"The hope of human brotherhood can only be realized when, and as, the divergent mind religions of authority become impregnated with, and overshadowed by, the unifying and ennobling religion of the spirit — the religion of personal spiritual experience." Teachings of Jesus 155:6.8 (1732.1)
This speaks to a profound truth about the challenges and possibilities of achieving genuine human unity. It asserts that true brotherhood among people cannot be attained through institutions or rigid systems of belief alone — what it refers to as “mind religions of authority.” These are religious traditions often built on dogma, hierarchy, and external control, which can divide people more than unite them. Such systems, while historically influential, often emphasize differences in belief and practice rather than the shared spiritual essence of humanity.
The quote offers a vision for transcendence — one in which institutional religion is transformed by a higher, more personal form of faith: the “religion of the spirit.” This spiritual approach is rooted not in creed or ritual, but in individual experience with the divine. It is through this inner connection to God, unique to each person yet universally accessible, that the barriers of doctrine and culture begin to dissolve. When individuals are spiritually awakened from within, they become more capable of recognizing the same divine spark in others — the foundation for true brotherhood.
In essence, the path to global spiritual unity lies not in enforcing sameness but in encouraging personal spiritual awakening. As more people live in accordance with the inner guidance of the spirit, religious authority loses its exclusivity, and human hearts begin to align in mutual respect and compassion. The religion of the spirit transcends borders and doctrines, promoting unity by nurturing the personal relationship each soul can have with the divine. Only then can the dream of universal brotherhood become a living, sustainable reality.
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