Set
A: TRUE or FALSE (2 points per item)
1. Mistakes
cannot be avoided but they can be minimized. TRUE. Being imperfect, we will all
continue to commit mistakes. However, as we continue to apply what we have
learned from our experiences, eventually, we will commit less and less of them.
2. We will always have the opportunities to further develop ourselves.
TRUE. But see Sol 6:C.1.
3. Failure is actually a stepping stone to eventual success.
TRUE. What we learn from our every failure will help us to perform better each
time around. Our success is inevitable in the end.
4. He whom God loves, He chastens. TRUE. God desires that we be
like Him – clean and pure. He chastens us so that we will be more open and more
easily able to receive His teachings.
5. One Earth life is only a tiny fragment of eternal life.
TRUE. Self-explanatory. Actually, there are many such fragments, many Earth
lives.
6. In the world, injustice is more the rule rather than the
exception. TRUE. If the result of only one Earth life is considered, the answer
is true. However, with the application of the Doctrine of Reincarnation and the
Law of Karma (sowing and reaping), absolute justice is assured after we undergo
a sufficient number of Earthly lives.
7. God considers the needs of the soul more than the needs of
the body. TRUE. See Sol 6:C.2.3.
8. God is fully in control of every situation. TRUE. See Par
6:09.
9. God doesn’t know what we need; we need to keep on telling
Him, everytime. FALSE. See Par 6:08.11.
10. While we are still constrained by the flesh body, we really
are unable to do all that we should do. TRUE. See Par 6:18.19.
11. Each success is only a prelude to even greater success.
TRUE. On the road to perfection, there is infinite progress and many successes
await. We will attain to more and greater successes as we go forward.
12. God doesn’t hear so well; we should repeat the same prayers
over and over again. FALSE. See Par 6:08.11. God already
knows what we need without our having to tell Him.
13. Every new day always brings new opportunities for spiritual
progress. TRUE. See Par 6:24.28.
14. Tribulations are actually valuable opportunities for
spiritual growth. TRUE. See Par 6:11.
15. The spiritual way is not a practical way of life. FALSE.
Review the whole lesson.
16. Righteousness is love in action. TRUE. This is how
righteousness is defined in the ‘Desiderata’ found in St. Paul’s Church.
17. Those who have more in life are fortunate; they can advance
faster, spiritually. FALSE. In essence, we should regard all seemingly adverse
circumstances and situations as aids to learning the lessons that we spirit
beings need to learn. In effect, the less we have and the more we suffer, the
more we are able to learn the difficult lessons of life. See also Sol
6:C.2.3,
Sol
6:C.5
and Sol
6:C.8.9.
18. We are responsible only for our efforts; the results are
all up to God. TRUE. In the world, men evaluate our performance based on the
results we are able to achieve. It is very different where the things of heaven
are concerned. Instead, God looks mainly at our motives and the efforts that we
exert, and not so much at results because there are so many other factors
influencing the outcome that are beyond our control and for which, we should
not be held responsible.
19. We should never hurry unduly but we should proceed through
life at our own pace. TRUE. We have all of eternity to do our thing. What is
more important is that we are thorough and effective in learning our lessons.
20. All that happens is according to God’s divine plan. TRUE.
See Par
6:09.12.
Set B: (2 points per item)
1. “For
only a penny, you can buy two sparrows; yet not one sparrow falls to the ground
without your Father knowing it. And even the hair
on your head are all numbered. So don’t worry. You
are far more valuable to Him than
many sparrows” (MT 10).
2. “You will always have the poor with you” (JN
12).
3. “As bad as you are, you know how to give good things
to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good
things to those who ask Him!” (MT 7).
4. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow’s
needs shall be met even as tomorrow comes. Life is difficult
enough as it is without our having to complicate it further. Therefore, it is
sufficient that we resolve our problems as they arise
and live one day at a time”
(MT
6).
5. First, man must strive to free himself from sin
and advance towards righteousness before he can begin to
understand God’s divine ways (Par 6:10).
6. “Don’t be anxious about life. Don’t worry
about food, drink or clothes. After
all, isn’t life worth more than mere food? And isn’t the body
more important than clothes?” (MT 6).
7. “When you hear of wars beginning, don’t be so disturbed because they must
come” (MT
24).
8. “Give to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar and give to
God what belongs to God” (LK 20).
9. The man of the world considers only the things of this
world, those that he can see and touch (Par
6:03).
10. In the course of our development, we must pass through every
stage of learning. We cannot turn spiritual without
fully comprehending the principles governing material
existence. First, we must learn all the lessons of
this world (Par 6:15).
11. “You would have no power at all over me unless it
is given to you from above” (JN
19).
12. “Father,” he prayed, “my Father! All things are possible to
You. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Even so, not what I
want but what You want” (MK
14).
13. “Be vigilant and pray that you do not succumb
to temptation. The spirit may indeed be willing, but the
flesh is weak” (MT 26).
14. Experience is the best teacher. We should see
these trials and tribulations, not as the world sees them, but as
they really are. In fact, these experiences are the
special opportunities given to each of us in order that we
may advance in our development (Par 6:06).
15. A thousand years
is as one day to the Lord (Par 6:20).
Set C: (3 points per item)
1. Opportunities for progress are always readily
available. DISAGREE. Such opportunities as those that are available on Earth
are terminated at death because without our physical vehicle of flesh, we can
no longer manifest or otherwise continue to study in this world of matter.
