P1109:2, 101:4.1
Because your world is generally ignorant of origins, even of physical origins,
it has appeared to be wise from time to time to provide instruction in cosmology.
And always has this made trouble for the future. The laws of revelation hamper
us greatly by their proscription of the impartation of unearned or premature
knowledge. Any cosmology presented as a part of revealed religion is destined
to be outgrown in a very short time. Accordingly, future students of such
a revelation are tempted to discard any element of genuine religious truth
it may contain because they discover errors on the face of the associated
cosmologies therein presented.
P1109:3, 101:4.2
Mankind should understand that we who participate in the revelation of truth
are very
rigorously limited by the instructions of our superiors. We are not
at liberty to anticipate the scientific discoveries of a thousand years. Revelators
must act in accordance with the instructions which form a part of the revelation
mandate. We see no way of overcoming this difficulty, either now or at any
future time. We full well know that, while the historic facts and religious
truths of this series of revelatory presentations will stand on the records
of the ages to come, within a few short years many of our statements regarding
the physical sciences will stand in need of revision in consequence of additional
scientific developments and new discoveries. These new developments we even
now foresee, but we are forbidden to include such humanly undiscovered facts
in the revelatory records. Let it be made clear that revelations are not necessarily
inspired. The cosmology of these revelations is not inspired. It is
limited by our permission for the co-ordination and sorting of present-day
knowledge. While divine or spiritual insight is a gift, human wisdom must
evolve.
P1109:4, 101:4.3
Truth is always a revelation:
autorevelation when it emerges as a result of
the work of the indwelling Adjuster; epochal revelation when it is presented
by the function of some other celestial agency, group, or personality.
P1109:5, 101:4.4
In the last analysis, religion is to be judged by its fruits, according to
the manner and the extent to which it exhibits its own inherent and divine
excellence.
P1109:6, 101:4.5
Truth may be but relatively inspired, even though revelation is invariably
a spiritual phenomenon. While statements with reference to cosmology are never
inspired, such revelations are of immense value in that they at least transiently
clarify knowledge by: