In PROPORTION to the inhabitants of any given area on earth, the number who are actually atheists, is comparatively small. It is true, there are many who boast that they do not believe in the existence of a God and profess that life for them began in the present incarnation; that it was the Alpha for them, and that life, when it ends, will be their Omega.

Many, such as professed atheists, who pretend to believe in nothing except visible material existence, nevertheless manifest a love for greater than that inherent in a multitude of others who profess great faith in, and reverence for, God. Their daily life and business relationship with their fellow men is exemplary and in harmony with the Divine Law.

The fact that these non-professors are endowed with a strong sense of honor and active affectional nature, a love for their fellow man, the family, and even creatures below the human; that they manifest deep sympathy for the afflictions and misfortunes of others and that they are innately and unconsciously honest in their dealings with others, is proof in itself that the Christic element and God-nature is strong within them.

If we accept God to be the LOVE He Himself says He is, we must recognize that all who have love and sympathy, kindliness and affection, honesty and manliness (manliness being next to Godliness), possess naturally and reflect the Divine nature whether or not they profess to believe in God; the possession of a Godly nature in itself being the most certain proof of its existence. Many of these professed atheists also manifest deep reverence for all that is good, true, beautiful and uplifting. This is proof of Godliness in the heart.

A verbal statement of any nature is worthless unless its truth is made manifest by the manner and action of the one making it. He who claims to believe in God, but does not follow the teaching of the Divine Law, and displays little or no love for his neighbor, lacks sympathy for the sorrows and sufferings of his friends and neighbors, aye, even his enemies, and is incapable of appreciating the beautiful in nature, assuredly fails to give evidence of an actual belief of God in his heart. He is a hypocrite. Within him is neither the truth, faith, nor love, hence there is no respect for God.

Whoever has great love for friends and neighbors, for the home circle and the sub-human kingdom, for the beautiful, the chaste and the elevating, who is willing to lend the helping hand in times of distress without question as to social standing or church affiliation of those in need - he it is who foreshadows by the acts of his life that God is in his heart; that the Christos is within; irrespective of any verbal avowal of non-faith in the existence of a Divine Ruler.

Consciously or unconsciously, those who are truly human seek the best that life can give and this in itself indicates a heart religion. Knowingly or unknowingly, these admire the beautiful in everything around them; this is a form of worship. This proves the fact that there is, within the innermost self, some Ideal, some form of Godliness, enshrined in the heart.

The possessor, or professor, may be utterly unconscious of the fact that this is worship. He may be unaware that his devotion to an Ideal and his love for the beautiful, or reverence for the great and successful, constitutes "worship" in the true sense of that term.

It is immaterial in what form man worships God, the Father. It matters not even if the reverence is unconscious and unfelt or unrecognized by the intellect. However, it is of importance that the heart have an ideal enshrined; that there be constant effort to attain it. Even though this life may not witness the accomplishment, the act of idealizing and of striving to accomplish is in itself a potent and energizing type of worship that becomes part of the Immortal Soul.

Whenever man has awakened to the possession of an ideal - an ideal built of the beautiful, the true and the elevating, of the lovely and the lovable - it is not essential for him to verbally call it God. Lip profession of belief is far from as vital or as desirable as the constant effort to bring this ideal into materialization. The essential thing is for him to strive, with heart and Soul, to realize his ideal and to make it practical - of value to himself and his fellow men. Merely to think of an ideal and to daydream about it in a listless, effortless manner; is not worship; neither is it potent to bring the ideal into manifestation.

Unless there is endless striving to make the desire practical, it can scarcely be termed a worship at the throne of God, irrespective of how much we may profess to honor the Father; but to put forth every effort to accomplish the desired aim in a way to benefit mankind - this is practical, and likewise acceptable, worship.

Unquestionably, the reason such an ever-increasing number claim to be non-believers in God, is due to the fact that their increasingly enlightened idea of a Divine Being does not coincide with the life and behavior, the EXAMPLE, of the majority of professed believers or with the inculcations of the various creeds, and present interpretations of the Laws of God.

If we mention God, the Father, to them, they suppose that we refer to a personal being who loves, but also hates; who manifests kindness, but offsets this by taking revenge on those who disobey.

They imagine a personal entity who, though primarily creating absolute laws, nevertheless Himself sets aside these laws. The profession and contrary behavior of man generally lead many who are religious in heart to believe Him (the Father) possessed of whims and passions; one who issues arbitrary commands and rules of conduct for man, but refuses Himself to be governed by them; that He punishes and rewards, condemns and blesses, according to an autocratic standard.

