The church
Santorino 6-25-44
I Santorino, am talking to you. Much has been proclaimed to you. What the church should be has been proclaimed to you, but nothing has been said regarding what the structure of this church should be. As instructed by the Almighty, I will talk with you about that today, and will express our, the high spirits, thoughts. First though, I will permit myself a brief remark. It is not good that some of those who should be here fail to come without valid reasons. Let us begin.
A priest is essential for the church. Who might be appointed to this, the most distinguished position on Earth? Obviously, only the most eminent on from among distinguished people.
Since God recognizes only those prayers that have been expressed in the form of deeds, or else after completion of the work, then services as such become unnecessary. Songs and music dedicated to the Almighty, and to His personification- God, should be played in the church. These songs and works of music must be the best and the most beautiful that humanity genius can create, and performing only in the best possible way. Nothing inferior may cross the threshold of God’s temple. All kinds wailing songs and poor organs are the worst sin against God and should be considered blasphemy of God. If it is not possible to obtain good choirs, musical instruments, and music, or else works worthy of performing, then it is better to have complete silence in the church.
Because the priest does not have to know any special ecclesiastical ceremony, the congregation should elect the most eminent member of the congregation to be priest. Voting can be only by secret ballot, and it is mandatory that not less than 98% of all members of the congregation participate. If a candidate has received 50% of the vote, or less than 50% of the vote, he is considered to have been rejected and another one, more eminent, has to be sought. If a candidate has received 51% then he is considered as having been elected for one year, if 60% then for five years, if 75%, then for twenty-five, but if 98% then for his entire life.
Should the priest turn out to be unworthy of his position, a general meeting of the congregation can dismiss him with the same majority vote.
The priest’s assistant and deputy should be elected after nine days, using the same procedure. The governing board of the congregation should also be elected on this day. Depending on the size of the congregation, it should consist of three, six, or nine members. The method of electing the governing board should be as follows. Every ten members of the congregation elect the most eminent members from their midst. Each ten of those such most eminent ones do the same thing again. That continues until it is no longer possible to come up with groups of ten. Then the latter elect from their midst the chair of the governing board and his/her assistant, with a simple majority. The governing board should be elected one year. If the general membership of the congregation, however, expresses confidence in the board with a 75% vote, then the authority of the board can be extended to a second year, and even to a third year, but under no circumstances a fourth year.
It is the duty of the church to direct the spiritual life of the congregation, through priest and the governing board. It has to look after sick and the unhappy one, and has to attempt to right all wrongs. It must assist not only spiritually, but materially and legally as well. Under no circumstances may it tolerate the existence of injustice. It must oppose immediately, by all available means, everything that is unjust. It must not wait for someone to turn to it. It has to see everything immediately on its own, and prevent or help. Wicked, and even useless, is that church which has supplicants and suffering within its walls.
The church must look after the upbringing and the education of children. Every adult who corrupts a child with evil words of deeds should be thrown in jail. The church must provide high quality lectures, show, and entertainment. All that, except for politics, rest on the shoulders of the church, until the time when the church unite all nations. The, one wars and political squabbles will end, as well as thief and other crimes, the church will, in fact remain the only leading and organized institution.
Initially the goals of the church must be strictly limited. Under no circumstance may the church use force, not to mention weapon, in spreading its ideal. The church may not segregate nations and Gods no matter what they might be like. This mean those religions whose fundamental principles are hostile to The Almighty’s Commandments. The weapons of the church are love and reason. The church does not serve The Almighty and God, but only man. The Laws of the church are intended only for attaining man’s intellect, happiness, and justice. Through service to humanity and to its ideal of beauty, happiness, and intellect, man serves God as well. These ideals are God’s as well.
God dose not need man’s prayers or even deification, but only the esteemed accomplishment of their, the people, high task. A father does not need a son who begs him humbly for something all the time – one who while promising to accomplish everything either does nothing or does it poorly. He, the father, needs a son who, while being proud of his father, listen to him respectfully and carries out his work in silence. The father will not become angry should his son, on occasion, accomplish the task worse or better assigned, as long as the son did this while intending only good. The father does not require his son to fall to his knees in his presence, and kiss his feet or hands. The father is more please if the son worthy to sit by his side after completing a noble task. With that his son has displayed the highest honor. With that his son has displayed the highest honor to his father, the honor of a good and his father’s worthy son. Now you can see what God desires from man, and how you, people have understood His desire thus far.
