My Diary
March…
19th –A short journey to serve Kilmarnock Spiritualist Church (SNU)
28th ASK Cumbernauld.
30th – The Pyramid Church,
Pollock.
April…
5th – I take another class on
“Understanding Your Psychic Abilities” at the Glasgow Association (SNU)
9th – It is always a pleasure
to serve the Ayr Spiritualist Centre.
10th – My longest distance
traveling to churches these days and I received – as usual – a great Highland
welcome at the Inverness Spiritualist Church (SNU).
19th - “Your Spiritual
Experiences and Discussion at the Glasgow Association.
Minister Irene McGilivray
It was an honour for Isobel and I to be invited to the ordination
service of What a wonderful and moving service with almost
every seat taken at the Glasgow Association.
Not only with Spiritualists, but representatives of other religions in
attendance. We all should take heart after that service and be proud of our
religion, a religion may have been flagging a little bit recently
What a wonderful moving service at the Glasgow Association
yesterday – the ordination of Irene McGillivray, now Minister Irene McGillivray.
Two-hundred attended the service and that include not only Spiritualists,
Irene’s friends, but also dignitaries of other religions. All Spiritualists
attending should take heart from the service and move forward with pride. Showing everyone that Spiritualism is a
recognised religion and has nothing to do with entertainment or financial gain.
Minister Irene McGillivray
is a great inspiration to us all. Seven years of hard studying and still
finding time to help others gain knowledge of Spiritualism and be caring and
compassionate to all who crossed her path.
We should now strive to make friends with those in the other
religions that attended the service.
Comparing Spiritualism’s Seven Principles, The Bible’s Ten
Commandments and The Ten Native American Commandments
Spiritualism’s Seven Principles...
1. The
Fatherhood of God.
2. The
Brotherhood of Man.
3. The
Communion of Spirits and the Ministry of Angels.
4. The
Continuous Existence of the Human Soul.
5. Personal
Responsibility.
6. Compensation
and Retribution Hereafter for all the Good and Evil Deeds done on Earth.
7. Eternal
Progress Open to every Human Soul
*****
The Ten
Native American Commandments
1. Treat the Earth
and all that dwell thereon with respect.
2. Remain close to
the Great Spirit, in all that you do.
3. Show great respect for your fellow beings.
(Especially Respect yourself)
4. Work together for the benefit of all Mankind.
5. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.
6. Do what you know to be right.
(But be careful not to fall into self-righteousness)
7. Look after the wellbeing of mind and body.
8. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.
9. Be truthful and honest at all times.
(Especially be truthful and honest with yourself)
10. Take full responsibility for your actions
3. Show great respect for your fellow beings.
(Especially Respect yourself)
4. Work together for the benefit of all Mankind.
5. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.
6. Do what you know to be right.
(But be careful not to fall into self-righteousness)
7. Look after the wellbeing of mind and body.
8. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.
9. Be truthful and honest at all times.
(Especially be truthful and honest with yourself)
10. Take full responsibility for your actions
*****
The Bible’s Ten
Commandments...
1. Do not have any
other gods before me.
2. You shall not
take the name of the Lord in vain.
3. Remember the
Sabbath day and keep it holy.
4. Honour your
father and your mother.
5. You shall not
kill
6. You shall not
commit adultery.
7. You shall not
steal.
8. You shall not
bear false witness against your neighbour.
9. You shall not
covet your neighbour's wife.
10. You shall not
covet your neighbour's goods.
The - “You
shall not” is repeated seven times in the Bible’s Ten Commandments appears
to be harsh and dictatorial to me. The Seven Principles rather than talking
down to the individual is putting more emphasis on the individual taking
personal responsibility for their actions.
But – the best one of all for me is The
Ten Native American Commandments. It
covers more than the Spiritualist Seven Principles
making us aware of our planet and all that lives on it
Assisted Suicide...
I saw this comment on Facebook - “An assisted dying law would not
result in more people dying, but in fewer people suffering”. I totally
agree with this. With the right
structures and laws in place it would mean that few would suffer mentally and
physically before they pass over.
Many from other religions tell me that “Life is for God to give and only for God to take back”. OK – but - has God not given man the
ability to cure or hold off the severity of many diseases? Many people are alive today because of
medical intervention so mankind has interfered with nature. So, when the pain becomes so severe, the body
does not function properly, or an active mind is trapped in a body that will
not respond, surely the patient can request to end their suffering. Bar from
intervention by the medical profession may would have breathed their
last many years before. So, if we can
interfere with keeping them alive we surely can
assist the patient to pass over if they request it.
I ask those who are strongly against ‘assisted suicide’ - What
right have you to make another suffer especially those who do not believe as
you do? What right do you have to
enforce your beliefs on them? Many are
quick to reply that doctors will give them medication to take the pain
away. Then, when I ask what about when
medication does not take the pain? What
about when the anguish of an active mind when someone is trapped in a body that
will not function? Usually when I ask
those questions those in front of me go silent and their eyes dull. This is
something they have not thought about before, they have accepted their
religions/teacher’s stance and went on with their life. Not thinking deep into the issue or
questioning those who preach to them.
Politicians must look deeply into this issue and not be swayed by
the religious lobby.
They should make a
decision on what is right for those suffering and they must not be influenced
in any way by any religion. We are
sensible enough to put a structure in place that will not see patients
discarded because their family do not want them or they are costing the NHS too
much. I have little faith in the
politician taking the step to allow ‘Assisted Suicide’ I feel the only way this
will come to pass in the near future is for a referendum and let the people
decide.
A comment from William McFadzean Spiritualist Medium CSNU the morning
after the Manchester bombing.
This
morning I feel we should all take a moment to truly think about who and what we
have in our lives and hearts. As last night’s cowardly attack shows we never
know the moment it can all end or be taken away. To harm innocent children in
particular is despicable. Do not give in to hate though as that means they win
and we empower the attackers. Perhaps a minutes silence
or a mass Prayer, something positive to show we will not be beaten. My
heart goes out to all of the families and people involved. God Bless them all.
Xxxx
William has made an
interesting comment “Perhaps a minute’s silence or a mass Prayer, something
positive to show we will not be beaten”.
A minute’s silence or a mass prayer by all peoples and all religions
around the world could halt the evil that is encompassing our planet at the moment
and get it to retreat. We will never conquer
evil, but hopefully we can stop it running riot as it is at this moment in
time.
Samantha Dean's Comments on
Spiritualism…
The people I often worry for is the people just starting out in then
movement. I've only been part of it really for about 4 years and I think I've
seen most of the ugly side in that time. There's so much beauty in
spiritualism, but unfortunately the human side has been allowed to override it
and spirit I fear has been forgotten over ego's, money and jealousy. We will
continue to do our best to prove that not every Spiritualist is like this to
our congregation. We don't put a penny in our back pockets, we open the church
every week with the hopes of nothing in return except to see the smiles on
people's faces when they hear from their loved ones in spirit.. We laugh
together, cry together and we build each other up as a whole church and we are
very blessed to say the least because of it. It's what we stand for and what we
will always stand for.. we just want to be left in peace to be able to do it as
we choose too x