Such a concept of God and interpretation of His Laws is wholly misleading in that it makes of God a brutish, variable being who punishes and rewards; whereas it is NOT GOD who punishes man for his misdeeds, but the MISdeeds themselves in their REactions. MAN IS PUNISHED BY HIS ACTS; BY THE ACTION OF THE ETERNAL, UNCHANGING LAW ESTABLISHED BY GOD; NOT BY GOD HIMSELF.

The professed non-believers cannot at first realize that the advanced and enlightened conception has in mind a Divine Consciousness fundamentally different from the usually-accepted one. They may not have heard of the mystic's idea of the Deity - a Universal Personification of creative Love, Justice, Goodness, Kindness - a Being knowing neither hate nor revenge, one who established laws conjunctively with the creation of the heavens and earth; who is Himself now governed by these Divine Laws and cannot set them aside without bringing about universal chaos.

He is a Father who is all love, who knows neither hatred, malice nor revenge; who does not, and cannot punish, but who so organized the laws that if man attempts to set them aside, man will punish himself through the reaction of the laws he has defied.

The multitudes cannot comprehend the law of Universal Substance, or an Essence, or a DIVINE SPARK which in implanted in each and every human form, containing in latency the attributes of the Divine Nature. They may have heard of such a teaching, but their own ideas are, as yet, so indefinite and vague, that they prefer to place their faith in a Supreme Being, irrespective of form, nature or type.

Perhaps the idea of the Fatherhood of God is not new to them; but it is the old orthodox idea of God they have in mind. They have no inkling of the possibility of finding within themselves Godhood, nor how to make practical application of such a thought, neither do they know how to establish such a truth and ideal in their lives as the actuating motive and working principle for the achievement of all their endeavors.

These unconscious believers in a true God may have heard of inculcations having in mind the establishment of Godhood in man, but these have been too general and vague to seriously attract their attention or to be reduced to a definite, workable formula.

The fact that there is in man's nature a Divine element, the Christos, a part of God, capable of being brought into Consciousness of God, its Creator, is, as yet, a deep and hidden mystery to them. They may have been told, or have read, that within them there is a Divine element, a Divine essence, which, awakened to Consciousness and activity, is God-like; that "mortality taking on Immortality" makes of them Sons of God, but this is to them no more than a nebulous theory and as yet incomprehensible.

The church, almost as a whole, has not concerned itself with instructing its adherents in the HOW of awakening and bringing into manifestation this Christos, this Divine Spark. At most, all it has done is to repeat, without explanation or further ENlightENMENT, the Nazarene's statement:

"Ye MUST be born again," - St. John 3:7

This is the Great Work that we must commence now. We must retrace our steps to the time when these instructions, this guidance and training was general. Since the fall of the Initiate Priests of Egypt, the instruction and training for the awakening of the Divine nature, or Christos, in the individual man, has been almost totally neglected except in the Arcane schools.

Men almost as a whole have been led to believe that their salvation depends entirely upon others, just as they feel their health is a problem for the physician alone; that personally and individually they have little to do with it. By watching the life and behavior of those who have been appointed, or have appointed themselves as teachers of Divine service, there need be little wonder that the faith of humanity in the existence of an all wise God has ebbed dangerously low, if it is not already dead.

Gradually, imperceptibly, "little by little," man is coming into the consciousness of a deep, inborn and insatiable longing of the hidden spiritual self, the Soul, for a satisfying concept of God, no longer now as a creator, but as a Father.

This conception must become a vital, positive belief - a strong and enduring faith - that a means does exist whereby this belief or faith, may be brought into a consciousness.

Once man has reached a clear, settled, definite conviction of Godhood, of "man becoming the Son of God," and his capacity to demonstrate in his own individual consciousness this "new birth" so much talked about and so little understood, he WILL be "about his Father's business." - St. Luke 2:49.

To be thoroughly convinced of the truth that God may dwell within, is to induce one to seek and keep on seeking; to seek is ultimately to find. No man makes an effort in vain unless he becomes discouraged before he has had time to grow into this consciousness. To truly aspire is to do the work necessary to bring this about. To obey the Divine Law leads one to God, the Father.

The faith which induces the seeking, the earnestness which offers obedience, these ultimately lead to a satisfying conception of God, and a consciousness of His indwelling in one's own being. At the same time, effort, such as the Father within prompts, manifests the attributes of God. Man attains a satisfying conception of God only through the consciousness of Him in the depths of his own being.

The process of becoming consciously united with God, the Father, is a gradual one and is possible only through an inner spiritual growth. To effect consciousness of unity with God, is the Great Work. To accomplish this work was the purpose which brought man to the earth plane.

The undertaking of this Great Work is worshiping (working) at the foundation of a living, vital, throbbing, pulsating, urging spiritual idea; call it religion if you wish. It is not merely a religion, but - to the individual Soul - becomes a revealed science. It is a faith made practical; a faith with a consistent aim; a faith that benefits both the possessor and all those who come in contact with him.

