Phase 1
Phase 2Phase
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Phase 2Phase
3 The Cognitive Organization of Rational Spirituality
By:
Tricia Castro
Instructions for report, click here
Preface
The purpose of Report 1 was to examine whether Theistic Psychology can be included in science. In my view, I always believed that science and God never went hand in hand, but now I think that it is possible for science and God to occur together. In Report 1, I explored science and religion, separation of church and state, and gave my own personal autobiography about God and science. I learned from the first report that we all have our own interpretations about what God and science mean to us. Also, I think that discussing both God and science can be very controversial, since there those who believe firmly in the Creation Story than the theory of evolution or vice versa. I believe that we need God and science in our lives. For example, we need God because He offers support and guidance to all who believe in him. We need science to prove or disprove a specific phenomena of interest.
Theistic Psychology encompasses God in all its explanations. Through the works of Swedenborg, we are able to understand the spiritual world and how we can reach the highest form of consciousness and spirituality. Swedenborg left behind detailed accounts, experiments, and models that show the inhabitants of the spiritual world and also that science and God can exist together. He in actuality, proved that there exists a God who manages and maintains the world. In order to reach heaven, we should have a rational attitude and a positive character. If we do not develop a positive character or think rationally then we may not be able to reach the highest form of thinking or spirituality. Theistic Psychology does make us look deeper within our soul and mind and helps to prepare us for the spiritual world. We should accept the scientific Revelations by God so we can become a better individual and be rewarded in the end.
The purpose of Report 2 is to discuss the cognitive organization of rational spirituality. The diagnostic test allows us to examine the three phases of thinking and determine which one we fall under. There are three phases of thinking, such as Phase 1 being the lowest level and Phase 3 being the highest level. The first phase deals with individuals who are biased, arrogant, obedient, materialistic, and ignorant. Phase 2 thinking deals with subjectivity, repentant, universalistic, abstract, anxious, and charitable. Phase 3 is the highest level and deals with everything that is positive, such as enlightenment, rationality, objectivity, good will, compassion, conjugial love, and wisdom. We each operate at a different level depending on our beliefs, education, or the way we were brought up. Some people may remain at Phase 1 because they grew up in poverty and were taught that the only way to survive was to think about yourself. Those at Phase 2 are driven by faith and love of God, while those in Phase 3 think rationally and accept the spiritual truths that God gave to Swedenborg.
Introduction
The diagnostic test is designed to examine how we critically analyze the spiritual topics, such as God, heaven, hell, etc. The test requires individuals to answer the 100 questions based on their current level of thinking. This test requires a lot of patience and contemplation in order to answer the questions honestly and rationally. Some of the topics in this test include: what is God, heaven and hell, what is love, truth, enlightenment, etc. For example, the test asks us to chose the answer that best reflects our current level of thinking (a-c) and then we should chose a number that reflects how certain or uncertain we are about the topic (1-12). The next step requires us to add up the points in the three phases in order to examine our dominant and inferior level of thinking.
This test makes you think about God not just as a religious figure, but as a Divine Spirit who creates our world, reconstructs our character, and saves us from sin and temptation. After taking the test, we find our current level of thinking, which helps us to grow both spiritually and mentally. In a sense, if we want to reach the highest level of consciousness then we should start reconstructing our character or soul. If we do not reconstruct our character then in a way we are doomed for life, especially if we are at Phase 1. The three levels of thinking was developed in order to help each individual reach the highest point of thought or consciousness, so they can ultimately reach heaven. If we are at the highest level of thought after taking the test, we should still continue to grow spiritually and rationally each day so we do not sink back down into the other two phases. When we reach the highest level of thinking, we will understand that the spiritual world causes the events in the natural world, where the effects occur. When we have reached the highest level, we will have a better understanding of ourselves, God, events, and the world around us. Until then, we should continue to develop a rational, clear thought, and a good, positive character.
