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How Should Religion Be Propagated?
True religion spreads itself by the force
of Truth. It does not rest upon overt efforts and transcends all
organizational endeavors, which should only aim at disseminating
information, not promoting any dogma. True religion (unity) is
reflected in universal interdependence. It is spread by promoting
unity consciousness in thought, word and deed. Without recognizing
this universal Truth to seek to promote a particular religion is
only to promote a separative and warring creed.
Religion is the recognition of the
Eternal and the Infinite. To cause it to grow is to honor its
Self-existent Reality. This religion of Truth is inherent in nature.
The wind blows it. The sun shines it. The rivers make it flow.
Flowers bloom through it. What is important is that we take it up
and let it spread and develop our own greater awareness, as we
ourselves by its power learn to transcend all the petty identities
and opinions of the mind.
In promoting religion we must avoid all
propaganda, which as an effort to influence the mind through
emotions and slogans, not through the force of truth, calm thinking
and meditation, is itself a form of violence. Religious propaganda
is a contradiction in terms. Religion is a means of connecting us
with a higher reality. This cannot be done through appeal to the
lower aspects of the human mind - agitated emotions, suspicions, and
clever thinking, which propaganda aims at.
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