If one looks at the story of creation, regardless of school of thought, one can easily see that "in the beginning" it was good. From a perspective of simplicity and logic, whether it be of science or of a Spiritual nature, we can go back into the eons of time and see that there has been a pattern to everything that has occurred. Things have "evolved" in a necessary "cause and effect order". So, whether one be a "creationist" (things of God) or an "evolutionist" (things of science), no one can deny there is a specific order to all things. In effect, "in the beginning" all things were made perfect, whether by God, or by chance. The very first atom, the first molecule, the tiniest microorganism, all had a specific design that would interrelate with the next higher particle. And when the first single-cell was charged with what we call "life" this pattern continued. One particle absolutely depended on the other one to sustain this "life", and the process went on, with no particle going without its special requirements to continue to exist. It was a parasitic world/universe, with one organism/energy source feeding off the other. Still there was a specific order that this should occur.

And as "life" evolved and these organisms grew in size and quantity, this order continued with no creature going without its specific needs....and "birds of a feather. flocked together" with each species finding its unique niche in the universe. It was pretty simple, and "life was good". The creatures didn't quarrel with one another. Death was a naturally occurring event...and necessary to the survival of all the rest of the Earth. There was nothing personal involved in the taking of another life in order to survive. The diversity of "life" required a diverse diet that would provide fuel to the molecular setup of each individual species.

It was a simple concept that did not require a consciousness of conscience. It just was.....that is, until man set his will upon the Earth. It started innocently enough, breaking into various communities, recognizing some would have to shift to other parts of the Earth to survive. And for the most part, it was amicable enough. The social orders were still close enough that they "looked after their own kind" and helped one another in order to survive the rigors of change. But one day, one of these creatures decided it needed more sustenance than it required and helped itself to more than a fair share of the portions, which caused another young of its kind to suffer. The parent of this offspring recognized its young being deprived, threatening the survival of its own. A retaliation occurred that caused such a discourse of emotion that it wasn't long until others of their group became in involved. Most were concerned with the preservation of their social order and demanded the offender obey the principles of their structured society. But the offender refused to heed their demands and sought allegiance from his friends, who also took up his unjust cause with the promise of sharing in his bounty. From this point, one can imagine the many roads and avenues of thoughts and actions that may have occurred as a result of this first arbitration of justice....and which has led us to where we are today..

It may have been this kind of scenario of earliest man that began the process of the "sure knowledge" of what compels us to do that wich is right, or to choose the alternative and go against this "consciousness of conscience". But, "in the beginning" everything worked in perfect, syncronized cause and effect, until mankind became greedy and wanted more than the rest of creation. His ego took hold, and with it came an air of superiority that set himself up to consider himself equal to the One who created creation itself. Of course, the rest is history. It is the history of the insanity of mankind. It is the insanity of doing the same things over and over expecting different results. It is the insanity of a world gone mad with greed, pride, arrogance, power and control. It is the lack of being conscious of even having a conscience. That thing that we claim as a species which is supposed to set us apart from all other living things. The ability to use wisdom, and to have concern for others. And to maintain a social order that ensures every creature will have its requirements met. It is the wisdom that is given to us directly from God at birth which speaks to our soul and says, "Wait a minute! Somethings not right here!" And then using that same wisdom in the manner of the Mind of Christ, having the courage to do that which is right, even if it means going to the Cross. It is the Spirit of Truth, that double-edged sword, that engages our conscience and screams out at injustice. It is the love for others of our species that causes us to lift them up when they are oppessed, or hungry, or lonely. Or persecuted for belonging to another "tribe of mankind".

But, "in the beginning", the very beginning, all things were made perfect and "God saw that it was Good." It was not until later, when mankind exploited the free will God had given every one of us, that mankind devised a way to get more than his fair share of what was not deserved by him. In his mind the seeds of sin were planted and took root. And when the weeds of the mind take root, they cannot be easily uprooted. It is always the flower and the good fruit that suffers when the weed has taken firm hold. These weeds are the institutions of mankind that lord over the minds of others. They are political, religious, and philosophical. And they always have an ulterior motive that is usually less than righteous, but mostly selfish. These are the schools of thought that continue to move us further and further away from what God had originally planned for His Creation, "That none should want" (or perish)but that all should come to receive His Grace and Love. Yet, millenniums later, as we asribe to ourselves this great technology, this virtuous call, this pompous and self-righteous attitude, we still cannot hear the cries of humanity. We cannot see the injustices we perpetrate against others(worldwide). We have "humanized God" for our convenience and comfortability to the extent that God is ineffectual....regardless of what institution of thought you may belong to.

But, in the end, it will be the Sons of God, the Children of Light, those who have received the Word of Truth directly from God, and those who can see and hear, those who follow after the teachings of the Mind of Christ, who will prevail. Just as that earliest man and his followers would be expelled from their community in the interest of social order and justice, so will those today who oppress and cause suffering to the "little ones" who belong to God be cast out from what could have been their inheritance. Not a golden mansion in the sky, not the things we have been taught which are fables, but something akin to those earliest of our species, unity, love, peace, and all that we should ever want or need, will be given us as we are blessed by following after the Will of God, the Word of Truth, and the Mind of Christ....God's Peace....To`na Wanagi

The passage that first led to my joining the ministry, and serves as my signature in these forums "it is not for man that walks to direct even his own steps...", also states my views on what has brought the world to the state that we now find it in. When we as a society decided to try to rule ourselves, we moved away from what God had prepared for us. None can claim the full knowledge of he Lord, and none will be able to rule in the way of righteouness. It is my beliefe that God gave us free will with the hopes that we would freely honor Him, and freely allow Him to rule our lives. I do not believe we will see a ruler on earth capable of bringing about the hope of God for His children until we see the coming of His kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.

