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The Young Rite provides a Summary of Doctrine, based largely on
that of The Liberal Catholic Church. As we subscribe to intellectual freedom, we do not
require anyone to accept this doctrine. It is offered as a framework only.
The Young Rite teaches
the existence of God, infinite, eternal, transcendent and immanent. God is neither male
nor female and at the same time both masculine and feminine. God is the one essence from
which all forms of existence are derived. 'In him we live and move and have our being'
(Acts 17:28).
God manifests in his
universe as a Trinity, called in the Christian religion Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three
Persons in one God, co-equal and co-eternal; the Father the cause of all, the Son the Word
who was made flesh and dwelt among us, the Holy Spirit the life-giver, the inspirer and
sanctifer.
The human being is a
complex of spirit, soul and body. The human spirit is made in the image of God and is
divine in essence. Therefore s/he cannot cease to exist, s/he is eternal and its future is
one whose glory and splendour have no limit.
Christ ever lives as a
mighty spiritual presence in the world, guiding and sustaining his people. The divinity
which was manifest in him is gradually being unfolded in every human being until each
shall come 'unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ'
(Eph. 4:13).
The world is the theatre
of an ordered plan, according to which the human spirit, by repeatedly expressing itself
in varying conditions of life and experience, continually unfolds its powers. This
spiritual unfoldment takes place under an inviolable law of cause and effect. 'Whatsoever
a man soweth that shall he also reap' (Gal. 6:7). His/her doings in each physical
incarnation largely determine the experience after death in the intermediate world (or
world of purgation) and the heavenly world, and greatly influence the circumstances of
his/her next birth. Humankind is a link in a vast chain of life extending from the highest
to the lowest. As the human being helps those below him/her, so also s/he is helped by
those who stand above him/her on the ladder of life, receiving thus a free gift of grace.
There is a communion of saints, just humans made perfect or holy ones, who help mankind.
There is a ministry of angels.
The human being has
ethical duties to him/herself and to others. 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great
commandment and the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On
these two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets'. (Matt.22:37-40). It is the duty of
the human being to learn to discern the divine light in him/herself and others, that light
'which lighteth every man' (John. 1:9). Because human beings are children of God they are
inseparably linked together as a brotherhood. That which harms one harms the entire
brotherhood. Hence a human being owes it as a duty to the God both within him/herself and
others, first, to endeavour constantly to live up to the highest that is in him/her,
thereby enabling that immanent God to become more perfectly manifest, secondly, to
recognize the fact of that brotherhood by constant effort towards unselfishness, by love
of, consideration for, and service to his fellow-human beings. The service of humanity,
reverence for all life and the sacrifice of the lower self to the higher are laws of
spiritual growth.
Christ instituted
various sacraments in which an inward and spiritual grace is
given to us through an outward and visible sign. There are seven rites which may be ranked
as sacraments, namely, Baptism, Confirmation, the Holy Eucharist (Holy Communion),
Absolution, Holy Unction, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders. The doctrine of these sacraments is
sufficiently set forth in the authorized Liturgy of The Young Rite. Christ, the living
head of the church which he founded, is the true minister of all sacraments.
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