I first felt very intimidated when I saw the one hundred questions in the test, but it really makes you think about these spiritual topics in a rational and critical way. I realized that my faith and religious ideologies are very strong and that I personally believe that God is apart of my life and that doing good deeds, such as volunteering, will lead you to heaven. The phase 2 level of thinking does reflect my own personal life because I do have guilty feelings and I do try to atone for these guilty feelings by praying. I believe that everyone can be saved no matter what religious or cultural background that they may possess. I believe that everyone can be saved and that women and men are equal in society. After taking the diagnostic test, I found that I had a low score for Phase 1 because most of my answers were in Phase 2. I did not reach the third phase of thinking, but in due time, I hope that I will one day reach this level. In the next section, I will be discussing the "Three Phases of Thinking", which will give the reader a clearer picture of what each phase entails.
The Three Phases of Thinking
The diagnostic test helps us to find the phase that best exemplifies how we think rationally and critically. There are three phases, also known as Ritual Faith (Phase 1), Mystic Faith (Phase 2), and Rational Faith (Phase 3). Each of the phases describe and discuss how each person thinks about God, science, etc. Since, everyone has there own interpretation about each of the spiritual topics then they will obviously be at a different phase from one another. This diagram shows the three phases starting from the lowest to the highest level of thinking:
Phase 1
The first phase or ritual phase is the lowest of the three phases and in a sense is the lowest level of spiritual thinking. Phase 1 is also known as the Moses-Phase and in this phase people follow the rituals that is dictated by their church or religious group. I feel that this phase involves just practicing the rituals without actually taking it to heart. For example, anyone can say and practice the 10 Commandments without spiritually and mentally taking these laws to heart. I feel that the individuals in this phase think more about themselves and how they can individually reach salvation. In a sense, these people believe that external objects are real and in the philosophy "that seeing is believing". In this phase, we are not very tolerant of other religions and rarely accept beliefs that are different from our own. These people have a male chauvinistic outlook in that they only accept their own religious doctrines and beliefs and think that salvation is only for them. These people are also materialistic and value their own personal items or wealth over love, good will, etc. Phase 1 is a stepping stone to reaching the highest level of consciousness, which is in phase 3.
The second phase or mystical faith is the middle phase because it is between the low and highest level of spiritual thinking. Phase 2 is also known as the Paul-Phase and in this phase people believe that their is a natural and spiritual world. We will reach salvation by our faith in God and in the religious doctrines that we practice spiritually and mentally every day. People in this phase want to help others by doing volunteer work or donating their personal items to charity. We each have a personal relationship to God, such as praying, worshipping, or practicing His laws and Word. Some individuals in this phase will look at the Bible and take the meanings from this Holy Book so they can apply it to their own personal experiences or lifestyles. Those in this phase try to lead a good life by following the doctrines, creeds, and beliefs that are instilled in them from the Bible, church, religious group, or God. Individuals in this phase are likely to repent for their mistakes or when they feel guilty by praying continuously for days or performing rituals to remove the stain from their soul. This phase is a sort of bridge to reaching the last level because we are getting closer to reaching the highest level of consciousness.
The third phase or Swedenborg-Phase is the last level of spiritual thinking and is the highest level of obtaining spiritual consciousness. People in this phase believe that their exists a natural and spiritual world. If we live our lives rationally then we will be able to understand the universe, God, and everything else in the world. People in this level are able to accept the spiritual truths and by doing this, they will eventually rise up into heaven because of their rational thinking and good character. People in this phase are able to reconstruct their character by switching from evil intentions to good intentions. In order to reconstruct our character, we must accept the spiritual truths through our rational senses and leading a highly spiritual and moral lifestyle. Also, reconstructing our character does take time and is a gradual process because we have to look deep within our souls in order to find meaning and purpose in our lives. In this phase, we all create heaven and hell in our own minds and that hell is necessary in order to balance out heaven.
We all start at different phases, such as one person beginning at Phase 1 or at Phase 2. In order to progress through each of the phases, we need to reconstruct our characters or our rational way of thinking. When we reach Phase 3, we will be at the highest level of consciousness and thus be able to enter into heaven. If we are not able to progress through the phases or are fixated at one Phase then we will not be able to reach the highest level of thinking. Those who are not able to progress will probably end in the lower heavens or in hell. The best way to reach Phase 3 is to be patient, open-minded, think clearly and rationally, to have a good heart, and to lead a good lifestyle. Reaching these phases will come gradually, but sometimes we can progress through the next phase overnight or by the next week. In the next section, I will discuss five examples from the diagnostic test and for each example I will describe each phase of thinking.