The Tidings, Nick Mezins, PP 203-205
I Santorino, am talking to you. Much has been proclaimed to you. What the church should be has been proclaimed to you, but nothing has been said regarding what the structure of this church should be. As instructed by the Almighty, I will talk with you about that today, and will express our, the high spirits, thoughts. First though, I will permit myself a brief remark. It is not good that some of those who should be here fail to come without valid reasons. Let us begin.
A priest is essential for the church. Who might be appointed to this, the most distinguished position on Earth? Obviously, only the most eminent on from among distinguished people.
Since God recognizes only those prayers that have been expressed in the form of deeds, or else after completion of the work, then services as such become unnecessary. Songs and music dedicated to the Almighty, and to His personification- God, should be played in the church. These songs and works of music must be the best and the most beautiful that humanity genius can create, and performing only in the best possible way. Nothing inferior may cross the threshold of God’s temple. All kinds wailing songs and poor organs are the worst sin against God and should be considered blasphemy of God. If it is not possible to obtain good choirs, musical instruments, and music, or else works worthy of performing, then it is better to have complete silence in the church.
Because the priest does not have to know any special ecclesiastical ceremony, the congregation should elect the most eminent member of the congregation to be priest. Voting can be only by secret ballot, and it is mandatory that not less than 98% of all members of the congregation participate. If a candidate has received 50% of the vote, or less than 50% of the vote, he is considered to have been rejected and another one, more eminent, has to be sought. If a candidate has received 51% then he is considered as having been elected for one year, if 60% then for five years, if 75%, then for twenty-five, but if 98% then for his entire life.
Should the priest turn out to be unworthy of his position, a general meeting of the congregation can dismiss him with the same majority vote.
The priest’s assistant and deputy should be elected after nine days, using the same procedure. The governing board of the congregation should also be elected on this day. Depending on the size of the congregation, it should consist of three, six, or nine members. The method of electing the governing board should be as follows. Every ten members of the congregation elect the most eminent members from their midst. Each ten of those such most eminent ones do the same thing again. That continues until it is no longer possible to come up with groups of ten. Then the latter elect from their midst the chair of the governing board and his/her assistant, with a simple majority. The governing board should be elected one year. If the general membership of the congregation, however, expresses confidence in the board with a 75% vote, then the authority of the board can be extended to a second year, and even to a third year, but under no circumstances a fourth year.
It is the duty of the church to direct the spiritual life of the congregation, through priest and the governing board. It has to look after sick and the unhappy one, and has to attempt to right all wrongs. It must assist not only spiritually, but materially and legally as well. Under no circumstances may it tolerate the existence of injustice. It must oppose immediately, by all available means, everything that is unjust. It must not wait for someone to turn to it. It has to see everything immediately on its own, and prevent or help. Wicked, and even useless, is that church which has supplicants and suffering within its walls.
The church must look after the upbringing and the education of children. Every adult who corrupts a child with evil words of deeds should be thrown in jail. The church must provide high quality lectures, show, and entertainment. All that, except for politics, rest on the shoulders of the church, until the time when the church unite all nations. The, one wars and political squabbles will end, as well as thief and other crimes, the church will, in fact remain the only leading and organized institution.
Initially the goals of the church must be strictly limited. Under no circumstance may the church use force, not to mention weapon, in spreading its ideal. The church may not segregate nations and Gods no matter what they might be like. This mean those religions whose fundamental principles are hostile to The Almighty’s Commandments. The weapons of the church are love and reason. The church does not serve The Almighty and God, but only man. The Laws of the church are intended only for attaining man’s intellect, happiness, and justice. Through service to humanity and to its ideal of beauty, happiness, and intellect, man serves God as well. These ideals are God’s as well.
God dose not need man’s prayers or even deification, but only the esteemed accomplishment of their, the people, high task. A father does not need a son who begs him humbly for something all the time – one who while promising to accomplish everything either does nothing or does it poorly. He, the father, needs a son who, while being proud of his father, listen to him respectfully and carries out his work in silence. The father will not become angry should his son, on occasion, accomplish the task worse or better assigned, as long as the son did this while intending only good. The father does not require his son to fall to his knees in his presence, and kiss his feet or hands. The father is more please if the son worthy to sit by his side after completing a noble task. With that his son has displayed the highest honor. With that his son has displayed the highest honor to his father, the honor of a good and his father’s worthy son. Now you can see what God desires from man, and how you, people have understood His desire thus far.
The Tidings, Nick Mezins, PP 203-205
70-79, M
