Discussion
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org,
please feel free to visit the school website)
Why a course on Creative Writing in the metaphysical field? How can it help you as a metaphysical practitioner? Your goals in Metaphysics may not seem to gel at all with a need for a course in creative writing skills. But, whether you become a minister, an educator, a motivational speaker or a workshop leader, or wherever else your degree leads you to, the ability to express yourself in writing in a lucid and entertaining way will only help to further your aims. You may write articles, books, lectures, lessons or simple grants and proposals, and in each case these skills will come in handy.
The metaphysical movement is often referred to as New Age, but the movement is not really new. Dr. Phil Stringer at www.usiap.org, mentions that, “Although the idea of a new age has clear precedence in Jewish apocalypticism, new age people derive their beliefs from religious and philosophical traditions originally outside the Western Mainstream, including the occult, some sects of Hinduism, Taoism and Buddhism... The Theosophical Society of the late 19th Century espoused many principles whose roots may be linked to present time New Age ideas.” Since 1975, many texts have been written that explain the phenomenal growth of the New Age Movement in recent times. Without these writings, we can question whether we would have this Metaphysical movement at all. If it had not been for these fine books, I, personally, would never had been drawn into this marvelous and mysterious practice. Had it not been for a written text, The Course on Miracles. I would not have gone on to read and embrace many of the fine metaphysical books I mention in this paper.
There are those who believe that Metaphysics is the work of the devil. To quote The Freeman and Ahmediyya Connection on www.cephasministry.com in a description of what they call New Age Movements, “Their final objective is to worship Lucifer and to subject the entire world to his direct authority.” It is this type of erroneous belief that needs to be contradicted by outstanding writing, enlightening the skeptics to the real purpose and raison d’etre of those who practice metaphysics. Therefore, the importance of well written material in Metaphysics is essential to quiet the critics and to enlighten the curious, perhaps even encouraging them to pursue further study.
With our world of rabid consumerism and preemptive warfare, it’s hard to imagine this planet without a Metaphysical movement. What a barren and brutal place this would be without the teachings of love and tolerance found in our Metaphysical texts. I, for one, wouldn’t want to go through the day without my Metaphysical program to teach me forgiveness and love and the acceptance of others. How would I have found my way without the many wonderful books that paved my path? I cannot think of many loftier goals than spreading the word about this simple yet mighty practice through the written word.