 The Lord of Creation ❄ 146 Stewardship ❄ 153 Beauty ❄ 159 Creativity and Art ❄ 163 Health and Disease ❄ 169
Chapter 5: Life after Death and the Spirit World 175 ❄
69
Chapter 3: The Purpose of Human Life 91 For God’s Good Pleasure ❄ 91 The Image of God ❄ 94 The Temple of God ❄ 99 Sons and Daughters of God ❄ 102 The Value of Human Life ❄ 106
World Scripture II V8 013107.ind7 7
❄
Chapter 4: God’s Creation and Human Creativity 129
Chapter 2: Truth and Universal Law 57 Eternal Truth ❄ 57 The Moral Law ❄ 62 The Golden Rule ❄ 67 The Ten Commandments Beyond the Law ❄ 72 Duality ❄ 75 Interdependence ❄ 83 Cause and Effect ❄ 85
Conscience and Inborn Goodness Perfection ❄ 117 Joy ❄ 124
The Spirit World ❄ 175 The Immortal Soul ❄ 179 Preparation for Eternity ❄ 184 Dreams ❄ 192 The Passage Beyond ❄ 195 The Judgment ❄ 201 Heaven ❄ 207 Hell ❄ 214 Angels ❄ 222 Spirits of the Departed ❄ 227 Reincarnation ❄ 232 Spiritual Error and the Occult ❄ 234 Uniting Heaven and Earth ❄ 238
2/1/2007 3:13:34 PM
Part Two: Sin and Salvation Chapter 6: Evil, Sin and the Human Fall
245
The Human Fall ❄ 245 Cain and Abel ❄ 256 The Devil and His Activities ❄ 259 Sin ❄ 268 Inherited Sin and Karma ❄ 271 Collective and Historical Sin ❄ 277 Selfish Desires and Fallen Nature ❄ 279 The War Within ❄ 284 Egoism and Pride ❄ 286 Ignorance and Atheism ❄ 290 Idolatry and Materialism ❄ 296 Suffering ❄ 298 God’s Grief ❄ 304
Chapter 7: Salvation – Liberation – Enlightenment 313 Grace ❄ 313 Forgiveness ❄ 319 Atonement ❄ 322 Enlightenment ❄ 325 Liberation ❄ 330 Emptiness—Nirvana ❄ 335 Spiritual Union ❄ 339 Healing ❄ 344 The Refining Fire ❄ 348 Help and Deliverance ❄ 351 Reversal and Restoration ❄ 358 Rebirth ❄ 363 Resurrection ❄ 368 Eternal Life ❄ 372 Universal Salvation ❄ 376
Chapter 8: Religion
381
The Purpose of Religion ❄ 381 One Truth, Many Paths ❄ 386 Tolerance, Religious Freedom and Interfaith Solidarity ❄ 391 Shamanism, Polytheism and Animism Buddhism ❄ 402 Confucianism ❄ 406 Judaism ❄ 410 Christianity ❄ 416 Islam ❄ 424
❄
Chapter 9: History of God’s Providence
397
429
Founders, Prophets and Saints Noah ❄ 436 Abraham ❄ 439 Isaac ❄ 445 Jacob ❄ 448 Joseph ❄ 455 Moses ❄ 462 Women of the Bible ❄ 468 Buddha ❄ 481 Confucius ❄ 484 Jesus ❄ 487 Muhammad ❄ 516
❄
429
Chapter 10: Eschatology and Messianic Hope
519
Tribulation ❄ 519 The Last Judgment ❄ 527 New Revelation ❄ 532 Recognizing the Day of the Lord ❄ 537 The Messiah ❄ 543 The Kingdom of Heaven ❄ 553
Part Three: The Path of Life Chapter 11: Growth, Responsibility and Destiny 563 Spiritual Growth ❄ 563 The Seasons of Life ❄ 566 Cultivating the Good ❄ 569
World Scripture II V8 013107.ind8 8
Decision ❄ 574 Good and Evil ❄ 576 Individual Responsibility
❄
581
2/1/2007 3:13:34 PM
Chapter 15: Faith
Predestination ❄ 588 Synergy of Grace and Effort ❄ 594 Preparation and Making a Good Beginning ❄ 596 Perseverance and Patience ❄ 600
