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Advanced Course in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism366
flames. We hear very little of hell, in these days. We hear more and more
of the Loving God, and less and less of the God of Hate and Anger. The
people are being taught to love God instead of to fear Him. The change
is going on rapidly. And better things are ahead of us. But we must not
forget that each form of religious teaching—each creed—each church—no
matter how crude may seem their teachings and forms—fills a needed place
in the religious evolution of the race. Each suits the requirements of those
following them, and each should be respected, accordingly. When the pews
outgrow certain forms and conceptions, the pulpits drop the objectionable
teachings and modify and alter matters so as to fall into line. The preachers,
as a rule, see quite a way ahead of their flocks, but know that the time is not
yet ripe for the change. The change comes gradually. The teachings of the
churches to-day—even the most orthodox—would seem like heresy and
even blasphemy to our forefathers. Outgrown creeds fall aside, and new
ones take their place, and yet the church organizations remain under the
same old names. It is like the story of the boy who had a knife which had been
repeatedly repaired. It had had four new handles and six new blades, and
yet it was still the same old knife. Many of us, when we outgrow certain old
conceptions, display an impatience and even contempt for those remaining
in the fold from which we have strayed. This is all wrong. Those who remain
are just where they belong—it is the best place for them for the time being.
When they outgrow their creed, they will drop it from them like a worn-out
garment. Intolerance on our part would be just as absurd as the intolerance
shown by these people. The true student of Bhakti Yoga will feel the keenest
sympathy and the greatest tolerance for all who are seeking God, no matter
by what road they are journeying, or what may be the methods of their
search. The undeveloped men try to prove their love of God, by starting
in to hate all men who differ from them in their conception of Deity. They
seem to feel that such non-belief, or difference of belief is a direct affront
to God, and that they as loyal servants of God must resent same. They seem
to think that God needs their help against His “enemies.” This is a most