Diagnostic Test
The diagnostic test is organized into several spiritual topics that examines our current level of thinking. Some of the topics in this test are God, heaven and hell, angels and devils, love, truth, sin, salvation, miracles, natural and spiritual, consciousness, evil, and rebirth. The questions are organized by the topics that I mentioned earlier. The questions does make you critically think about how you feel about that certain topic. You literally have to delve inside your mind, heart, and soul to find the answer. I felt certain about my answer in some of the questions, while other questions made me ponder on which answer I strongly believed in. For example, I never discussed some of the topics or contemplated about it before, and this made it difficult to determine which answer I felt strongly about. Here are five examples from the diagnostic test that I found both interesting and fascinating:
12. What is heaven and hell?
a.) Heaven and hell are operations in the human mind maintained by our chief love and affections.
b.) Heaven is the Kingdom of God on earth restored to its glory. Hell is the prison of the damned.
c.) When you feel great, you're in heaven. When you're depressed, you're in hell.
Letter (a) is clearly at Phase 3 because it deals with conjugial love, compassion, and that heaven and hell is created by the mind. In a sense, Phase 3 deals with anything and everything that is positive in our lives. Letter (b) is at Phase 2 because it is somewhat symbolic and artistic in the way it portrays heaven and hell. Universalism is also portrayed here because it gives people a sort of hope that they can reach salvation by having faith in God. Letter (c) is at Phase 1 because it is an irrational and biased statement. Being depressed does not mean that we are evil or bad, but we just need someone or something to make us feel upbeat or full of life.
40. What kind of information about the spiritual world did Swedenborg report in the Writings?
a.) Subjective personal accounts.
b.) Objective empirical observations.
c.) Interpretive descriptions of spiritual visions.
Since letter (a) is subjective (your own personal feelings), it falls into Phase 2. This type of thinking can be negative because it does not lead us to rationality or enlightenment. Letter (b) falls into Phase 3 because it is objective (looking at something from a realistic point of view) and empirical (scientific). This allows us to develop rationally and also helps us to reach the highest level of consciousness. Letter (c) is at Phase 1 because it is our own interpretation rather than a scientific one. This can lead a person to become biased and ignorant.
53. Is it possible to prove that the Bible is Divine?
a.) No, since it requires spiritual faith rather than proof
b.) Yes, by using correspondences to demonstrate the existence of an orderly internal semantic series from Genesis to Revelations, showing that the historical events were brought about by Divine Providence to convey the internal series to our understanding, by which we might be regenerated.
Letter (a) falls into Phase 2 because people in this phase believe in faith rather than scientific proof. Letter (b) is at Phase 3 because it deals with correspondences and Divine Providence, which are a part of Theistic Psychology. Letter (c) falls into Phase 1 because it shows that there is no spiritual world, but only a natural world where humans are the creators of the Bible.
66. Why does God want us to pray? Does that influence Him?
a.) No, God cannot be influenced by prayers. He commands us to pray for our sake, that we may make Him part of our life, which allows Him to elevate us.
b.) Yes, God is influenced by our prayers if we ask it sincerely and unselfishly. He wants us to pray for the sake of His Glory, because He is Holy. He can then reward us with what we ask of Him.
c.) It is not God who wants us to pray, but we want to pray to Him in order to feel better about what's happening to us.
Letter (a) is at Phase 3 because God wants us to be a part of His life so we can regenerate our character and reach heaven. Letter (b) is at Phase 2 because we are driven by faith and love of God. We pray to God, so we can be rewarded and reach heaven in the end. Letter (c) is Phase 1 because we need God in order to feel better about ourselves. This is sort of a subjective point of view because we rely on our own personal feelings than anything else.
83. Consider these types of traits: charity, love, unity, conjunction, acceptance, inclusion, interior perception, and the like. Are they natural, spiritual, or celestial?
a.) Celestial
b.) Spiritual
c.) Natural
Letter (a) is at Phase 3 because anything that is celestial in terms of love, conjunction, charity, etc falls into this level. Letter (b) is at Phase 2 because anything that involves spirituality would fall under this level. Letter (c) is at Phase 1 because anything that applies to the natural world would be at this level.
