William Fowler's Stages as talked about by Glen in "Religion" in March Classes
eternaljoy4u
intellectual base and learning in ways I had never anticipated. Using
William Fowler's levels spoken about by Glen in March, I recognize
some of the things that are happening to me in my growth. When
starting the courses I was mostly in the Stage 3 with movements toward
Stage 4. Now I'm in a place combining elements of Stage 4 and Stage
5.
Is there anyone else out there going through similar situations? How
are you dealing with the major shifts in thought and expanded beliefs
and being rocked at your very base?
I still hold strongly to the belief system that I am a member of, but
because my understanding is now so much wider than before it is
difficult to relate with friends and other members because of the gap
in understanding. And I'm not putting myself above them. Rather it is
that I am at a different stage in learning, and if I share these
things as I have shared things in the past, it will likely choke
them. It is said that Joseph Smith stated that if he were to teach to
the members of the church all the things that he knew about the
heavens, most would apostatize. While I do not have the amount of
knowledge that he had, I understand the feeling and want to know how
to deal with this newfound knowledge.
The quote about new knowledge being troubling is indeed true, at least
for me. My whole world is being turned upside down--and that is not
necessarily a bad thing. It is just a very unsettling thing.
Is anyone else having these thoughts and situations? If you are, how
are you dealing with it?
Ellie
Vele...@bigpond.net.au
Your comments about your new learning experience have been on my mind
since receiving them via the Kimball College and Ancient Manuscripts
Group on "Google Groups".
During the college days of my youth, my peers and I were quick to
realize that learning can be a painful experience, especially if the
curriculum was set to be learned within a limited period of time. As
inviduals, we all have different rates of learning and practical
experiences of life, and these often occur during differing stages of
our lifetimes.
We are also quick to realize that each step of the learning process,
only qualifies us to progress further along the education of a
lifetime. To learn tolerance of ourselves and others is in itself an
experience of life that calls upon all our feelings and emotions,
especially if we want others to share our experiences with us during
our mental, spiritual and physical growth.
You do not mention what your "belief system" is. My belief system is
based on the protestant beliefs of the Christian churches. Now, in
my sixties, I still draw comfort from the following extracts from the
Christian Scriptures - words which have given me comfort over and over
again through the decades of my journey through life (which has had
its joys and sorrows too). They are quotes from the King James
Authorised Version of the Holy Bible. If you are much younger, you
may find on the internet, a more modern translation easier to
understand, but I still enjoy reading the older translations of
scripture.
I wish you well in your endeavours and your search for the truth
Ellie.
Selected Scripture from the King James Version of the Holy Bible: ...
Matthew 6:25-34 ...
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall
eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put
on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap,
nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye
not much better than they?
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field,
how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is,
and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe
you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall
we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly
Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all
these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take
thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof.
Luke 12:8-12 ...
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall
the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of
God.
And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be
forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it
shall not be forgiven.
And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and
powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what
ye shall say:
For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to
say.
Phillipians 4:4-8 ...
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are
honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these
things.
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