Chapter 12: Morality
605
Self-Control ❄ 605 Restraint ❄ 609 Integrity ❄ 611 Righteousness ❄ 616 Sincerity and Authenticity ❄ 621 Honesty ❄ 625 Caution and Vigilance ❄ 628 Prudent Speech ❄ 631 Moderation ❄ 634 Modesty ❄ 637 Chastity ❄ 640 Sobriety and Temperance ❄ 647
Chapter 13: Love
The Primary Ends of Education ❄ 705 The Search for Knowledge ❄ 709 Tradition ❄ 715 Scripture and Interpretation ❄ 717 Intellectual Knowledge and Spiritual Wisdom ❄ 724 The Teacher ❄ 731 Discipleship ❄ 736 Learning and Practice ❄ 740
World Scripture II V8 013107.ind9 9
❄
765
Chapter 16: Prayer and Worship
653
True Love ❄ 653 Living for Others ❄ 662 Sacrificial Love ❄ 668 Universal Love ❄ 673 Love Your Enemy ❄ 678 Forgiveness ❄ 682 A Good Heart ❄ 685 Good Deeds ❄ 688 Giving and Receiving ❄ 690 Charity ❄ 695 Hospitality ❄ 700 The Great Commandment ❄ 702
Chapter 14: Wisdom
Faith ❄ 743 Witness ❄ 754 Hope ❄ 759 Assurance ❄ 762 Gratitude and Indebtedness The Fear of God ❄ 770 Doubt ❄ 773 Hypocrisy ❄ 775 Heresy ❄ 777 Arguing with God ❄ 781 Testing ❄ 785
743
795
Prayer ❄ 795 Meditation ❄ 803 Praise ❄ 814 Devotion ❄ 818 Purity of Intention ❄ 824 Offerings and Tithes ❄ 828 Ritual ❄ 833 Beyond Ritual ❄ 840
Chapter 17: Obedience and Sacrifice 845 Call and Mission ❄ 845 Obedience and Submission Self-Sacrifice ❄ 853 War against Evil ❄ 857 Persecution ❄ 865 Martyrdom ❄ 870
❄
849
Chapter 18: Humility and Self-Denial 875 705
Humility ❄ 875 Turn the Other Cheek ❄ 881 Repentance ❄ 884 Judge Not ❄ 889 Self-Denial ❄ 892 Subduing the Desires of the Flesh ❄ 894 Non-Attachment to Wealth and Possessions ❄ 899 Separation from Family ❄ 904 Separation from the World ❄ 909 Asceticism, Monasticism and Celibacy ❄ 913
2/1/2007 3:13:35 PM
Part Four: Family and Society Chapter 19: Family
925
The Basic Form of Life ❄ 925 Filial Piety ❄ 933 Sibling Love ❄ 938 Friendship ❄ 940 Conjugal Love ❄ 944 Ethics of Married Life ❄ 957 Parental Love ❄ 967 The Love of Grandparents ❄ 973
Chapter 20: Society Family as the Cornerstone of Society ❄ 977 The Moral Foundations of Society ❄ 980 Patriotism and Public Service ❄ 985 Labor ❄ 990 Freedom ❄ 994 Equality ❄ 1001 Women’s Rights ❄ 1009 Justice ❄ 1015 Economic Justice ❄ 1017 Unity and Community ❄ 1030 World Citizenship ❄ 1035 Notes List of Sources
World Scripture II V8 013107.ind10 10
Chapter 21: Leadership and Government
1039
God-Fearing Leadership ❄ 1039 Righteous Leadership ❄ 1041 Exemplary Leadership ❄ 1046 Government for the People ❄ 1051 Law and Punishments ❄ 1058 Prophets and Messengers ❄ 1065
977
Chapter 22: Peace
1075
The Peace of God ❄ 1075 Inner Peace ❄ 1077 Reconciliation and Peacemaking ❄ 1080 Restitution ❄ 1084 The Futility of War ❄ 1087 The Rise and Fall of Nations ❄ 1091 World Peace ❄ 1097
1105 1149
2/1/2007 3:13:35 PM