Instructions for this report are at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy22/459-g22-report2.htm
I am answering Questions 1, 3, 7, 8, and 10

Sections to supplement and support each Question

Section A: My Own Summary of the Selections

When people approach religion, their knowledge is usually based on the literal understanding of Sacred Scripture. This is a very dangerous approach. If you are to look at Sacred Scripture and take it word for word as truth, many negative falsities will arise such as racism, prejudice, materialism, hatred, jealousy, etc. Religion is basically people believing in the reality of various phenomena without scientific proof of their existence.

Theistic Psychology, as a science, takes on the role of removing these negative perceptions of religion by using extractive research to pull out the underlying meaning, the deeper truth behind the words. The literal meaning is the lowest form of understanding, and fails to grasp the much larger, universal message that God is trying to communicate to the Human race. Theistic Psychology studies these correspondences in the underlying layers of Sacred Scripture to extract the purest form of truth that is within the words of Sacred Scripture. (See selection section a)

Religion and Theistic Psychology have different views on the idea of salvation, however, their ideas overlap, religion just fails to see the connection. Let me explain, Religion views Heaven as a destination, somewhere you must strive to get to daily. If you do what is “right” and follow the word of God, then upon your death, you will rise up into the sky, into the heavens, and remain there for eternity with God and all of the unimaginable Heavenly comforts. This is a very physical understanding of Heaven.

Jesus’ role was to expand the notion of Heaven into a mental one. He taught the people that Heaven was inside of them, and in order for him to be with his people, he had to physically remove himself from them. This allowed Jesus to be within each human being as their “Holy Spirit.” He was now a mental presence and no longer a physical presence. Confusion arose, however, the people saw his body ascend to heaven and disappear amongst the clouds. This reinforced their idea of Heaven as a physical destination.

It was possible for them to consider that Jesus was now in their mind, after all, he told them so! Even though they did not understand this, this was the new salvation for the people of the world. God was now present in every single human mind in the universe at all times. Salvation was now the mental passageway created by God through the mind, where every human being had the choice of stepping through and achieving a spiritual rebirth. (See selection section b)

Theistic Psychology is often questioned as valid and applicable universally if it is based on the Sacred Scripture of Western Religions. The answer is yes, it is valid, and it does apply to every human being. In order for God to be incarnated here on Earth, he had to be born into some body, male or female. He had to be born somewhere on earth, in some country. He had to be born of some skin color, some race, some religion, SOMETHING! So, he was born into the body of Jesus Christ, in the city of Bethlehem in the Jewish Church. The Incarnation even was important to every individual and involved the entire human race.

So you see, it does not matter what physical and material aspects concerned the incarnation, it is the significance of the event and the importance that it holds for the human race as a whole.

Religious Behaviorism is the term coined by Dr. Leon James to describe the area of Theistic Psychology that makes a scientific study of religious beliefs and God from the perspective of modern behaviorist psychology. Quite a mouthful isn’t it? J

Basically, atheistic psychology has nothing to do with religion, it only studies the religious views that people have. Theistic Psychology studies religion rationally and scientifically.

Most psychologists will study people’s behavior in relation to God and religion by analyzing their experiences. Their experiences are real but God is not, and God is not considered a real scientific concept. For example, you can have a fear of going to hell, and from a scientific psychological standpoint, that fear is real, but hell itself is not real.

Theistic Psychology approaches this differently by scientifically studying God, and all of the surrounding concepts such as heaven, hell, angels, fear, evil, spirituality, etc. based on the scientific writings of Emanuel Swedenborg.

(i) State the importance of the topic in the Question to you and explain why.

The main importance in this question, to me, is addressing why and how people have the views that they do towards their own religion in comparison to others. For centuries, there has been an immense amount of hostility and wars declared in the name of religious beliefs and superiority of one religious group over another. It is still evident today. By studying Theistic psychology I have finally received a definitive and rational explanation for why this kind of behavior exists.

I have always been told, “that’s just the way it is” or “nobody knows, only God knows” and even “if you just believe, you’ll see it’s true.” What? Huh? How can that make any sense? Those were all my replies. I have thought that all of these religious beliefs and people supporting them are crazy to have “blind faith.” If something were to be so eternally true and right, how could it not have a rational explanation. I found that in Theistic Psychology.

(ii) Discuss how this perspective helps you to understand things about yourself and society.

By realizing that Theistic Psychology is a science, and approaching God in a scientific manner, and rationally analyzing God, you find that all religious concepts fall away. I was apprehensive when first looking over the material for Theistic Psychology and the Writings of Swedenborg. I usually avoid religious discussions purely because of the tension involved between the two parties discussing their opposing beliefs.

By reading the Writings of Swedenborg and looking at Spirituality and the afterlife through his methodical scientific analysis, I was able to look at Theistic Psychology with an open mind and a positive bias. I have taken on new perspectives not only of myself and my own thoughts and beliefs, but also a different perspective of society and religion as a whole.

I now have suitable explanations for irrational behavior that you see among the various religious groups, and I have learned much more about the spiritual world and the levels and anatomy of the mind, and I feel that this course has given me a deeper, more meaningful understanding of God in general.

(iii) Now discuss whether you agree or disagree with this perspective and explain why.

I agree with the concept of people not understanding that God and Heaven are within their minds, based on the historical account given by Swedenborg to explain the misunderstandings. I also agree with the idea that many of the great religions of the world today only look at the literal meaning of Sacred Scripture. It is clearly evident that this is true.

I also agree with the advantages that Theistic Psychology has as a science compared to that of Atheistic Psychology. It does not make sense to me to study the experience solely without also studying the source or cause of that experience. Theistic Psychology brings God into science as a rational concept and from what I have studied so far, I am in agreement with the concepts and descriptions of the spiritual realm.

Partly because of my education in atheistic Psychology, I have noticed that there are deficiencies in explanations on the human mind, the spirit, and our motivations in life. They are poorly explained in this type of Psychology. However, Theistic Psychology is able to not only explain them all rationally, but has scientific evidence and proof that God exists. I do not rely on or credit any science or theory that cannot acknowledge a higher power involved in the elevation our minds, bodies and souls as a collective human race.

Theistic Psychology sees “mystical spirituality” as a sensuous experience of God. It is a physical experience of God. Whether that be to “feel” God’s presence within you or to “sense” God around you. It is a non-rational experience of God, and Theistic Psychology refers to this direct experience of God as a "corporeal spirituality" or a sensuous spirituality.

God gave us the ability to feel his presence (sensuous) and to think about him rationally (rational consciousness). In order for us to evolve and grow in our rational capabilities, we, individually, and as an entire human race, need to put in the effort and work to elevate our minds in rational consciousness. God can not only be known through a sensuous domain, he also needs to be understood rationally for us to be free.

As a collective human race we have evolved over the years rationally, but we have an enormous amount of growth left. Ideally we need to return to our celestial state of rational thought, the highest, purest form of our minds. This is where we will be able to have a direct influx of all knowledge and a direct connection with God. We were this once before many, many years ago (before we screwed it up with our own thoughts!)

(i) State the importance of the topic in the Question to you and explain why.

It is important to know how and why we need to do these things. To say that you need to do X,Y, and Z and then you can know God, but to not know why you are doing X, Y, and Z is what we call religion. “Just have Faith.” No, no, no, I like to know why I am doing something. It is important to me that I know rationally what is expected of me and what I can do personally to have a deeper connection with God.

(ii) Discuss how this perspective helps you to understand things about yourself and society.

Religion has always mystified me! Ha! Yes, because it never made any sense to me how all of these people could be under such an amazing influence and if asked why they perform the rituals that they do, or what the words in the Bible really mean…very few of them can give you a REAL answer. I believe in God, but I need more than that.

This rational explanation of God, the mind and the spiritual afterlife explained as a science rationally has helped me to understand many uncertainties I have had and a lot of confusion has disappeared.

I also have a different perspective that is not negative or biased about society and people and their religions. I understand why things are the way they are and how such trong beliefs are built and why they are so difficult to change.

(iii) Now discuss whether you agree or disagree with this perspective and explain why.

I agree with this perspective. I think that this section does an excellent job at clearing some of the confusion up between religion and Theistic Psychology. Theistic Psychology is a science and that is very different when it comes to explaining God. I was more open to learning about this course than I was about hearing about how and why a particular religion is superior.

Theistic Psychology sees marriage as en eternal state. Not as we here in the natural world commonly think of marriage as “until death do you part.” Marriage is a very sacred act and carries on into the afterlife for eternity. It is very important for a couple to work on and prepare their relationship for the afterlife in order to have a conjugial love, the highest love, and the most heavenly love.

Modern Psychology is filled with self help books on analyzing and advising couples through their relationships and their personalities. Theistic Psychology taught by Dr. Leon James is based on the Unity Model of Marriage. It is a fascinating model and it explains in great detail why and how we get into the situations that we do in marriages and relationships. It also is based mainly on the writings and observations of Emanuel Swedenborg and what he witnessed when conscious in the afterlife.

