Late in the summer of 1974 a group of young people from across the Midwest, and some who had come a further distance to join them, gathered at the capitol in South Dakota. They came to share their belief in progressive revelation, unity, and the oneness of mankind; and to recruit new followers to a rapidly-growing religion which had been founded by a 19th-century holy man from Persia who taught that the purpose of life is to learn to know and love God through prayer, reflection, and service to humankind
Many parents and members of the community viewed this group as a cult, and feared that their young people would be drawn in and lured away from their fundamental Christian upbringing. For those who saw themselves apart from mainstream religion and traditional social belief, the teachings of this faith offered a new way to look at things, a broader perspective than encompassed a One World philosophy and a new social order.
Among those gathered was a young woman of twenty and her husband; she was pregnant with their first child. It was their common faith and membership in this group that had brought them together. This particular night stood out from other gatherings they had attended, as they circled the beautiful fire fountain located on the capitol grounds and sang the songs that bound them together in their beliefs, accompanied by the guitars of musicians among them. One song was perfectly befitting of this beautiful setting where devotion and the fervor of youth ran high...
Among those gathered was a young woman of twenty and her husband; she was pregnant with their first child. It was their common faith and membership in this group that had brought them together. This particular night stood out from other gatherings they had attended, as they circled the beautiful fire fountain located on the capitol grounds and sang the songs that bound them together in their beliefs, accompanied by the guitars of musicians among them. One song was perfectly befitting of this beautiful setting where devotion and the fervor of youth ran high...
"...Angels, oh angels, angels of fire and snow...
Were it not for your tears, you would burn in the fire of your love,
Were it not for the fire, you would drown in your tears
Oh angels, oh angels, moth-like lovers of His light.
Behold the moth as it circles the candle,
It clings to the flame and dies.
Behold the candle as it gives light,
It weeps away its life drop by drop.
You fly, you weep, you die in your love.
You fly, you weep, you die in your love.
Were it not for your tears, you would burn in the fire of your love,
Were it not for the fire, you would drown in your tears..."
The young couple were to continue to hold membership in this organization for a few more years until the time came when they felt they could no longer ascribe to the teachings and practices of the Faith. As with most doctrinal religions, choosing to separate yourself was said to be a certain path to self-destruction and distance from God. It was a difficult choice to turn and walk away, but I have never feared or regretted that decision.
Looking back from the distance and wisdom of years, it is hard to say where the greater evil dwells, with those who draw in sensitive young people to further their own cause, or with those who preach the gospels of fear and hatred for anything which is different from what they practice or believe, with little consideration for factual information. But every now and then the verses from "Angels of Fire and Snow" play again in my head, and I smile in remembering a magical summer night at the fire fountain, long, long ago.
Notes: Today members of this faith number more than five million, and their assemblies can be found in nearly every country in the world. The only reason I chose not to include the actual name of this religious group in my post is that their web-crawlers tend to seek out such posts and link to them. I prefer that not happen again if possible.
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This post was written for Two Shoes eTuesday
where the prompt choices this week are laughter and fire...
Come and join us there!
