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Member Reflections

" Concerning science, we feel that science has reached a particularly critical phase. Indeed, it cannot be denied that science has advanced immensely and enabled humanity to achieve considerable progress. Without science, we would still be in the Stone Age. And yet, where the Greek civilization had worked out a qualitative understanding of scientiﬁc research, the 17th century brought on a veritable upheaval by establishing the supremacy of the quantitative concept, which is closely tied in with the evolution of economics. Mechanism, rationalism, positivism, etc., have separated consciousness and matter into two very distinct realms and reduced all phenomena to a measurable entity devoid of subjectivity. The how has eliminated the why. While it is true that research undertaken in the past few decades has led to important discoveries, the ﬁnancial stakes seem to have taken precedence over everything else, and we have now reached the pinnacle of scientiﬁc materialism.

" We have made ourselves the slaves of science, more than we have subjected it to our will. Today, simple technological failures are capable of putting the most advanced societies in jeopardy, which proves that we have created an imbalance between the qualitative and the quantitative, and also between ourselves and that which we create. The materialistic goals that humans pursue today through scientiﬁc research have resulted in leading many minds astray. At the same time, these materialistic goals have estranged us from our soul and from the divine within us. This excessive rationalization by science is a real danger that will threaten humanity sooner or later. In fact, any society in which matter dominates conscience, advances that which is the less noble in human nature. Therefore, such a society condemns itself to disappear prematurely and most often under tragic circumstances.

" To a certain extent, science has become a religion—a materialistic religion, which is paradoxical. Based upon a mechanistic approach to the universe, nature, and humanity itself, science possesses its own creed: “Only believe what is seen”; and its own dogma: “No truth outside of science.” Nevertheless, we notice that the research conducted on the how of things has led science to question the why, so that little by little science is becoming aware of its limitations, and in this regard is beginning to agree with mysticism. Some scientists—still too few it is true—have even reached the point of admitting the existence of God. It must be noted that science and mysticism were very close in ancient times, to such an extent that scientists were mystics, and vice versa. It is precisely toward the reuniﬁcation of these two paths of knowledge that we must work in the coming decades.

" It has become necessary to rethink the question of knowledge. For instance, what is the true meaning of being able to reproduce an experience? Is a proposition that cannot be veriﬁed in all cases necessarily false? Surpassing the rational dualism that took hold in the 17th century seems imperative to us, for true knowledge lies in this “surpassingness.” Moreover, simply because the existence of God cannot be proved does not justify the declaration that God does not exist. Truth may have many faces; to remember only one in the name of rationality is an insult to reason. Besides, can we truly speak of rational or irrational? Is science itself rational, when it believes in chance? In fact, it seems to us much more irrational to believe in chance rather than to not believe in it. On this same subject, we must say that our Order has always been against the common notion of chance, which it looks upon as an easy solution and resignation in the face of reality. We agree with Albert Einstein’s comment about chance when he described it as: “The Path that God takes when [God] wants to remain anonymous.”"

-- from The Positio Fraternitatis (2005)

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Who are the Rosicrucians?

from https://www.rosicrucian.org/: The Rosicrucians are a community of philosophers who study Natural Laws in order to live in harmony with them. Our mission is to provide seekers with the spiritual wisdom necessary to experience their connectedness with the miraculous world around us and to develop Mastery of Life.

Just what is meant when we use the word "mysticism"? A proper definition has always been elusive or vague. For the record, mysticism can be defined as an experience where one personally knows, through direct knowledge, the source of all being. Many call this source God; others, the Divine or the Cosmic. The point is, the experience is noetic. We know, not believe through faith or know only through scientific observation, but we simply and truly know.

The art of mysticism can be learned. The work of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC is to initiate the student to the techniques where mystical knowledge can be readily attained. This knowledge when properly accessed is ultimately rational.

In the end mysticism isn't a belief. It is simply an art of knowing. The mystical experience transcends nature. Often the person will receive a feeling that far surpasses anything which could be conveyed by words. Furthermore, this insight, devoid of ego, is thoroughly comprehended as truthful.

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"4. Before every meal, give thanks to the Divine for being fortunate enough to have something to eat, and think of all those who do not have the privilege of eating their fill. If you are alone or together with other members of the Order, place your hands above your food, palms down, and say mentally or aloud this symbolic invocation: May this food be purified and magnetized by the vibrations radiating from my hands so to provide for the needs of my body and soul. May all those who are hungry be associated with this meal and be given a spiritual share of its benefits. So Mote It Be!"

-- The Rosicrucian Code of Life