Neville’s Gospel: A Utopia That Might Actually Work

We need inner renewal
We discovered in the previous post that, in the literature of the utopias, many authors down through the ages have really not done much better than to imagine one-dimensional, centralized, collectivist societies. They relied largely on formal regimentation and control mechanisms. Well, if imagining creates reality, then they certainly got their wish, from Lenin to Stalin , Mao, Castro, Pol Pot, etc. ... and on to the present day.

Lewis Mumford, the reviewer, warned back in 1922:

If this dissipation of Western Civilization is to cease, the first step to reconstruction is to make over our inner world... (The Story of the Utopias, p.154)

I think Neville would have approved. Mumford himself sought “a hierarchy of values”, but from his scientific, secular-humanist viewpoint, was not able to articulate one. His counterparts today are the globalists and transhumanists.

 Is Christianity on the table?
In the eyes of many, Christianity is already discredited, largely because of institutional abuses. Point of logic: is “Christianity” in its true sense co-equal with the corruption of institutions? Does the faulty implementation or abuse of an honourably conceived ideal disprove the ideal?

Well, this blog post will be popular neither with critics of Christianity, nor with “conventional” Christians. If there’s anyone left, please read on. 

I believe that Neville Goddard has construed Christianity brilliantly, on the basis of psychological and spiritual truth, all the while rejecting institutional nonsense. Can his view of Christianity inform the conduct of life and secular organization – or is it merely a limited, personal approach?

Neville’s view
Neville’s Bible-based teaching includes the following aspects:

1. Evidently, was not a literalist. He demonstrated interpretation of scripture for spiritual ends.
2. He rejects the idea of a God separate from Man and appeals to God within. Man and God are one.
3. He rejects the materialist (physicalist) view and takes the idealist position: Man and his world are all mentation. While counterintuitive, this view has conceptual parsimony, evidence and explanatory power on its side.
4. He leaves the institutional church alone, without condemning it.
5. The imaginal activity of humanity has a creative imperative. Noble ideas are needed to inform our thoughts.

We can build a new argument for Christianity by grounding its precepts in Neville’s psychological interpretation.

Psychological principle in action, from the ground up
In the mindset of antiquity, there was no clear demarcation between the subjective and the objective; between the seeming ‘physical’ symbol and the inner meaning of that symbol. All the more reason to consider the idealist view.

Let’s examine Judeo-Christian formulas, and see how each one embodies psychological truth.

Biblical principle: The heart-first approach is the key to the integrity and health of the nation. Social ills flow from unconverted hearts (Mt 15:19). Good government rests on citizens who are honest, industrious, compassionate, responsible, and self-controlled.

Psychological interpretation: These are not legal points, organizational structures, or procedures – they are psychological attributes.

Join me: in my podcast episode S02E10 where I continue to build the argument. Let’s see where this leads. You can check the audio or the transcript.