Special Edition on Revelation Revealed topic 7 (personal religion)

PERSONAL RELIGION IS A LIVING LOVE, A LIFE OF SERVICE REFLECTING UNITY OF EXPERIENCE.  Personal religion does not mean that an individual is setting himself or herself apart from others. To the contrary, a Melchizedek tells us: "[T]rue religion is a living love, a life of service" [a Melchizedek, 1100:7 / 100:6.5]. Further, Jesus assures us: "[T]he religion of the spirit grows into the increasing joy and liberty of ennobling deeds of loving service and merciful ministration" [the Midwayer Commission, 1732:2 / 155:6.9]. In addition, he states: "When you once begin to find God in your soul, presently you will begin to discover him in other men’s souls and eventually in all the creatures and creations of a mighty universe" [the Midwayer Commission, 1733:1 / 155:6.13]. After all, personal religion is not aimed at  "uniformity in belief" or "uniformity of viewpoint and outlook"; instead, we are seeking "unity of experience — uniformity of destiny" [the Midwayer Commission, 1732:2 / 155:6.9]. Even so, these achievements of personal religion do not enter the mind or soul as a theory or abstraction. Instead, they require active personal effort that includes "thoughtful contemplation," on the understanding that "While the mind is not the seat of the spiritual nature, it is indeed the gateway thereto" [the Midwayer Commission, 1733:1 / 155:6.13].