Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/2857

2857 Value of knowledge over the state of ignorance....

August 22, 1943: Book 37

A continual change of the outer form brings about that the spiritual within comes to maturity, i.e. constantly develops further. And this is the reason for the constant becoming and passing away of all works of creation. The process of higher development is therefore the cause, as well as the purpose of creation. Through the grace of inner enlightenment, the human being is aware of this and now regards creation as a means to the perfection of the spiritual.... However, the meaning and purpose of creation is incomprehensible to people who lack knowledge of it, for countless things exist in creation which appear without meaning and purpose because they do not carry out any apparent purposeful activity or reveal any benefit. The consequence of this lack of knowledge is that the eternal deity is not properly recognized in Its greatness, in Its love, wisdom and omnipotence.... it has the consequence that man cannot feel the love for It which the recognition of Its perfection must trigger. It also means that the desire for God cannot be so deep because only love for God drives people to strive towards Him, to conform to Him. Such love will never be kindled in a person if all of God's reign and activity remains hidden from him, thus he is completely ignorant of the meaning and purpose of creation, of the connection between the individual works of creation and God. The knowing state is indisputably more valuable for man than living in ignorance. The knowing state is a sign of upward development, it is spiritual progress, a state of light, which is understandably preferable to the state of ignorance, of darkness. To know the meaning and purpose of creation must contribute to the necessary degree of maturity, which is the purpose and goal of life on earth. creation itself now helps man to the right knowledge as soon as he pays attention to it and sends questioning thoughts out into the universe and opens himself to the mental answer now flowing towards him.... For it is God's will that man should become knowledgeable, that he should gain insight into His reign and activity insofar as this is permissible on earth. But people themselves determine the limits of their knowledge through their will as soon as the latter refuses to accept knowledge offered to him without seriously examining the extent to which he can convincingly accept it into his thoughts. The human being's will is free, consequently knowledge has to be offered to him such that he is not forced to accept it, but this would be the case if such knowledge could be proven or the human being would be convinced by a miracle of the truth of what is offered to him as truth. Rather, the human being must mentally take a stand on it in all freedom of faith and will and decide for or against it without being influenced. And he must also re-examine the knowledge he has previously received to see how far it can stand up to what is newly offered. Only the person who seriously desires the truth will also recognize the truth as such, and the truth will only be where it is seriously desired.

amen

Translated by Doris Boekers