Saturday 28 January 2012

What New Thought Practitioners Believe

An umbrella term for diverse beliefs that emphasize experiencing God's presence for practical purposes, such as healing and success. Examples include Unity, Religious Science, and Divine Science.

Belief in Deity
There exists one God--Universal Mind, creative intelligence, omnipresent--a principle (not a being), an impersonal force that manifests itself personally, perfectly, and equally within all.

Incarnations
No particular incarnations, as God is within all equally. Some believe Jesus was exemplary of someone who fully realized his divine nature, and therefore is the "wayshower" (shows the way).

Origin of Universe and Life
The universe and all within it are expressions of God--the creative intelligence--with no beginning and no end.

After Death
Some believe in continual rebirth as a gift from God so that all may become immortal, as was Jesus Christ, with each lifetime a preparation for the next. Others believe the individual soul merges with the universal spirit after death.

Why Evil?
No original sin, and no Satan and no evil. People make "mistakes" due to ignorance of one's true nature as Perfect Mind and Love, which is God.

Salvation
Salvation lies in the realization of oneness with the impersonal life force, thus unlocking one's healing potential. Licensed practitioners counsel on spiritual healing for problems of the mind, body, and life. Some believe Jesus is the "wayshower" to salvation. Some believe that all, regardless of actions, will be saved by the grace of a loving and forgiving God. Most believe that spiritual awareness of God's omnipresence--that God is all and all are God--leads to personal and humanity's salvation. Many believe that repeated reincarnations are God's gift, each lifetime a preparation for the next, until "perfection" is reached, which is God.

Undeserved Suffering
Suffering results from ignorance of one's true nature as Perfect Mind and ceases with complete realization that we all are one with God, the Universal Mind. One can heal personal suffering through New Thought practices, often with the assistance of New Thought practitioners.

Contemporary Issues
There is no official doctrine on abortion; therefore, abortion is not condemned.

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