The diagnostic test is a great way to examine and analyze a person's current level of thinking. Those who are not religious and value themselves over everyone else will probably end up at Phase 1. Those who are religious and have faith in God will probably be at Phase 2. Those who are rational and have a positive character will probably be at Phase 3. We are able to progress from one phase to another if we reconstruct our character and accept the spiritual truths (rationalize). But, if we do not do this then we will not reach the highest level of consciousness or reach spiritual enlightenment. In the next section, I will discuss a variety of sources that shows how people think about God and the causes of events.
Applied Theistic Psychology
Everyone reaches a different phase depending on the situation or event that they are faced with every day. Those who get married may be at Phase 3 because they both have conjugial love, compassion, and good will for one another. Those who do charity work because of their faith or religious background would be at Phase 2. Those who follow the rituals without actually spiritually or mentally applying it to their lives would be at Phase 1. For example, I always think about whether or not I should go on a diet because I always eat the wrong and unhealthy types of foods. I wrote down my feelings and thoughts about going on a diet on a piece of paper. I found that I am usually at Phase 1 because I always tell myself that I'll eat the right foods the next day, but I never do. I always allow myself to indulge in the bad foods, such as a big, juicy steak with a baked potato because I can always go on a diet on a different day. I sometimes tell myself that since life is short we should eat whatever food we want to. I usually eat the wrong foods because majority of the restaurants here are fattening and high in calories. Also, I eat the same foods as my family and majority of our meals are fatty and greasy.
Professor James discusses in 15.5c the three domains of behavior and self-witnessing. The first domain is called the Sensorimotor where we observe the movements of our arms, legs, and head. The second domain is called Cognitive and it involves all our thought processes. The third domain is called Affective because it involves our feelings and intentions. Through self-witnessing, we are able to observe and examine our behavior in regards to dieting, exercising, etc.
Professor James also discusses that we are given the freedom to choose whether or not we want to follow the good and evil spirits. This choice exemplifies our current or most suitable level of temptation. There are three temptations that were created by God in order to test whether or not we can overcome these temptations and determines how fully we will be regenerated into the next life. Individuals in Phase 1 who triumphed over the natural temptations have a natural-spiritual mind and are elevated to the First Heaven (those who dwell here are called good spirits). Individuals in Phase 2 who triumphed over the spiritual temptations have a spiritual-rational mind and reach the Second Heaven (inhabitants include the angelic spirits). Individuals in Phase 3 who triumphed over the celestial temptations have a celestial-rational mind and rise up to the Third Heaven (inhabitants include angels). This shows that there are three levels of behaviors that help us to self-witness our actions and thought processes. There are also three levels of temptations (level of temptation is suitable to our character) that we each must overcome in order to become regenerated into the next life.
I read a story in Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II that really touched my heart. This story was about a young women who volunteered to help the needy and homeless children in Honduras. She described the population as being desolate, hungry, dirty, and homeless. She and eighteen of her peers would be spending about two weeks in this country. In this story, she talked about an orphanage where they were stationed and how much admiration she had for the children. In the two weeks, she and eighteen of her peers became a part of the childrens lives by giving them hugs, kisses, and braiding their hairs. At the end of the two weeks, she learned that giving to others is the best blessing that one can possess. She also learned that she can make a difference or leave an impression on the lives of the children or any other person that she meets. She learned that having an open heart will ultimately lead to a happy heart.
The young girl in this story is in Phase 2 because she is going to Honduras for charity work. She is also tolerant of other cultures and also very patient with the children. The children had a huge impact on her life because she learned to have a open heart and caring attitude. She also felt guilty because these children did not have all the luxuries or necessities in life, such as a warm bed or hot, running water. She also was very affectionate to the children by giving them hugs and kisses and encouraging them to succeed in life. She learned a great deal about the children's lifestyle and they learned a great deal about her life.
I have a guy friend who found God and found a reason to live. For confidentiality reasons, I will call him Tim. Tim was always a guy who involved himself with drugs, skateboarding, and hung around with the wrong crowd. He was never religious, never went to church, nor believed in God. One day, Tim found out that he had testicular cancer and this news literally changed his life forever. When he underwent chemotherapy treatment, he turned to God and involved himself heavily in prayer in hopes of recovering. Fortunately, he did recover from this horrible ordeal and believed that it was God who cured him from his ailment. Now, Tim is heavily religious and is a member of a non-denominational Christian Church.
