Outline of My Second Oral Presentation

Theistic Psychology vs. Mysticism

This is a presentation of Theistic Psychology, By Leon James, Sections 2.15 – 2.16, 2005,

online book at: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/theistic

By Leticia Valle

 

Instructions for this oral presentation are found at:

www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy/g22-oral.htm

 

Three Concepts from Theistic Psychology vs. Mysticism:

 

1) Evolution of the Human Mind

         a)   The evolution process of the human mind has been provided for us in Sacred Scripture.

 Table: ↑read from bottom up↑

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Sacred Scripture

Timeline

Mentality

Brain Anatomy

Writing of Swedenborg

(Final Testament)

1771 AD +

Rational Consciousness

(Age of Modern Science & Democracies Begins)

Split-Brain

New Testament

33 AD – 1771AD

Spiritual Consciousness

(Growth of Science)

Split-Brain

Old Testament

1500 BC –

33 AD

Corporeal Consciousness

(Pre-scientific)

Split-Brain

Most Ancient Sacred Scripture

Unknown

Sensuous Consciousness of Spirits & God

(Celestial Mind)

One-Brain

 

         b) My opinion

               - important to understand how our minds evolved and have it in writing so that we can study it

               - direct sensuous consciousness not possible for anyone in natural world because it  would go in

opposite direction of our evolution

               - we can understand why it is harmful for us to have direct sensuous consciousness of spiritual world

               - therefore not rational to claim that one is capable of communicating with spirits

               - my reaction: we are wasting time studying chemical properties when we have been provided with

structure of the mind all along

      c) Cultural and psychological aspects

            - ex: “If Swedenborg did it, than so can anyone else!”-- false statement when we understand

evolutionary process

           

2) Theistic Psychology vs. Mysticism

a)               RELIGION      vs.        THEISTIC PSYCHOLOGY

                    mystical                                  scientific

                   blind faith                                  rational

                   subjective                                 universal

                  persuasive                              understanding

 

         b) My opinion

               - God/Heaven/Spiritual World need to be understood scientifically (without bias)

so that the TRUTH becomes standard

            - if not scientific, then going to be based on faith (religion)

            - I need scientific understanding of spiritual world

           

 

 

 

 

 

- at first I was skeptical of the idea that Swedenborg is the only source/revelator

  of the last Sacred Scripture, but the more I examined how Swedenborg documented his reports

  it became apparent that having ONE source (scientist) who would document without bias

  is the only effective method for God to reveal the structure of spiritual world

      c) Cultural and psychological aspects

      - I agree with the idea that Swedenborg was chosen, because I believe he was well qualified

      - ex: even within the same religion there is conflicts about certain translations or correspondences

 

3) Anatomy of the Mind = Geography of the Spiritual World

a)   Heaven is in our mind.  In the spiritual world there are three levels of heaven. 

      These Heavens are not places that we go to, they are states of mind.

            Therefore, it only makes sense that we have three levels of our mind.

 

Oval: 3rd Heaven Celestial Heaven Diagram:                

Oval: 3rd Level of Mind Celestial Mind                                                                                                                                        Truths & Good

                                                         ç==è                                                      Thoughts of Love & Affection                                              

 

       Cities of Similars

     Thoughts of Causes

      by means of Truth

 

Thoughts of Effects of natural

  things Caused by spiritual

        and celestial origins

 

b) My opinion

      - in order to regenerate our character and determine our heaven or hell in afterlife

  we need to know that process takes place in our mind by developing rational mind

- character reformation requires making FREE choices in our actions (effected by our loves)

-  1) first we love evil things, we are in our Natural Mind    (= Natural Heaven)

ex: selfishness, cruelty, anger

            -  2) make a decision on a temptation (according to our loves)

                   -if we change our behavior we are in different vertical community

                     with different temptations

      c) Cultural and psychological aspects

            - We choose our hell or heaven

- ex: My idea of heaven differs from your idea of heaven.

 

 

Web Links related to topic:   www.theheavenlydoctrines.org

                                                www.swedenborgdigitallibrary.org

                                                www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/459s2005/laimana/home/myoral1.htm

www.victorianweb.org/religion/swdbor.html

My Home Page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/459s2005/valle/home.htm