Outline of My Ninth Presentation
Deciphering the Consciousness of Self
This is a presentation of Theistic Psychology, By Dr. Leon James,
Section 9.0.1, 2005
Online Book: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/theistic
By Lynnette Laimana
Instructions for this oral presentation are found at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy22/g22-oral.htm
Three concepts: for
Deciphering the Consciousness of Self
1) Consciousness
Definition: “Consciousness is the experience we have when spiritual light activates operations in our mental organs – affective, cognitive, and sensor motor.
What is consciousness?
Let’s define what consciousness is and its meaning.
1) It is divine truth
2) Divine truth is derived from spiritual substance
3) Spiritual substance allows us to think and understand rationally
4) Spiritual substance comes from the Spiritual Sun
Important Point:
The spiritual sun radiates light and heat to all inhabitants. They activate our mental organs which in turn affects our cognitive organ. This is what makes up our consciousness.
My Opinion
This is a very rational thoughtful process that makes sense. I never felt intrigued to understand it but find it fascinating. That might be the main problem for me and others; we accept truth as hearsay from friends and relatives yet never question why.
2) Free Will
Definition: “independent power to choose”
Why is their free will?
Free will is the next step from consciousness.
1) Consciousness doesn’t control our actions but
guides us to make better choices.
2) This is our right – individual freedom to
pursue our; wants, needs, and dreams.
3) This encompasses our “as-of self”.
Important Point:
The Spiritual Sun (God) creates and
maintains everything through direct and indirect control. Our consciousness is part of the indirect
control which he allows us to feel as-of self.
We may think we are alone but he is everywhere.
My Opinion:
This is a familiar area that seems
in-line to what I believe. I know that
word “believe” borders “beliefs” but it feels right. It’s engrained in who and what I am. I agree that someone or something divine is
ever present and guides us but allows us to choose for ourselves. Right or wrong it is up to us.
3) Choices we make
and it’s effect
Definition: “Act or power of choosing, one selected,
variety offered for selection”
Why are we allowed
choices?
Defining why we make
the choices we choose.
1) God controls what comes in and out of our
mind at every moment.
2) Yet he does this indirectly to allow us the
feeling that we are acting upon our own desires.
3) He does this through correspondences of
Divine speech and Sacred Scripture.
4) This is the evolutionary process all inhabitants
are offered but how far we take it is again up to us and our willingness to
explore.
Important Point:
As stated in the previous point the
Spiritual Sun is all encompassing yet he allows us to choose and make choices
by indirect guidance. He validates his
wish through Divine Speech and again through Sacred Scripture but we have to be
willing to hear and make the right choices.
My Opinion:
Once again I can validate the point
being made. I felt that basically and
rationally we need to understand what consciousness is. The next step knows free-will and finally how
those two affect our choices in life.
This basic concept is so simple yet even I denied the connection because
I never gave it a second thought.
Related Web Sites:
http://swedenborg.newearth.org
http://www.theheavenlydoctrines.org
http://www.victorianweb.org/religion/swdbor.html
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/theistic
My Home Page: