contents - AMORC

circular arcs around one polar star, which in the
northern hemisphere is located in Ursa Minor or
the “Little Bear.” The stars seem fixed to a rigid
celestial sphere that rotates daily around the
polar axis. Ancient astronomers were justified
in assuming the reality of such a revolving
firmament. Unfortunately, this belief became
dogma, a religious tenet that assigned this circular
motion, being perfect, as universal throughout the
heavenly realms. The ancients knew, of course,
that not all the stars were fixed. The sun, moon
and the five visible planets deviated periodically
from their daily cycle: The sun completed one
turn, following its path around the Zodiacal belt
in a year, the Moon orbited the Earth in a month;
and the other planets seemed to move in less
regular paths and periods.
Since the planets were regarded as divinities
or as manifestations of divine qualities, ancient
astronomy was bound to ascribe this circular
42
Make the assumption that seems most
plausible and then proceed as if it were true.
motion to them. It was therefore declared that
each planet was fixed to a separate crystal sphere,
and that the spheres revolved within each other,
generating celestial harmony by their friction. In
order to account for the different inclinations and
irregularities of the planetary orbits, astronomy
had to invent circles within circles and loops
within loops.
These astronomical ideas remained for
centuries as certain and self evident truths
until the arrival on the scene of the Polish
astronomer and mathematician, Nicolas
Copernicus ( 473- 543 CE) who dramatically
shattered the assumption that the sun rather
than the earth was the centre of our planetary
system. Following on from that was Kepler’s
mathematical theory of elliptical planetary
orbits, Newton’s postulation of universal
gravitation, Einstein’s theory of Relativity,
quantum mechanics and string theory.
There is no need to elaborate however once
the point is understood; for science advances by
open-mindedness and stagnates by dogmatism.
Progress consists in the continuous re-evaluation
and reshaping of beliefs and theories. And the
same open-minded attitude so vital to material
science applies to our mystical search for our
own personal philosophy.
The Rosicrucian Beacon -- September 2006
Personal Beliefs
Each one of us must blaze our own trail; find
our own way, even when others may join us
in the search. Our individual beliefs must be
put to the test in living as if they were true and
heeding the results. It would be a slow process
in one lifetime to explore experimentally every
conceivable philosophy or religious practice.
Fortunately, highways of religious and mystical
belief have been mapped and are being followed
by millions. We can therefore observe progress
without having to read each individual path for
ourselves.
In the western world, the attitude now
prevalent is cynical materialism. In spite of all
protestations by clergy, teachers and politicians,
society behaves as if it no longer believes in a
God or a Spirit. Not only physical effects, but also
pleasure and pain, and joy and sorrow are
explained by material laws. Human actions
are regarded as chemical reactions. This
is all fine and in keeping with scientific
enquiry but not enough credence is given
to the mystical and spiritual aspects of these
discoveries. Accordingly, a large proportion of the
population acts as if moral law were an exploded
fiction and nothing but sensual pleasures and the
means to procure them mattered.
We see now with the advent of 24 hour
television and access to the internet where such
a road leads: drug addiction, divorce, crime;
and everything else from neurotic children to
strikes and inefficiency in the workplace; to
international conflict and genocide. It is time
to give the Spirit its due, to live as if the Spirit
were the Prime Mover. The Rosicrucian Order,
AMORC has already produced a Manifesto to
address these and many other issues that are
extant in the world today.
If an Eternal Spirit is the force behind
the sustenance of life, why do all living things
die? If Spirit is perfection, why is there such
disharmony, with all its cruelty and suffering?
One explanation is that such benevolence is
opposed by a destructive evil. The tempter, the
snake, the destroyer, plays an important role
in religions based on a belief in a personal god
and followers of these religions strive to align
themselves with the forces of creation and of
harmony. They choose to love their Creator and