Men admit, without question, that there is a law of creation, one governing generation. They daily see this law in manifestation, hence it is not difficult to believe. Not being able to see the workings of the Law of Recreation, or of Regeneration, they find it difficult to accept the tenet that it exists. Yet it is the Law governing Recreation with which man must work in harmony, if he desires to attain a satisfying consciousness of unity with God, the Father.

Throughout all the domains of nature, there is a double, or dual, law. The pendulum of the clock swings first to one side, and then an equal distance to the other. The moment the pendulum swings to one side and fails to return to the other, the clock stops. Throughout all nature, in fact, in all that is, the same law applies. Man is a little world fashioned after the universe. Identical laws govern the two.

Generation, or creation - which simply means a bringing forth to visible manifestation - is the swinging of the pendulum of the law of expression to one side of existence. When man begins to comprehend the Law of Regeneration, then the pendulum will swing in rhythmic motion and an equal distance to the other side of the clock, and REgeneration, or the Soul's Consciousness, will be attained.

The law of creation is under the control of God, the Father, the Universal Lawgiver. He it is that governs creation. The Law of Recreation is likewise under His direction, but man has free Will and may refuse to be so governed, even though for his own benefit. God is the power that functions in and through all departments of creation. Having been given the power of reason and the privilege of choice, man is endowed with the ability and the freedom to accept or to reject the dictates of his inner self to apply the creative forces for the Recreation of the self.

The process of creation is invisible and balanced in its workings, but visible in its manifestations. The Law of Recreation is likewise invisible in its process of reconstruction, but, in its final results and manifestations through the personality, it becomes visible; manifesting, however, not in a new creature, a new entity, but in the transformation or transmutation of the personality already created and manifesting.

Whenever there is a law, there must have been a Lawgiver, call this, or Him, what we will. There must be something to have set the law into operation, giving it direction and motive power. This something, this origin of law, this center and source of functioning in the universe, is that which we call God, the Father of all, the Supreme Being, the Universal Source.

If another term suits the fancy better, so be it. That is unimportant. Recognition of the great truth, realization of the Law that has been set into motion, co-operation with the Law - these are things of vital significance.

Moreover, a law-maker, a creator, must necessarily be an intelligent being or force. A non-intelligent force or being could not formulate and set into motion a law, nor could it bring something into existence according to law and order, capable of living and propagating after its own kind.

The law governing generation is utilized by human kind as well as by everything that reproduces itself; by the flower, the tree and the animal. We may exclaim "evolution!", but evolution is also governed by a law and that requires a lawgiver. The law governing generation is the incentive to reproduce, and is a biological urge or instinct in all living forms. It is not a law that needs to be learned or understood in order to be of use; because inborn instinct or desire dictates to all things that bring forth according to their kind.

The law governing Recreation, or REgeneration, is far different. Man only is capable of applying this law. Being endowed with reason and the power of selection, he is capable of making intelligent use of it. This he does, not by blind instinct, but by an intelligent direction of the deepest feeling of his being.

Moreover, the desire for knowledge, of God and the longing to become REgenerated go hand in hand. There cannot be a real knowledge of God, no true knowing of God and being at one with Him, unless there has also be a REgeneration of the whole being. This REgeneration is implied in the Nazarene's fiat: "Ye must be born again." - St. John 3:7. After REgeneratopm is accomplished, the instinct for creation gives place to the intuitive powers of the Soul.

Although the carnal man does reason to a certain degree; nevertheless, he depends greatly upon his instincts to guide him in all things. His passions and his desires - the instincts that belong to all animal creation - mostly selfish, guide and govern his actions. With the REgenerated, or the Recreated being, instinct is no longer the ruling force. Reason, guided by intuition, directs him and leads him onward.

The ability to become REgenerated is within every human being who possesses the embryo of a Soul, and requires merely to be called into activity.

Creation of a physical body is the result of the commingling of two separate beings; but the work of Recreation must take place within the individual being. The powers and potencies come from within, beginning in the mind of man when he first desires to know something higher than that which belongs to the physical self.

The REgenerating substance in man is the same as the force that calls a new creature into being; but it is directed in a different manner. It is the pendulum of being, swinging in the opposite direction. The force of creation is the pendulum of the clock swinging toward the West. If there is no reversal of movement, it leads to death; to cessation of life. Recreation is the identical pendulum swinging toward the East, whence comes Light, Life and Love. Both movements are necessary to man and to God. As man, to be man, requires both body and Soul, so to become enlightened he must exercise both the power of creation and of Recreation.

