The Alternative
Seven Principles of Spiritualism
- Based on those given to us all by Arthur Findlay –
1 The Universe is governed by mind, commonly called God. All we have sensed,
do sense or will sense is Mind expressing itself in some form or another.
2 The existence and identity of the individual continues after the change
called death.
3 Communication, under suitable conditions, takes place between us here
on Earth and the inhabitants of Etheria*, into which we shall pass at death.
4 Our conduct must be guided by the golden rule first proclaimed by Confucius,
of doing to others what we would wish to be done to ourselves.
5 Each individual is their own saviour, and we cannot look to someone
else to bear our sins and suffer for our mistakes.
6 Each individual reaps as s/he sows, and we make our happiness or unhappiness
just as we harmonise with our surroundings. Each one gravitates naturally
to the place in Etheria in harmony with his or her desires, as there desires
are gratified more easily than here on earth.
7 The path of progress is never closed, and there is no known end to the
advancement of the individual.
Looking Forward to the End of the
God Idea
Like all rational thinkers Arthur was looking forward to a time when God
ideas come to an end: “God to everyone is a mental creation, the evil-minded
man imagining God like unto himself. What he does pleases the god of his
own creation, whereas the ethical code is based on observation and experience,
which means that there is a solid base for conduct, namely to increase harmony,
comfort and happiness throughout the human family. When this fact is well
and truly learned the God idea will conform to his higher aspect of thought,
and right and wrong will be judged by the ethical and not theological standard… Let
us hope, however, that the time will some day come when the God idea will
pass away, so far as conduct is concerned, and that our thoughts and deeds
will be based solely on the welfare of mankind” The Curse of Ignorance
Vol I page 1115.
Arthur Findlay’s Understanding of Spiritualism
In order to be clear on what Arthur thinks of spiritualism we have reproduced a section of his book The Curse of Ignorance:
“Spiritualism stands for the fact that life does not die at death, and that the so-called dead are actively alive in another world surrounding and interpenetrating this one. Spiritualists know this because their friends who have died have returned to them, and at times have been seen, but more often heard, when certain natural conditions have been observed to make this possible. Not only can they speak to us through the use they make of the medium, but they can also hear what we say to them, and thus make conversation possible. From these conversations Spiritualists know (1) that, to begin with, their friends are still much the same, in form and character, as they were on earth; (2) that everyone reaps what he sows, but progress is open to all; and (3) that our friends are often with us and can know all that takes place on earth. Spiritualism is consequently a natural, and in no way a supernatural, religion, because it is based on personally experienced facts which give satisfaction and comfort, besides contributing an urge for increased mental and ethical development. We are mind, and mind never dies; death is a door, or a bend in the road of life, not a wall or a dead end”.
Although, much of Arthur’s works were about the origins and history of Christianity, he also had strong views on worldly issues such as SURVIVAL, JUSTICE, PEACE AND ETHICS.
SURVIVAL
Arthur Findlay (1883-1964), in his later years, stressed that understanding
survival of death had nothing to do with religion, belief or faith. It is
a matter of scientific fact.
There is abundant proof of survival available, but unfortunately it does not
break through to the mass media. There are some who believe this is because
some groups or individuals wish to keep this evidence under wraps, e.g. scientists
who believe that when the brain dies so does the mind and people who wish to
keep life after death as a religious matter.
JUSTICE
“ Justice now prevails as never before, because we ourselves realise how
we are hurt by injustice. A well-developed mind is now hurt nearly as much by
an act of injustice towards others as it would be if it were directed towards
oneself. We now try to be just in our dealings with others because we are ashamed
of ourselves if we are unjust. We feel that we have fallen to a lower mental
level. Our pride is consequently hurt, and we think that we are have demonstrated
that our mind is not so well developed as we had imagined. To be just, therefore
causes us happiness and mental harmony, whereas injustice causes the reverse”.
ETHICS
“ It’s important to appeal to the self-interest within everyone,
as ethical development comes from intelligent self-interest. We are all highly
individualised beings, which means that our thoughts are naturally centred on
ourselves. Ignorance produces selfishness, which causes unhappiness, whereas
intelligence causes our self-interest to be directed aright, and this creates
happiness. This can be better understood if we take each virtue separately, analyse
the cause, which produces it, and observe the effect its practice has on ourselves
and others.
Love is the greatest force in the world. The love of self and the love of others
dominate most of our actions. If this force is directed intelligently it causes
happiness, but unintelligent love creates misery. As our mind develops we are
hurt if we injure, neglect or cause pain and suffering to those we love. Primitive
man loved only himself, and then his mate and her offspring. Then he loved
others of his tribe to a lesser degree, until we arrive at the time when the
love of humanity now makes doctors and nurses dedicate themselves for the good
on the entire race, irrespective of nationality or creed….
… The power of love, which now extends in our day to animals, many of which
we now realise have feelings akin to our own”.
PEACE
Arthur’s views on how to bring peace to the world includes:
1) Abolish Armies - “One essential to future peace is the abolition of
national armies, an international police force taking their place for the sole
purpose of keeping order and peace. So long as armies remain, and men are trained
as professional soldiers in the science of war, in how best to attack and conquer
an enemy, the danger to peace will ever be present. These men have little to
do in times of peace, and fret if they see no chance of ever putting their
knowledge to practical use”.
2) Abolish the Arms Trade - “Until the nations disarm they will continue to add to their armaments new and better weapons in time of peace, and this means that companies making weapons of war compete with one another to get the business. So they advertise, and have their own travellers and methods of securing orders…the future of the world is in the hands of the people themselves everywhere, not just in some countries but in all.... All the peace loving nations must therefore unite to ensure their combined safety and do their utmost to educate the barbarians into a wiser and better outlook on life”.
Arthur’s View on Religion
“ We have a choice of two paths, one is the secular way (non religious)
and the other is the theological (religious); one is democratic and the other
the despotic; one is the sane and the other the insane.”
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