Swedenborg documented a wide variety of information about the spiritual world, and the most interesting is the his work on Conjugial Loveand heavenly marriages. In a conjugial marriage the final decision in any situation is made by the wife. The man learns to trust and follow her inner wisdom and allow it to help him fully express his external and outward intelligence. Together with their complimenting characteristics, a husband and a wife can reciprocate a heavenly love and operate as one unit, hence the idea and term of the Unity Model of Marriage.

Traditionally in Psychology, relationships are viewed from the perspective of the Dominance Model. This model focuses largely on the man in the dominant role of the relationship and therefore the woman is submissive and subservient. It focuses on the physical interaction and connection of the sensorimotor level, and fails to move and grow into higher levels of mental and emotional intimacy. The man largely wants to remain independent and separate from his wife.

The Dominance Model sees a relationship as two individual couples who come together to try to make each other happy in the types of relationships we see today, with all the miscommunication and unhappiness that is caused by remaining on a physical level and not moving into deeper areas of growth and connection between a husband and a wife. The Unity Model, on the other hand, centers on the mental union of a husband and a wife as the most important aspect of the relationship and physical interaction is secondary.

The importance of this question is quite apparent. Everyone I know is miserable in their relationships. People don’t understand each other and cause each other a lot of pain by not equally contributing to the relationship or they are receiving advice that does not work. As a collective society we’re operating under the Dominance Model. Once It was brought to my attention from a clear perspective and all of the aspects were laid out for me to analyze and look at through a new lens (that of Theistic Psychology) I was blown away at how easily I understood everything.

It literally feels like the veil has been removed and you can see clearly. I have now adopted the ideas and concepts of the Unity Model. Once you are exposed to this information, you can’t return to your old way of thinking and it is incorporated into your life and how you view relationships. I am excited to practice the Unity Model in my own life because I know it will bring me happiness eternally.

I agree with the Unity Model, and I hope to adopt it fully. Right now with the limited amount of time I have had to study it this semester, I feel I am just grasping the basic elements. I look forward to reading more in my free time, even after this class concludes as well as to re-read the information so that I may understand it fully.

In order for us as an entire human race to evolve into the higher levels of our mind we need to learn this material, practice it and prepare ourselves for our afterlife in an eternal celestial heaven. Very little is known rationally about the spiritual world and I feel that Theistic Psychology has answered many of my questions and I accept it as truth. I look forward to learning more, each day. I am also very happy that this is available to students, the educational system and the many people traveling through cyber space gaining knowledge and access to a whole new world of material. Thank you Dr. James for your hard work and your life long commitment to this new form of Psychology.

You are born a dual citizen with a physical body and natural mind her on earth and a spiritual mind born in Heaven . Your spiritual mind is eternal and will live on forever. It is your responsibility to gain sensuous experiences and a rational understanding of God while you are alive in the natural world to elevate your mind in the spiritual world. When you die and are resuscitated in the afterlife you will live in whatever “state of mind” you were when you died here on earth. So, you better work hard at elevating your level of rational consciousness!

We are under the impression that we are alone in our minds and that we have individualistic and solitary thoughts that are shared with no one but ourselves. This however is a falsity. The mental world is in fact shared with many others and a socially interactive place.

The vertical community is constructed just like its name suggests: vertically. The highest level of conscious awareness that an individual can have is in the celestial degree, then moves downward into the spiritual degree, then into the natural degree. It is possible to descend even further and lower into the individual here on earth (where most of us are consciously aware!) and finally right down to the bottoms of our mind into a hellish degree.

It is important to focus on your dual citizenship here in the natural world and that of your mind in the spiritual world. It is possible to know where you are in the level of your mind by the corresponding feelings, emotions, thoughts and motivations that you experience here on earth.

By knowing where we are and in what state of mind, it can help us to better prepare for the afterlife and know how much effort we need to be putting in and what amounts of rational growth we need to be going through to elevate our consciousness.

(i) State the importance of the topic in the Question to you and explain why.

This question addresses the anatomy of the mind and how it is constructed in relation to the spiritual world. Discussing the ways in which the vertical community communicates and is involved with us here in the natural world is quite fascinating to me.

(ii) Discuss how this perspective helps you to understand things about yourself and society.

I believe that this helps me to better prepare for the spiritual afterlife and may offer some insight into the devote religious groups who so desperately want to prepare themselves for the gates of Heaven. Hopefully they are preparing their minds as well because if they are not, we really need to share this class with them!

(iii) Now discuss whether you agree or disagree with this perspective and explain why.

