Matters of the Spirit

You don't have to be a missionary to have a mission

In my mind, the true meaning of the word "missionary" is someone whose mission in life is to do good, someone who is determined to make the world a better place. Dr. Albert Schweitzer (1875 ~ 1965) is an example of a true missionary. His mission wasn't to convert, but to heal, and his purpose wasn't to teach doctrine, but to teach love.

As a Divine being, you are the master of your destiny.

This is the great message Science of Mind® brings to people of all faiths. It is a fresh concept of religion as a life philosophy and a science. As a philosophy, Science of Mind® presents a practical, down-to-earth way of thinking about the nature of the Universe and our relationship to it. As a religion, it presents a philosophy that is both mentally stimulating and emotionally satisfying. As a science, it presents specific and definite ideas which you can demonstrate for yourself and directly experience the benefits in your life.

There is a power for good in the Universe greater than you are—and you can use it!

Stoicism asserts that the human soul is part of the divine fire, and proceeds into humans from God.

Although Epictetus based his teaching on the works of the early Stoics (none of which survives) which dealt with the three branches of Stoic thought, logic, physics and ethics, the Discourses and the Handbook concentrate almost exclusively on ethics. The role of the Stoic teacher was to encourage his students to live the philosophic life, whose end was eudaimonia (‘happiness’ or ‘flourishing’), to be secured by living the life of reason, which – for Stoics – meant living virtuously and living ‘according to nature’.

Pastor, author says God is bigger than religion

Note: This article first appeared in the Adventist News Network (ANN) Bulletin, December 8, 2009 sent to e-mail subscribers.