Likewise, the exact-same circumstance or situation will not repeat itself.
Further, since a thousand Earth years is just as one day in spirit time, it
could take a long, long time before a similar opportunity to move ahead becomes
available. Hence, it would be wise for us to avail of every opportunity that
comes our way.
2. God provides
for all our physical needs. DISAGREE. God provides for our every spiritual
need. The physical needs are only of minor importance and are provided for only
if such provisionings are in consonance with the primary spiritual needs. Most
often, however, the needs of the body are in conflict with the needs of the
spirit self. And when this is the case, then such physical needs will be
ignored and not be provided for.
3. The
physical body and the soul being inseparable, what happens to one happens also
to the other. DISAGREE. In the first place, the body and the soul are really
distinct and separate from each other. And as to the effect of certain stimuli
on these two, trials and tribulations tax the body but strengthen the eternal
spirit-soul. Poverty and want deprive the body of all those things that it
desires; but as a consequence, the spirit within learns and develops the
all-important spiritual qualities or virtues. And finally, death terminates the
existence of the body but releases the hitherto imprisoned spirit being which
is automatically reborn into the greater world.
4. Perfection can be attained in one lifetime. DISAGREE.
Obviously not, because there is far too much to be learned and developed than
is possible within a short span of Earthly existence. Development will have to
continue even after the end of our present lifetime. We will need to live again
and again until we are able to completely learn all the lessons of this Earth.
One lifetime is only as one day in spirit class. This is the concept of Reincarnation
or repeated lives.
Many esoteric sources including some old Catholic writings that trace the
evolution of the Catechism attest that Reincarnation, along with Karma, was
taught by Jesus.
However, in subsequent councils called to settle doctrinal questions, the early
Church Fathers, for reasons of their own, voted to disauthorize this important
teaching. All references to Reincarnation were then expunged from the sacred
books and this doctrine was henceforth suppressed and regarded as heretic.
Nevertheless, many veiled allusions to the Doctrine of Reincarnation have
survived the rewriting of the Scriptures. In the Gospels, they can be seen in
the references to Elijah returning as John the Baptist (JN 1:19.28, MT 11:7.15,
MT 17:10.13), to Jesus before he came to be born as Jesus (MT 16:13.14) and to
Jesus coming again. Jesus, himself, said, “You must be born again.” There is
also the reference to a sin committed in a past life (JN 9:01.02) as the reason
why a man came to be born blind. Many other passages do not make practical
sense if Reincarnation is not taken into context (JN 4:24 - God is a Spirit, JN
10:34 - You are gods, MT 5:48 - You must be perfect).Refer to ‘Resurrection
is reincarnation misunderstood.
5. If we
follow after the Lord, He will not allow us to suffer. DISAGREE. Quite the
contrary, those whom God loves, He chastens, but always, for their own good.
Certain difficult lessons are best learned through the experiencing of pain and
suffering. It is also true that the more we suffer, the more we learn. But how
wonderful it will be for us after we have completed our Earthly education.
6. The shortest way to God is to pass up Earthly preoccupations
and concentrate on the more spiritual side of life. DISAGREE. Earthly subjects
are prerequisites to the study of spiritual subjects. We must learn all the
lessons of this world. If we pass up a certain activity or learning
opportunity, we won’t know what it is about and we won’t be enabled to
comprehend more advanced related studies. So instead, we need to learn and
master Earthly conditions and situations before we may leave them behind us.
Then, sufficiently evolved and freed from material influences, we can more
effectively take on the more spiritual aspects of our being.
7. Doing nothing is doing something. AGREE. In many instances,
we may find ourselves unable to decide on a clear course of action. And
experience will tell us that because we acted in haste, many times, we did more
harm than good simply because we reacted to a particular situation when we
shouldn’t have. Whenever in doubt then, provided there is time enough before a
reaction is deemed necessary, we should let the dust settle, so to speak. Let
us think on the problem. A little forethought always provides important
clarifications that make for more effective action. In any case, continuous
practice brings proficiency. And only after we are clear on the matter will we
really be able to decide correctly whether to react and do something or to
leave things as they are and do nothing at all.
8. If we
pray hard enough for peace, believing, we will never have war. DISAGREE. War
must be because of its educational value. However, the unenlightened are
enjoined to devote time to prayer, just so that, for at least a few moments of
their day, they are able to think of God, instead of devoting the whole of
their time to unimportant worldly preoccupations. But those of us who are
students on the Path of Truth are called to do acts of righteousness despite
all adverse conditions and regardless of results.
9. Many
have been healed because of their faith. DISAGREE. Faith really has nothing to
do with our being healed or not, but it is a convenient excuse or explanation
for those who are not as yet expected to be able to understand the higher
teachings. An ailment is in itself only a learning experience. Therefore, a
person is healed soon after the lesson necessitating such a diseased condition
has already been learned. And so now, on to other lessons and other circumstances,
conditions and situations.
10. We should always depend on God’s providence. DISAGREE. In
every instance, we should strive to be self-reliant and learn to fend for
ourselves. We should do everything that we can do. We must do our part. God
helps only those who help themselves. However, if we don’t have the means or
the capacity or if for some valid reason, we are unable to do something for
ourselves, then God will do for us whatever else still needs to be done.
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