I agree with the concept of “dual citizenship” and preparing your mind for higher levels of rational consciousness. I’m kind of blown away by the interaction with the people in the vertical community and that they influence us here in the natural world. I need to think about that one a little more until it fits. J

Theistic Psychology has influenced me greatly in such a short amount of time. One aspect that I appreciative of that Theistic Psychology has given me is a rational explanation for various writings and occurrences in the Bible. Instead of saying, “that’s just how it is” or “have faith in God” I now have an actual explanation that rings true.

By hearing the enormous importance of preparing ourselves for the afterlife that I have learned in this class, I have a new perspective on life. Sure, you hear that you should

Behave and act according to certain spiritual guidelines in order to be accepted into the gates of Heaven after you die, but I have never felt any validity in them or thought that they were that important.

I’ve always been a good person, I believe in God, I’ve believed in Karma, and “what goes around comes around.” But by understanding exactly what needs to be done in order to prepare your mind for Heaven eternally, and by explaining how and why we need to do this during our time here in the natural world, you can’t help but have your thinking altered.

The one line that Dr. James said in class that I hear in my head everyday is “ in order to have a connection with God, you need to stop hurting people.” This is such a simple statement. But when I examined my life and the ways in which I talk to people, the thoughts that I have and the priorities in my life, I realized that I needed to start changing my behavior. I want to be happy not only at the present moment, but in my future, and in my transition to Heaven after this life is finished here in the natural world.

I have spent a great deal of time studying and trying to understand the following concepts: Conjugial Love and a Heavenly Marriage, the three levels of the mind, the Divine Psychologist, and Swedenborg’s wonderful illustrations of the Spiritual world through his writings.

I anxiously await a marriage as wonderful and beautiful as described in Conjugial Love, I look forward to applying the concepts and effort that it requires in all of my relationships, even if they don’t end up in marriage. I think that this resource for knowledge in the arena of relationships is the best I have ever read and a large amount of confusion and disappointment I have previously had has been dismissed or explained in a way where I know what is true and what is right, and that is all that matters.

By understanding the affective, cognitive and sensorimotor levels of the mind, I have been able to learn not only how and why the afterlife works but how it is involved with me and my thoughts and my motivations and my entire being right now. I also received many answers to questions I have had not only about the old and new testaments but also about the people who believe in them so passionately. Their behavior has been explained in a way that I can understand and not have negative thoughts towards. I think a great deal of anger comes from misunderstanding and ignorance.

Learning about the Divine Psychologist, or God and his correspondences with me in my own personal life and thoughts has made me want to change who I am to a more evolved, enlightened individual as well as to seek to further establish the relationship that I have with God now.

I was very interested in the different views and attitudes that have been expressed in class by my fellow students. Everyone has their own belief system engrained in them for years and their own religions with different customs and beliefs about God and the afterlife. By watching how these students attempted to either replace or alter their already existing schemas was quite a trip.

I personally avoid conversations about religion at all cost because the majority of the time people are so hostile towards one another as they defend their faith and not very open to other religions or beliefs. These types of conversations are very tense and uncomfortable. “It’s my way and my God, and you are wrong!” But in this class it was very different. Religion was removed from the majority of discussion and God was discussed in a clear, non-threatening manner. We took a scientific, positively biased approach. I have never experienced this before.

When religion was brought into the conversation, the mood of the room was quite different, people openly asked questions about their own personal beliefs in respect to Theistic Psychology, and sure there were a few moments of heated discussion, but overall the class was calm. People were actually talking and open to the ideas being presented. I know personally that my beliefs and attitudes are different from the first day of class.

Many students gave excellent presentations and seemed to have a good grasp on the concepts and readings of Theistic Psychology. However, it is apparent that many of these students are unable to change their belief systems so quickly. I believe that this is because if you are raised your entire life with a certain way of thinking and believing in God, it is very difficult for someone to come along and tell you are wrong and to start thinking differently if you want to live in Heaven for eternity.

As a student, when your grade and academic lively hood depends on getting a good grade, you are going to go along with the teachers requirements and even his perspectives on the material (to a certain extent.) Therefore that would explain the well understood and well explained concepts, but the resistance to adopt them into their own personal lives.

I have shared much of the course information with my parents and my close friends. Their initial reaction is surprise that this kind of material is being taught in school, in a Psychology course. I agree, it’s a switch from what I am used to. Most ask why this isn’t a religion course. My parents are interested in the topics, and I talk to them about how my ideas and views towards marriage have changed as well as how I have tried to come from a heavenly thought process instead of a hellish one. Just taking the time to notice those thoughts and make an attempt to change them has made a considerable difference in my attitude and overall demeanor.

