OUR DOCTRINE
Church of the Seven Planes - Parish in UK
The text listed below is the Doctrine of the
Church of Seven Planes. It is the doctrine adhered to by the
Cardiff ULC Ministry and myself, the Church of Seven Planes Arch- Bishop of the
UK and Ireland. It is a
copyrighted document of the Church and therefore is faithfully
reproduced by myself in my role as Arch-Bishop, and copyright is acknowledged. (Him, Man, He, God are all
used for simplicity and can equally be substituted with another
Gender. No preference or discrimination is intended)
The Church of Seven Planes holds many truths to be evident
but it
does not insist on the acceptance of its philosophy. Feeling that
since it is true, all people will one day come to see its truth
and order their lives thereby.
We hold that "a truth is not a truth for a person nor
revelation until they see it to be true for themselves."
The Creator has said "Before Abraham was, I am." This
goes along with our belief that there is one Creator no matter
what he/she is called in the formulation of this body of
teachings and ethics.
The Church takes what in some respects is a distinctive position
among churches. The Christian church has always contained within
itself different schools of thought. The medieval schoolmen who
systematized theology in the Western church followed the method
of Aristotle; but the earliest among the Church Fathers of
philosophic bent were Platonists, and The Church, while not
undervaluing the clarity and precision of the scholastic theory,
has much in common with the Platonic and Neo-Platonic schools of
tradition. It holds that a theology can justify itself and be of
permanent value only in so far as it partakes of the character of
total divine wisdom.
That is to say, that while certain of its higher teachings remain
within the category of revelation, because they are far beyond
our grasp and attainment, others less remote are capable of re-verification,
and even of development, by those who have unfolded within
themselves the necessary spiritual faculties.
Man being in essence divine can ultimately know the Deity whose
life he shares, and, by gradually unfolding through successive
lives on earth the divine powers that are latent in him, can grow
into knowledge and mastery of the universe, which is all the
expression of that divine life.
This method of approach to divine truth is of ancient usage. It
finds complete justification in scripture and has constantly
appeared in the religious thought of both East and West denoting
that both mysticism and eclectic philosophy are essential
ingredients of religion.
Thus, truth is recognized in all and any universal religious
experience, wherever it is to be found and under whatever outer
form.
ANCIENT TRUTHS
With men of old it is held that there are three truths which are
absolute and which cannot be lost, for they are eternal in their
divine message:
"The soul of man is immortal and its future is the future of
a thing whose growth and splendour have no limit.
"The principle which gives life dwells within us and without
us. It is undying, and eternally beneficent. It is not seen or
heard or felt, but is perceived by the man who desires perception."
"Each man is his own absolute law giver, the dispenser of
glory or gloom to himself, the decreer of his life, his reward,
his punishment."
"These truths, which are as great as life itself, are as
simple as the simplest mind of men. Feed the hungry with them."
SUMMARY OF DOCTRINE
The existence of The Creator, infinite, eternal, is the one
existence from which all other existence derived. In him/her we
live and move and have our being. The manifestation of God by
whatever name h/she They are called in the universe, the
life-giver, the inspirer and sanctifier.
Man, made in the image of God, is himself
divine in essence - a spark of the divine fire. Sharing God's
nature, he cannot cease to exist, therefore he is eternal and his
future is one whose glory and splendour have no limit. The
divinity that was manifest in him is gradually being unfolded in
every man, until each shall come unto a perfect man unto the
measure of the stature of the fullness
of The Creator.
The world is the theatre of an ordered plan, according to which
the spirit of man, by repeatedly expressing himself in varying
conditions of life and experience, continually unfolds his powers.
That evolution or spiritual unfoldment takes place under an
inviolable law of cause and effect:
'Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.' (Gal. vi, 7).
His doings in each physical incarnation largely determine his
experience after death in the intermediate world (or world of
purgation) and the heavenly world and greatly influence the
circumstances of his next birth.
Man is a link in a vast chain of life extending from the highest
to the lowest. As he helps those below him, so also he is helped
by those who stand above him on the ladder of lives, receiving
thus a 'free gift of grace.'
There is a 'communion of saints' of 'just men made perfect' or
holy ones, who help mankind. There is a ministry of angels or
Guides, as they are sometimes called, whom help guide you along
your way.
Man has ethical duties to himself and to others, "Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul
and with all thy mind and with all thy strength." This is
the first and great commandment, and the second like unto it:
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matt.22, 37-40).
This is not the same as being a "Christian"
because this is just Universal Law no matter what religion
or lack of religion you have!
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