An Introduction to True Religion
By W. G. Trott
Summary
The article "An Introduction to True Religion" argues that the foundational principle of all true religion and philosophy must be the recognition that everything that exists is a substance, as anything not a substance lacks real existence and exists only as an idea in the mind. The author posits two main classes of substance in the universe: living substance, known as soul-substance, and non-living substance, known as matter. All substances are eternal, non-created, without beginning or end. The text supports this by explaining that what we perceive as change are compounds, which are combinations of substances, while the simple, indivisible substances themselves are changeless and permanent. The author refutes the concept of a Supreme God creating substances from nothing, suggesting instead that substances are eternal. The article discusses the nature of the soul, defining it as the living substance with the attributes of life, consciousness, and intelligence. It asserts that knowledge and the soul are inseparable, and that every soul is an independent, eternal, and imperishable unit with the potential for omniscience. The text distinguishes between impure, embodied souls and pure, bodiless spirits, explaining that the soul's pure state is one of infinite life, joy, knowledge, and power. The article explains that material forces, attracted by the soul's desire, impose limitations and cause the soul to incarnate, leading to the cycle of birth, growth, and death. Re-incarnation is presented as an automatic process dependent on the soul's magnetic properties and the forces of matter acquired in previous lives. The author references the teachings of Great Souls who attained omniscience and are now in eternal life. The text also critiques the idea of a "Universal Mind," stating that it is contrary to the teachings of true scriptures. The article concludes by emphasizing that understanding the eternal nature of substance resolves the question of creation, as the universe is self-subsisting and self-operating by natural forces inherently present in all substances.
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Conclusion
This article establishes substance as the sole reality, arguing that all existence consists of eternal, non-created living substance (the soul) and non-living matter. It rejects the concept of a Supreme God as a creator, positing that the universe is self-subsisting and governed by inherent natural forces. The soul is defined as the immaterial, conscious, and intelligent living substance, fundamentally distinct from dead matter. The text asserts that all souls are eternal, independent, and inherently possess the capacity for infinite knowledge and joy, though this divine potential is obscured by material forces attracted through desire. This entanglement leads to the cycle of rebirth, a process the article validates as a natural, automatic consequence of the soul’s interaction with matter. Ultimately, the work implies that true religion requires aligning human understanding with this fundamental reality to overcome delusion and achieve the soul’s pure, omniscient state.