I do think that I will continue to study Theistic Psychology. Many of my questions about life and relationships with others have been answered through this course. It takes a great deal of time and effort in reading, analyzing and understanding the material. It is so unique and wonderful that I don’t believe I could go on and pretend that this was just another class in college. I especially want to spend time reading Swedenborg’s work in further detail, especially Conjugial Love.

My only suggestion for this course would be to have it offered in two sections. I think that there is way too much information to cover in one semester and that we’re just getting a taste of what is available. It would be awesome to have a Theistic Psychology course part 1 and part 2. Taken in two semesters. And for those who wish to continue on with their studying, advanced studying of Theistic Psychology in advanced courses would be excellent. Hey, why stop there? UH should offer a major in Theistic Psychology!!!!!

(i) State the importance of the topic in the Question to you and explain why.

Just being able to explain how and why I have been affected by this class is very important to me. I hope that by writing this, others will have a chance to hear my enthusiasm and get interested in the subject. I hope that more students get the chance to study Theistic Psychology and I hope that it eventually becomes a major part of any curriculum.

(ii) Discuss how this perspective helps you to understand things about yourself and society.

I am better able to look at my own thoughts and experiences and understand how I need to change my behavior in order to have a deeper conection with God. I want to personally grow emotionally, mentally and spiritually and I feel that Theistic Psychology has helped me to do so. However, I have only just begun this long journey and have a lot of work ahead of me!

As I stated above, this course has given me answers to a lot of confusion that I have had about various religious groups and the people who belong to them. I feel like I understand their behavior more rationally and can look at them from a perspective that is not hostile or discriminatory (merely because I haven’t understood) and now I can be more accepting and loving in my approach to other people.

(iii) Now discuss whether you agree or disagree with this perspective and explain why.

I agree with the perspective of Theistic Psychology because it makes sense! Plain and simple. A student in class on the first day had taken this course before. She could tell we all thought our teacher was insane for teaching a course like this, and she said, “just wait, it makes perfect sense, and you will understand, just give it a try.” She was right, I did and it does make sense. When something rings true for you, and you understand rationally, you can accept it as truth and begin to incorporate it into your life.

Section C: My Analysis of Prior Generations in the Generational Curriculum

Franklin Whang, Outline of his First Oral Presentation, Spring Semester 2005

I chose this outline by Franklin because he discusses the Vertical community in great depth. His presentation was on sections 6.3.1.6.4. It’s relevant to Question 8 and my description of the vertical community. Franklin didn’t state whether or not he agreed with this view of the spiritual world or the concepts it entailed, but he did ask many questions in class after giving his presentation and was eager to learn about the areas he wasn’t too comfortable with or sure that he grasped.

Franklin discussed an individuals moods and how it has an instantaneous effect on the spiritual world and how our thoughts influence everything and everyone for all eternity.

Lynette Laimana, Outline of her First Presentation, Spring Semester 2005

Lynette discussed sections 2.12-2.13and entitled her presentation: “The regenerated phases towards spiritual development.” This outline corresponds to the concepts and opinions that I expressed in both questions 1 and 3. She discussed the evolution of the human race from the “ancient world” topresent and the many changes that the mind has gone through.

Lynette agreed with the concepts presented in her outline. Based on her knowledge of the Bible she found the explanations given in this section to be plausible.

David Messing, Outline of his First Presentation, Spring Semester 2005

David presented on sections 2.4-2.6 and entitled his outline: “Accepting the Writings of Swedenborg as Science.” I chose this outline to comment on because David did a wonderful job at addressing the common barriers that individuals have when first trying to understand Theistic Psychology and others accepting it as a science.

I felt that this outline was relevant to question 10 because in that question it asks about the views and opinions of students on Theistic Psychology and whether or not they accept it.

David discusses the criteria for judging Theistic Psychology as a science and explains how the spiritual world and afterlife have been researched.

My advice is simple, so it now or do it early. This course requires your full attention. I would advise that you take it when you don’t have any other demanding courses and you can have the time to commit yourself to it and enjoy it.

There is a huge amount of reading if you are busy, however, if you can put time aside for it and do a little everyday, it is REALLY easy. I believe that this class has an immense amount of power and knowledge and everyone should have the opportunity to be exposed to it. If you do decide to take this course, please give yourself ample time and opportunity to enjoy it.

Approach it with an open mind and realize that Dr. James is not out to kill you with an enormous workload, rather he is extremely organized and writes everything down step for step, and this is what makes this class easy and efficient. It’s all laid out for you in black and white. Just follow the steps, do the reading and I wish you the best experience possible from such a novel approach to education. J

Class Home Page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy22/classhome-g22.htm

My Homepage: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/459s2005/beard/home459.wps.htm