RELIGION

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 39, 9 May 1927, Page 5

RELIGION

A VITAL NECESSITY “MODERN MAN’S NEED” “Religion is a vital necessity for all —a power in the daily life of every human being,” said Miss Oppenheimer in a recent address on theosophy at Palmerston North. “Since man is a spirit endeavouring to unfold his latent powers of consciousness in a universe of form, and is therefore seeking the light, religion is God’s answer to the cry of the human soul. Man is seeking that light in all his pursuits, even in his so-called ‘amusements.’ “Apart from the religious instinct which ever seeks God, man’s lower mind, his emotions, and his body may lead him astray. But if he seeks the Lord in the market place, as well as in his church, mosque, temple or synagogue, then can he be called religious. Inspirer of Art “Religion has ever been the inspirer of art. We see this in the religions of all races. Statues, temples, churches, pictures, music, poems, all have been inspired by holy thoughts.” The lecturer explained that when one’s mind turned to any religion one naturally went back to the founder. Man traces himself back to a single mighty figure, whom some call a God —others a man. A man too divine to be regarded as wholly like those whom He lived and taught above them, yet of them, closely bound by a common humanity, though raised by manifestation of the God within. To each of these the Master is teaching and giving the law of the one great lawgiver and so is ushering in a new age. World’s Search for Pleasure “The world stands to-day at such a point in history, where we see a great

search for pleasure, a recklessness and immorality reminding one of the fall of ancient Empires. Again the teacher of religion is needed, and He is coming to help man forward —to teach men that true happiness and religion do not come from outer circumstances, but from growth. He brings to us a firm conviction that truth, and love, and joy are man’s heritage and not pain and suffering. “Religion of a vital, living, dynamic kind, which helps man forward on his pilgrimage as an eternal living soul lacking all ideas of fear, and devil, and preaching a gospel of joy—that is what the future holds, and that is what Mr. Krishnamurti is teaching men to-day.”