Before Tim found God, he was in Phase 1. He was ignorant and arrogant because he only cared about himself and having fun, such as doing drugs or skateboarding. He had an egotistic attitude about life because he thought that everything revolved around him. When he turned to God, he was at Phase 2. He had a personal relationship with God by making Him a part of his life through prayer and worship. Tim owes his life to God because he believes that God saved his life and gave him a second chance.
Jacob, a college student at Pepperdine University, dorms and receives no financial aid due to his parents being very well-off. He is lazy, and feels that money makes the world go round. He relies on his parents to support his lavish lifestyles ranging from frat parties to spa treatments. His aspirations is to become a broadcast journalist, but because of his laziness, his grades are approaching rock bottom. He obviously thinks that partying and having a good time is better and more important than settling down and getting ready for the real world. His priorities are definitely mixed up because of his spoiled, lazy, and stubborn behavior. Jacob will never make it in life with this attitude or this style of living.
Jacob is at Phase 1 because he is spoiled and stubborn. He cares only about partying and getting spa treatments, which will be financed by his family. He is selfish in that he relies on his parents to finance his escapades or lavish lifestyles. He has no motivation to find a job or study for his classes. He also does not believe in God and believes that physical or external objects are real. If Jacob does not change his attitude or his behavior then he will not reach the highest level of thinking.
A friend of mine was always participating in activities to help the poor, needy, and ill. He is a very kind-hearted person, although he is not religious, he devotes his time and energy into helping society. A few year ago he decided to join a club called MaxImage and the requirements of the club was to give back to the community. The club helps various organizations, such as Toys for Tots, Hawaii Food Bank, Friends of Heeia, and Easter Seals. At the Hawaii Food Bank, his club donated food and money to support the homeless or those in poverty. He donated most of his can goods and twenty dollars to support the cause. After donating the food and money, he felt that this event was beneficial to the homeless and the general public. He wanted to help the less privleged, and to share the comforts and necessities of every day life. He sacrificed his time and his personal items to help society and those in dire need of assistance.
My friend is in Phase 2 because he volunteers his time and effort to help those who need assistance. He sacrifices his personal items to help those who lack the comforts of living. He is a generous person who rarely thinks about himself, but places others before thinking about himself. My friend is a great role-model for me because I need to stop focusing on myself and start helping others who need help. When my friend finds God, then he will be on a great path to developing a Phase 3 level of thinking. I must say that my friend is the most caring and kind person that any person can meet. He has a good character and loves life, such as going fishing, body-boarding, and learning about the marine life of Hawaii. He has taught me so much about myself and about how to live life to the fullest.
The examples I presented showed individuals who were at Phase 1 and 2. I could not find anyone who exemplified Phase 3 thinking. From this empirical study, I learned that we each operate at a different phase depending on the type of situation or event. At Phase 2, people seem to turn to God for support and comfort, while in Phase1, people rely on themselves and care little about those around them. I also learned that we handle situations differently from one another, which may be due to our current level of thinking. Individuals from the examples I presented need to regenerate their character and think rationally. I believe that improving in these two areas will help them develop a Phase 3 level of thinking. I need to start saying to myself that if I want to follow my diet then I need to make sacrifices for the good of my body and health. The girl who went to Honduras had a change of heart and realized that the world does not revolve around herself. I think that she is on the great path to regenerating her character and developing a rational mind. Tim also is on a great path to reaching Phase 3 because of his commitment to God, and maybe his next journey may be to discovering the spiritual truths. Jacob definitely needs help in discovering himself and needs to develop a better character instead of an egotistic one. My friend in the last example represents Phase 2 level of thinking, but once he finds the Lord then he will be on a great path to reaching the highest level of thinking.
