1. God as Self (read from Vedas), as the completion of myself. “I am that I am.” 2. The aspiration toward complete sympathy, consciousness (selfhood) as the aspiration of God, and the aim of progress. 3. The idea of “holiness” meaning “wholeness.” II. HISTORIC IDEAS OF GOD: _a._ The inner meaning of polytheism: many aspects of one God. _b._ The inner meaning of trinity: the three as one, as the contrast of life, and its unity. A true paradox. Myself, the other Self, and love, the holy spirit. _c._ The inner meaning of dualism: the two are two sides of one thing, the negative and the positive. Light makes darkness. _d._ Personal, parental, and all other ideas of God are included in our larger view. The unity embraces all ideas and diversities. III. PROGRESS AS THE TREND TOWARD COMPLETE SELF: _a._ Throughout history the only progress has been toward greater understanding and brotherhood: 1. The value of railroads, telephones, etc. _b._ The good is whatever leads toward understanding, sympathy, wholeness. _c._ The bad is whatever does not lead thither: 1. The bad is what was once good, and has been passed. 2. Or sometimes it is the necessary result of an experimental progress. 3. Things are not “good” and “bad,” but better and worse. Therefore evil itself is proof of progress. _d._ The will toward good is in the world and ourselves. 1. Dissatisfaction is the will toward progress. 2. We use all bad things for the great good that we love. (This meeting might be divided into two, one on GOD, and one on PROGRESS.) THIRD MEETING _Matter and Spirit_ I. SHORT REVIEW: _a._ What is the aim of life? _b._ How do you explain good and bad? II. ARE MATTER AND SPIRIT ANTAGONISTIC, OR LIKE GOOD AND BAD, TO BE EXPLAINED THROUGH EACH OTHER? _a._ All matter has shape or idea: 1. Matter takes the shape of spirit. 2. We know only the spirit, or idea, because all things come to us through our senses. 3. Pure matter, if it exist, is a thing we cannot experience. III. MATTER IS THE MEDIUM THROUGH WHICH SPIRIT EXPRESSES ITSELF: _a._ Expression is the means for reaching understanding. _b._ All expression, at present, is through so-called material means. IV. SPIRIT CAN DO ALL THINGS IN THE FUTURE: _a._ “Immovable” physical conditions are the result of will or spirit in the past. 1. Our ancestors. 2. The mental beginnings of all physical ills. _b._ Spirit force is the only shaping force in a universe of spirit or will. 1. One can, therefore, control the physical. 2. One can shape one’s destiny. FOURTH MEETING _Evolution_