I simply feel it is not within man's ability or right to rule man kind, this power belongs to the one true God. I enjoyed your posting To`na, may God continue to bless you in all you do.

Thank you William.
And by that same free will, a precious gift given us by God, we have upset the balance of His magnificence. As a species, we were intended to be stewards of this Earth and share in all its bounty. Not soley for the welfare of other humankind, but for the welfare of all creatures and the Earth herself. When it required sacrifice to acheive this balance , that is when mankind fell from favor and started the downward spiral into self-seeking and self-centeredness. Even though he knew the rest of the peoples on the earth were depending on him to help them maintain this balance, his own self-will corrupted him and he fell to the desires of the flesh.

A real life example of this inter-dependency can be observed by a tribe of Inuit people in the Arctic Circle. While they are but a minute fraction of the Earth's population, numbering around 10,000 and spread out for thousands of miles in tiny villages, they too are God's children. This people have available to them for their survival, (food, clothing, shelter) only 23 species of animals and just 6 species of birds! With only these 29 creatures, their existence hangs in the balance between survival and extinction. What deed would it take for mankind to disrupt this delicate balance? An oil spill? Heavy metals and toxic chemicals falling from a poisoned atmosphere? If just one of these 29 species should perish, the chain will have been broken and eventually all will perish. This balance of inter-dependency of one species upon another, and in an extreme and remote part of the Earth, is the "made perfect" in God's eyes Who "saw that it was good". He gave this people everything they needed to survive.Yet mankind minimizes and diminishes other species as expendable, disposable, even those of his own kind.

He has forgotten the sacredness of life as God set into order, and has set himself up as the godhead, the ultimate ruler of his kingdom and the kingdom of his god, the son of perdition.

I think that much of the dialogue and dissension on this site has to do with this very subject. It is easy for me, a Native American, to understand paganism, wicca, and other neo-pagan cultures and beliefs because they are "Mother Earth" oriented. And I, too, revere the sacredness of Ina Maka, our Earth Mother. And at the same time, I revere the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as righteous and as God's Truth that is available to humans. So when a group of people who are criticizing man's governments for the atrocities these governments are committing against the planet that once was perfect, "giving us every good gift from above" and "that comes from the Father of Lights", I understand their indgnancy and anger.....especially when the dirty deeds are being done by the ones who claim to know what is best for mankind, and/or in the name of any particular deity or religion.

It is here, at this point, that we must come together with one another, recognizing that each of us has been given certain gifts, regardless of schools of thought. And, while we cannot save the world alone as Christians(or other faiths), as scientists, as pagans, or atheists, by combining the gifts we have been given, sharing them together, will add to a fortified, unified front that can become a considerable force to be reckoned with. But if we allow the doctrines and dogma, the precepts of men, to interfere with what we know to be a good and righteous thing, then we will continue to be divided....and a house divided cannot stand. The common theme of the ulc applies to every minister who applies for ordination, and without exception, "To do that which is right"....no matter the individual, personal affiliations. So, it is here that the line is drawn and whether or not we are fulfilling this vow to our ministries. Will we "do that which is right", or will we continue to banter about our personal views and argue over personalities, doctrines, dogmas, precepts of men and sit back and watch Rome burn? Putting my faith into action is what I understand God wants me to do. And that means making no concessions to the ways of the sons of men, to the world or to its ruler, the son of perdition.

This is the army of God spoken of in scripture, those who have clothed themselves with the armor of righteousness, and who move in unison to the Mind of Christ. The battle begins here on the Earth between the Sons of God and the sons of men.

Mankind has built himself a "house of cards". It wouldn't take much to upset the balance and see it all come crashing down around him. And if one were to believe the prophets of old, one would see at this very moment in time, it is happening.....God's Love and Peace to all who would share their good gifts with one another for the purposes of fulfilling God's Will....To`na Wanagi

Amen...together we stand...divided we fall...I shall stand!!

As I began to read this it reminded me of a book I once had from Readers Digest Called “Strange Stories and Amazing Facts” My husband Tom looked at that book and pointed out to me a Picture of the Earth in comparison with Jupiter. Jupiter of course dwarfed the Earth. The next Picture you saw the Earth in comparison to our solar system, of course the Earth became even harder to see. Than you saw our solar system in comparison with our Galaxy, of course you could not see Earth. After that, there was a picture of our Galaxy compared to other Galaxies.

Tom showed me this and replied we don’t even make a speck of dust within all this. He continued- that shows us how insignificant we are we are nothing. I replied to Tom that’s not true we are a part of all this Greatness and Wonderment .

Glass half-full or half empty. I love being a part of the whole… Sincerely Rev Penny J Ragan.