Conclusion
This assignment made me realize that we all have different views about what God and science mean to us. I think of God as a Divine Being with endless and absolute power. I think of science as searching for the truth and trying to piece together the mysteries of the world. I also think that in certain situations, God and science can come together. If we want to find out whether or not God exists then we probably might use scientific techniques, such as experiments, interviews, models, etc. This is similar to the scientific techniques that Swedenborg used when he was observing the angels and demons in the spiritual world. God and science are both very controversial topics because those who are in Phase 2 might not agree that science and God should exist together. Individuals in Phase 2 are mainly those who are religious and are driven by faith and love in God. Those in Phase 1 would probably think of science or the natural laws as a separate entity from God. People in this phase believe in external objects as being real, since they can physically see it. Individuals in Phase 3 believe that science and God can exist together or in the same realm because it is rational, scientific, and objective. We all operate at different levels of thinking because of our religious, cultural, ethical, or political background. I think that this is what makes us all unique because we all have different opinions about topics and rarely reach the same conclusions.
The diagnostic test is a great way to analyze our current level of thinking. Majority of the students in this class probably chose different answers and were at different phases. This again shows that we have dissimilar views from one another. We all have a different amount of regeneration when we enter the afterlife. For example, those in Phase 3 will be fully regenerated and will be filled with the celestial-rational mind. While, those in Phase 2 will be regenerated only halfway and are filled with the spiritual-rational mind. Phase 1 will be regenerated only a quarter of the way and are filled with the natural-rational mind. I think that this test is a great way to help us reach the last phase so we can be fully regenerated, content, and full of wisdom in the spiritual world. The test also makes us think a bit further about God, science, love, truth, hell, heaven, etc. All and all, I think that our views about God and science will never be the same as everyone else because our minds and souls are constantly changing.
This assignment is very useful because it makes us think more critically about whether or not God and science can exist together. Also, it makes us want to build our character and think more rationally, so we can live happily in the spiritual world. I think that this assignment also makes us look deeper within our mind and soul. I also feel more open-minded when handling the spiritual topics because these are important topics that will determine where we will end up in the spiritual world. Personally, I don't want to end up in hell and the only way for me to go to heaven is to start regenerating myself and to think rationally. I also learn more about myself, my goals, purpose in life, and my aspirations from this assignment.
I think that I am much more open to learning new ideas and am slowly thinking more critically about the spiritual topics. At the beginning of this course, I did not know what to expect because I have never heard of Theistic Psychology or Swedenborg. I am still questioning whether or not Swedenborg actually saw and interviewed the angels or demons. I am becoming more interested in the spiritual topics and want to learn more about the spiritual world, heaven and hell, angels and demons, etc. I think that the spiritual topics are interesting because it is unique and different from anything that I have ever discussed before. I hope that I learn more about myself from this class and how I can reach the third phase of thinking.
Future Generations
The best advice to give the future generations is to be patient when faced with difficult tasks and to be open-minded to new ideas and knowledge. When I walked into the class, I did not know what to expect because this was the first semester in Theistic Psychology. At times, Theistic Psychology can be very overwhelming because the ideas of duality and correspondences can be very difficult to follow. But, the best way to understand Theistic Psychology is to always ask questions and listen to what other students have to say. I think by discussing this topic with other students, many people will grasp the topic much more easily and clearly. The presentations help students follow the material much more better and offers explanations that you have never thought of before. If students have trouble grasping a particular topic then they should email or talk to the professor since he offers both guidance and wisdom. Also, students should not wait until the last day or week to do the assignment because there is so much readings and information about Theistic Psychology. We also should think rationally and logically, since this is what Theistic Psychology is about and also try to develop a positive character.
Students should read the other generational reports because they give great advice and offer pointers in how to make an effective and great web site. I had trouble creating a web site and suggest that those who have no experience in web sites should ask the professor or other students in the class for help. I also think that students should not be biased or prejudiced when they enter this class. Some students might think that Swedenborg is a delusional man who made up the whole idea about the spiritual world. When I first walked into the class, I thought that Swedenborg was a crazy man. But, now I am more open to new ideas and accept ideas that other individuals might not readily agree with, such as man creating heaven and hell. I learned so much from this course, such as looking deeper within myself and about my level of thinking and I hope that the future students are able to do the same. I think that this course helps us grow individually, spiritually, and mentally. I also think that this course will help individuals search for the true meanings or purpose in their lives.