Creation has to do with others than ourselves; with the work that we owe to the universe, to the Creator of all things. Recreation is the duty that we owe first of all to ourselves and to our God, and this enables us to better perform our duties to man on the human plane.

Recreation, or REgeneration, also indicates enlightenment and Illumination. No man can attain Illumination of Soul except through the process of REgeneration. Generation is the means that bring forth instruments through which the Light is to shine. REgeneration is the process giving "oil to the Lamp," so that there may be a fire to give forth Divine Light.

Making an effort to become REgenerate also indicates that man is trying to find his God - not a Being in some far-off heaven - but the Christos that may dwell within each human creature and come into unity with the Universal Being whom we call God, the Father. When REgeneration has become established, unity with God also has been attained. This is the conception of God, the Father, that satisfies the hungry Soul.

It must not be understood that when man commences the process of Regeneration, activity on the plane of creation necessarily ceases. Some, in fact, many, to their own harm, have entertained the idea that REgeneration entirely supplants generation and that the two labors cannot harmoniously be carried on together. This is a mistaken idea.

Man can live the REgenerate life and be a better husband and father, citizen and friend. In fact, he can be a thousand-fold better father; for, when he is living the REgenerate life, he is certain to do his full duty toward his children because he fully comprehends the seriousness of the governing Law.

The man living the creative life with a family to care for, to guide and to lead in the right, can lead the REgenerative life as easily as the one who has no one depending upon him for guidance and support. In truth, in this case, as in the former, he may become as great, if not a greater, Master, if he is married, and has children for the reason that these children and their requirements will call forth love, sympathy, kindness and other good qualities, which, otherwise, might be more or less dormant in him.

He who seeks Mastership must remember that every law in the universe is dual in its expression. To attempt to stop the Law from functioning in one direction is to nullify its effectiveness in another.

To be complete, man must recognize the demands of the material plane as well as those of the plane termed "spiritual." He must honor the physical, as well as the intellectual, in its legitimate demands; the intellectual as well as the Soulual. He must give attention to the body as well as to the Soul. He is not to forget the command: "Render unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar, and unto God that which belongs to God." - Matt. 22:21.

The body of man is the temple; and the Soul, the Christos, that which is to dwell in the temple. That which is to dwell in the temple cannot find an abiding place elsewhere; and without a tenant, the temple is but an empty shell.

The law of creation belongs to the physical man. We must make every effort to see to it that the body possesses full strength and power, and that its energies are never employed for unworthy purposes. The Law of Recreation peculiarly governs the Soul, though there is also a regeneration of the body and its functions. The powers of creation and Recreation are innate. It is our privilege and our duty to make use of both of these laws; or, to express the thought more accurately, to work harmoniously with the Law in its dual aspect.

The Law of creation is by no means limited to the function of the reproduction of the species. Its more important function manifests itself in the power of thought and imagination. Thinking is one form of creation. Mere thought may be negative; but becomes positive when we act according to the thoughts in our minds.

Imagination, or image-making and image-holding, is one process of using the creative law. To imagine an ideal, a house that we wish to build and dwell in, a friendship that we wish to possess, a business that we wish to establish, a benefit that we desire to confer - these are legitimate and fundamental uses of the creative power; but we must ever be careful to employ the Law for noble and worthy purposes and in a constructive manner.

On the one plane of Recreation, we construct and build by the power of thought and imagination an ideal that pertains to our finer nature, the Soul. The aspiration to find God, the Father, within, to know Him and to feel united with Him - this is employing both the law of creation and the principle of Recreation. Our desire is for manifestation both on the material and Soulual plane. We aspire to express the attributes of God, the Father, in the activities of a practical, useful life. We long also to reach out toward the Divine Being and to unite our consciousness with Him on the Plane of Soul, or Divinity - this dual expression of our desire is a manifestation of the Laws governing creation and Recreation.

We obey the law of creation in doing our duty to our fellow man, as we do when we act in harmony with ethical and moral laws; but there is something higher than ethical law and moral obligation. To meet the conditions of the higher we must harmonize our thoughts, desires and acts to commune with Him, we must observe the requirements of the Divine Fiat.

As we do this, gradually our whole being becomes purified, transformed, exalted and REgenerated and we come to know God. No longer have we need to merely believe in His existence. We have become like Him in thought and feeling. We have become conscious of Him. Faith has been transformed into knowledge.

The doctrine of the consciousness of God, the Father, becomes a religion of revelation having to do directly with the individual Soul. It is not a dogma that requires faith in mere external or formal creeds. By its method we go directly to the fountainhead of consciousness and of realization. Thus, the question: "What of God, the Father?" receives a definite and highly satisfactory solution. The final answer is in consciousness of God.
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